What are you building?
What are you building? Is it something worthwhile? Is it something that’s going to last?
When someone like Steve Jobs passes away, the world watches as we literally see the changes that happened in the last 30 years due to some of his technical innovations.
But more than his 317 patents, what’s more compelling to me personally, is how he approached them. While his technology, the ipods, the iphones, the macs and other all the other shiny things he helped dream up are certainly amazing, his approach to work was so much different than most.
He loved what he did and believed in what he was building. He believed in it so much that he made you want to believe in what he was building.
His belief in what he was making was independent of the actual monetary potential behind it. Steve built things because he thought they needed to exist. When you begin to operate without focusing on money as the primary driving force behind your actions, you start playing a whole different game:
“Being the richest man in the cemetery doesn’t matter to me … Going to bed at night saying we’ve done something wonderful… that’s what matters to me.”
Instead of focusing on money, you focus on building something that matters, that lasts. You focus on building quality.
“Be a yardstick of quality. Some people aren’t used to an environment where excellence is expected.”
You hone in on the few things that really matter, the few things with high leverage points. The few places where you can really make a difference.
“Your time is limited, so don’t waste it living someone else’s life. Don’t be trapped by dogma — which is living with the results of other people’s thinking. Don’t let the noise of others’ opinions drown out your own inner voice. And most important, have the courage to follow your heart and intuition. They somehow already know what you truly want to become. Everything else is secondary.”
You really don’t have much time here. What are you going to do with it?
“I want to put a ding in the universe.” – Steve Jobs
Ding.
ding! love it!
Ding.
Joel,
When I think about the legacy that somebody like Steve Jobs leaves behind, I can’t help but think that the most important fulfilling thing that somebody can do is to build something that matter, something that leaves an impact on the world. Perhaps there’s no way to measure that and maybe we shouldn’t try to measure it, but only set out with one goal in mind. Leave everybody that comes in contact with you better than you found them.
Agreed. It’s good to mourn a loss, but I always find it much more productive & honoring to go out and embody what that person meant (in this case, building)
This was truly shocking news. I found jobs was always able to look at the bigger picture. His TED talk at a university graduation was amazing. Good reminder to leave a positive legacy behind.
Not just a positive legacy, but a lasting one.
I learned of Steve Jobs passing at an Inc. Magazine 30 Under 30 CEO’s event in Boston. That’s QUITE the shock, as you are standing there sipping your bourbon, let me tell you!
My favorite quote, since I was 16 or 17 is: “To know that even one life has breathed easier because you have lived…THIS is to have succeeded”
It has been the Northern Star to my trajectory. Which is at a mere 20 degrees currently. Nonetheless, I feel like living a life that is devoted to making other people’s lives better..it transcends. By putting that much energy into the Universe it bounces back on you.
The important thing? Is your success enough of an impact to make a ding? The question I ask myself daily…
*nods head – rushes off to work on my own little universe dinging*
First,I have to thank YOU for the inspiring videos and articles I receive. You have made a difference in MY inner self, and I truly appreciate all you do.~ This article touches me. I am a huge Steve Jobs fan. He was serious about “enjoying” what you do, and about making your life a happy place to live….Thank you for sharing your thoughts on his life’s agenda..
Thank you for being a part of this Tina!
This was much needed at this time! I’ve been evaluating what has held me back from many of my goals through the past few years. I’ve found the biggest factor was the people I was surrounding myself with, my family, my friends, my coworkers. I was holding back so much to be like them.
No more will that happen! I rediscovered some friends who have goals more similar to mine! I just signed up for the Spartan Race Street Team (mostly because I was spamming their FB page with encouragement) and will compete next year in the Trifecta…volunteering so I get my entry.
I haven’t pushed my poisonous friends out…I just keep a good antidote and push them a little too.
Your blog is helping me realize I can do much more of the “impossible” than anyone, including myself, believed I could.
THANK YOU!