Like many people, I was shocked to hear that Steve Jobs was stepping down from his post as CEO of Apple. And, like most, I assume it has to do with his ongoing battle against cancer. As Apple loses its creative genius, I couldn't help but recall some of the inspirational speeches Jobs has delivered over his spectacular career.
As a teen, Jobs said, he once read the quote, “If you live each day as if it is your last, some day you’ll most certainly be right.”
Afterward, he tried to look in the mirror every day, thinking, “If today were the last day of my life, would I want to do what I’m doing today.”
If the answer was “no” too many days in a row, he sought to change.
Being diagnosed with cancer made the thought even more real to him, he said.
“No one wants to die. Even people who want to go to heaven don’t want to die to get there. And yet, death is the destination we all share. No one has ever escaped it.”
“Death is life’s change agent,” he said. “It clears out old to make room for new. Your time is limited, so don’t waste it living someone else’s life. 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.”
