Yesterday, the world got a little less bright as it was announced that Steve Jobs had passed away.
Some knew of Steve Jobs as the man who would take to the stage every year in a pair of jeans and sneakers with a black turtleneck to reveal the latest innovative gadget Apple had come up with. To others though, he was more than that. He was someone we looked up to, but knew we would never meet. A visionary who dared to be innovative and change the world of computers and consumer electronics, and touched the lives of millions of people. Jobs didn’t just bring us Pixar, computers, iPods, iPhones and iPads – he brought us new ways to experience the world and stay connected in ways we never knew were possible.
When the news broke last night, it affected me more than I thought. Steve Jobs was a man who was fired from his own company he co-founded, only to come roaring back years later to lead that same company to the top of the consumer electronics world and become the face of innovation, focusing on the consumer experience. I spent a lot of time last night reading articles on his life, personal stories from those who met him, and watching the documentary The Pixar Story. Being a life-long consumer of Apple products, it was my way of paying tribute to the man who made such an impact on this world during his all-too-short life.
Today, as I write this, it’s raining in Salt Lake City, Utah – which seems appropriate as the world seems just a little more dark without the illuminating brilliance of a true visionary; a man who brought us new ways to stay connected, share our lives, and experience all the world has to offer. He never seemed to falter in the face of the “status quo” and created a brand that was uniquely his – a standard I’m sure Apple will strive to continue to carry on.
I would like to leave you with a few quotes and stories to read in honor of Mr. Jobs, and to simply say, “Rest in Peace, Steve – you’re already missed.”
“Your work is going to fill a large part of your life, and the only way to be truly satisfied is to do what you believe is great work. And the only way to do great work is to love what you do. If you haven’t found it yet, keep looking. Don’t settle. As with all matters of the heart, you’ll know when you find it. And, like any great relationship, it just gets better and better as the years roll on. So keep looking until you find it. Don’t settle.” – Steve Jobs
“Steve Jobs was an extraordinary visionary, our very dear friend and the guiding light of the Pixar family. He saw the potential of what Pixar could be before the rest of us, and beyond what anyone ever imagined. Steve took a chance on us and believed in our crazy dream of making computer animated films; the one thing he always said was to simply ‘make it great.’ He is why Pixar turned out the way we did and his strength, integrity and love of life has made us all better people. He will forever be a part of Pixar’s DNA. Our hearts go out to his wife Laurene and their children during this incredibly difficult time. – John Lasseter and Ed Catmull, Chief Creative Officer and President of Pixar
“Steve Jobs was a great friend as well as a trusted advisor. His legacy will extend far beyond the products he created or the businesses he built. It will be the millions of people he inspired, the lives he changed, and the culture he defined.
Steve was such an ‘original,’ with a thoroughly creative, imaginative mind that defined an era. Despite all he accomplished, it feels like he was just getting started.
With his passing the world has lost a rare original, Disney has lost a member of our family, and I have lost a great friend.
Our thoughts and prayers are with his wife Laurene and his children during this difficult time. -Bob Iger, CEO of Walt Disney
“I’m truly saddened to learn of Steve Jobs’ death. Melinda and I extend our sincere condolences to his family and friends, and to everyone Steve has touched through his work.
Steve and I first met nearly 30 years ago, and have been colleagues, competitors and friends over the course of more than half our lives.
The world rarely sees someone who has had the profound impact Steve has had, the effects of which will be felt for many generations to come.
For those of us lucky enough to get to work with him, it’s been an insanely great honor. I will miss Steve immensely. – Bill Gates
“I am very, very sad to hear the news about Steve. He was a great man with incredible achievements and amazing brilliance. He always seemed to be able to say in very few words what you actually should have been thinking before you thought it. His focus on the user experience above all else has always been an inspiration to me. He was very kind to reach out to me as I became CEO of Google and spend time offering his advice and knowledge even though he was not at all well. My thoughts and Google’s are with his family and the whole Apple family. -Larry Page, Co-founder of Google
“He’s taller than I thought he would be, and pretty tanned. Hawaii. I go to introduce myself and then think that he’s probably busy and doesn’t want to be mobbed. I go get some salad, think that its my job to be at least a little aggressive with these things, so I put down my plate, and I finally squeeze by the crowd to introduce myself. No banter, just wanted to say hi, I’m Brian from Gizmodo. And you made the iPod, right? (I didn’t say that second part.)
Then Steve got really excited and happy.
And he tells me that he reads the site. Actually, 3-4 times a day, since it doesn’t sit still for very long. I told him that I appreciate the clicks, and that I’ll keep buying iPods if he keeps clicking. It’s his favorite gadget blog. It was a really, really nice moment. His face scrunched up with genuine excitement. I must have looked like one of those gals front row at a Beatles concert, as much as I tried to be “professional.” –Brian Lam, former editor of Gizmodo on his regrets in his handling of the story of the infamous lost iPhone 4 prototype
“Today, we lost one of the most influential thinkers, creators and entrepreneurs of all time. Steve Jobs was simply the greatest CEO of his generation. While I am deeply saddened by his passing, I’m reminded of the stunning impact he had in revolutionizing the way people consume media and entertainment. My heart goes out to his family and to everyone who had the opportunity to work beside him in bringing his many visions to life. -Rupert Murdoch, CEO of News Corp