Stay hungry, stay foolish

Or "how to live before you die"

When he was 17, Steve Jobs read a quote that went something like: "If you live each day as if it was your last, someday you'll most certainly be right." It made an impression on him, and since then, and for nearly 40 years, he has looked in the mirror every morning and asked "If today were the last day of my life, would I want to do what I am about to do today?" And whenever the answer had been "No" for too many days in a row, he knew he needed to change something.

Steve Jobs said that during a commencement speech he gave to Stanford Students in 2005. The entire speech can be seen here ...

Given the recent news that Steve has had to step down from Apple because he again faces one of his toughest fights of his life so far, I would ask that if you do nothing else today I would ask that you spend 15 minutes and watch it.

Why?

Because of the lessons he shares. And there is always something else to learn.

I was sent the entire transcript of the speech a long time before I saw the video. It is in a folder in my email that I go to sometimes, to read, re-read and absorb once again the messages contained in it. Much like a good book I will refer back to again. My reasoning is simple - if a story / book / article inspired me once to have a look at the way I do things, to make some changes to my current behaviors then I figure it would do even more a second or third time, because I had a new starting point when I read something a second or third time.

For those who have read the transcript already or have seen the video will know that Steve Jobs dropped out of college, founded a company which he was then sacked from, founded several more companies, re-joined Apple and then battled pancreatic cancer. Each time he has come through it and as a result of his "setbacks" has come back stronger than ever and I for one, hope this will happen this time.

I am not a mac aficionado, I don't own anything apple, but can appreciate who to me sounds like an amazing person. He has a quiet dignity others could learn from. And a message we can all take something from.

"Stay hungry, stay foolish"

With many thoughts
Elle