Goodbye Steve Jobs

The loss of a famous person rarely affects beyond making a mental note of their passing. Yesterday after I heard that Steve Jobs had died, an image came to me. I saw Steve Jobs passing into the Great Beyond. As he did, he turned around to hand the baton to his successor.

There was no one there.

Steve Jobs has profoundly affected my life. My very first computer was an Apple II that my parents somehow were able to afford even as they raised 6 children. That computer took me through a lot of school, a lot of projects and forever cemented me as a technophile. Apple and I broke up for a long while after that only to be reunited via a device rather than a computer. The iPhone rekindled my relationship with Apple and Mr. Jobs.

"Your time is limited, so don't waste it living someone else's life."

iTunes convinced me of the ease of online music purchasing rather than ripping my own discs. The iPad showed me how powerful, easy and ubiqitous that the table form factor can be. And the Apple TV is the first device hooked to my TV that is nearly invisible and yet brings me content from nearly everywhere without a massive pile of cables.

"Death is very likely the single best invention of Life. It is Life's change agent. It clears out the old to make way for the new."

While Steve Jobs will be known for many inventions, what he brought to me was a richer and still simple life. Ease of access to my information wherever I am on almost whatever device I own. The innovations, visions and execution that Steve Jobs brought to this world, my world will always be treasured. It is inspiring to know that a person is capable of changing the world.

"We're here to put a dent in the universe."

The life of Steve Jobs is an amazing story. He demonstrated that passion, creativity and singularity of purpose can change the world. And today, with world a little dimmer after his passing, everyone is wondering who the next Steve Jobs will be.

I don't think we can wait.

People like him are exceedingly rare in this world. Few of us have that kind of drive and spark that he had. But, we all have some of it. We each have the potential to change the world in our own way. It is up to those who remain to embrace the inspiration that Mr. Jobs left behind.

"Have the courage to follow your heart and intuition. They somehow already know what you truly want to become."