Inspo: Steve Jobs (here’s to you)

We’re all shocked. Of course there are those that say they knew this was coming but at the very core of things, we’re shocked. I got the news as I was driving home as my great friend David (@tricon) texted me over our super secret, hush-hush, can’t talk about it, beta software. I literally did a double take and then the feeling of dread hit. Almost that feeling you get when someone tells you someone just died. I got home, read his letter and got a little teary eyed.

I know Steve has been a massive inspiration in my life and I know he’s inspired David as well. His attitude, his swagger, the way he got stuff done, his writing style, it all inspired me to keep on trucking with my passions and one day I’ll be the success I’ve always wanted to be. He was the epitome of a passionate person. I feel like a little bit of Steve Jobs’ is in every single Apple product that’s made. Sure call me a fanboy or some obsessed Apple junkie but it’s so much more than that. It’s an appreciation for a company that has never led me astray, it’s a love for a company and a man who created insanely functional products that not only looked amazing but worked with ease and little to no effort.

One of the most inspiring things about Steve was how good he was at forward thinking. It’s my goal to be at least 1/10th as good of a forward thinker as he is someday. The fact that this all seems like it’s already been planned internally and the dance is just now coming to the end but it was orchestrated perfectly. My hat goes off to you Steve.

Tim Cook? I’m excited to see what he’ll be bringing to the table. I for one think he’ll do an amazing job steering the U.S.S. Apple and keeping it on the pace and road that it’s on. Tim, though not the visionary that Steve is will and should do a great job at the wheel. Only time will tell.

Steve, you’ll be missed. I’m hoping that your as healthy as you can possibly be and I wish you all the luck for the future. We’ll all be missing you a ton at the keynotes and other events. We take from this your inspiring passion, forward thinking and dedication. We can all learn a lot from you and I know I have and will continue to do so.

I leave you with this quote from Steve:

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.

[The Wall Street Journal, May 25, 1993]