Thursday, October 06, 2011

Steve Jobs - The man who could see the future when others could not.

I too am stunned. It reminds me of an amazing story that I read in book I have about hockey history. There was this player, Howie Morenz in the 1920's who played hockey and was an amazing player. He was a player who genuinely just loved the game. He lived for hockey and the fans loved him. He had played for several years in the NHL and had a solid career with the Montreal Canadians. But in one game he got hit with a rather hard check and suffered a broken leg. He was rushed to the hospital. His doctor told him that the injury was so severe that he would probably never be able to play hockey again. He was so distraught that he refused to eat and the doctors said he was having a nervous breakdown. Three days later he died. The doctor said the official cause was that he had a coronary embolism but a teammate stated "Howie loved to play hockey more than anyone ever loved anything, and when he realized that he would never play again, he couldn't live with it. I think Howie died of a broken heart."

I think with Steve Jobs, Apple was the love of his life. And when he was too ill to lead the company, not being at the center of Apple and creating the amazing devices he did must have left something very empty inside. I can imagine for Steve he too had a broken heart for leaving Apple. Sure he was ill, but take away a person's passion so too do you take away there will to live.

Steve Jobs was an amazing innovator and visionary. One the likes of greats like Thomas Edison, and the Wright Brothers. Seeing way beyond what others cannot even image. And then you wonder how you ever lived without their invention. Thanks for all the inspiration Steve.

1 comment:

Macintosha Fanatica said...

I'm having a tough time with this, Stitch. I knew it was coming, but it's so hard to accept. I can't help but say I feel that not only did I do things on Apple products I would never have done otherwise, but I also learned from the things Steve Jobs said. He truly followed is heart and his gut, even when people laughed at him. Most people aren't that strong willed.

I was inspired by his commencement address at Stanford like lots of other people. We have talked a lot about what he stood for, not just the products that came out of Apple. It's so hard for me to think he won't be on the Apple campus anymore.

I read a quote from a tech guy (can't remember who) who said that, to honor Steve Jobs, go out and be awesome, because that's what Steve would have wanted. I have to agree with that - that is what Jobs has said all along.

I'm still having a hard time, and unlike other people, I can't go to an Apple Store just yet. The Apple Stores scream Steve Jobs' way of doing things. As soon as I can, I want to go there and reflect a little more on how all of us have been affected by the way he lived his life. If I can go forward with just a tiny bit of what Jobs stood for, then I'll be happy.