Wonderful Person of the Week for Episode #20 - Steve Jobs

It’s been almost two weeks since Steve Jobs died. The shock has worn off, and since his death Apple has released two huge products — the iPhone 4s and iOS 5, both of which have a general consensus of being pretty fantastic. Apple will forge on without him. Steve was really an incredible guy. His biopic is already in the works of course, and for a life as big as his that is not necessarily a bad thing. He changed the world. He changed technology and millions of lives, and it’s a magnificent thing when someone like that comes along and does something so huge.

In the wake of his death there have been countless stories about his life. They paint an elaborate picture of who he was — sometimes a little short-tempered, determined, deeply contemplative. The things that have stuck out the most are how Steve Jobs called Pepsi President John Sculley in 1993 and asked him, “do you want to sell sugar water or do you want to change the world?” convincing him to leave Pepsi and work for Apple. Another is how he called up renowned screenwriter Aaron Sorkin to ask him to write a Pixar movie. Sorkin was reluctant, saying “My daughter loves Pixar movies and I don’t want to write the one she doesn’t like.” Jobs replied, “Well then write about that.” The best and most profound Steve Jobs quote is a special one: “Remembering that I’ll be dead soon is the most important tool I’ve ever encountered to help me make the big choices in life. Because almost everything — all external expectations, all pride, all fear of embarrassment or failure - these things just fall away in the face of death, leaving only what is truly important. Remembering that you are going to die is the best way I know to avoid the trap of thinking you have something to lose. You are already naked. There is no reason not to follow your heart.”

He was a genius, and may he rest in peace. Based On Nothing is here in part thanks to him.

Written by Jacob.