7 Minute Miles

Thanks Steve


I had the pleasure of witnessing the “reality distortion field” in person many times over the years at several Macworld and WWDC keynotes, ranging from San Jose to Boston to San Francisco. At a Microsoft party in San Francisco in 1998, I stood nearby as I tried to work up the courage to actually talk to him. I was too shy at the time to say anything, but I remember being shocked when I saw him in the bathroom later that night and he didn’t wash his hands before leaving.

That unpleasantness aside, what can you say about Steve Jobs’ contributions to the world? I first read the news today via Twitter on my iPhone while walking down the Las Vegas strip in front of the Bellagio. I stopped and watched the beautiful fountains, then headed to the Cosmopolitan, where a literal hoard of hipsters ran wild with their requisite iPhones. iPads are everywhere at the convention I’m attending and iPods are given away as prizes at multiple booths. MacBook Pros and Airs are the laptop of choice for millions and Apple is one of the most valuable companies in the world.

Personally, much of my technology career is based on the products and ideas that have originated from Cupertino. I literally would not be where I am today if it were not for the work of Steven Paul Jobs. And his association with Disney and Pixar cannot be understated either. Thank you, sir.

We all knew this was coming, especially with the way the resignation announcement was worded. Cancer sucks (curse you, Bruce McCullough). Condolences to the Jobs family and thank you, also, for sharing him with the rest of us.

56 is way, way too young, but as Steve said, “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.”

Namaste, Mr. Jobs.

Originally published by DK on October 6, 2011 at 3:52 am in Longform, Personal, Technology


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