The outpouring of emotion over Steve Job’s death is striking. He was not a celebrity in the traditional sense – not a beloved screen star or even a political or spiritual leader. Everyone knows he had a huge ego, eccentric habits and more money than the U.S. Government; not usually a combination that inspires empathy. I think the country mourns in two ways.
Steve Jobs was important - he was a true visionary with an ability to anticipate where technology would turn next. He looked at the same things we all saw, but he understood the implications in a way none of us did. He looked a failing recording industry and a blossoming file format and just knew how to make them work together.
Ultimately more important, Steve Jobs was original. He will be missed not because he made cool stuff but because he made stuff his way. He trusted his instincts and demanded from his life and his work what he envisioned for it. Demanding perfection was a symptom of knowing exactly what he wanted and refusing to settle for less.
Is it so rare to live a truly authentic life that we grieve when we lose even one example? If we all trusted our instincts and ignored focus groups in favor of listening to our hearts, would we all do exceptional work? We may not see the likes of him again for a long time but he said death is the greatest invention of life because it clears the way for new growth. Those are exciting words. Who will come after? The generation that grew up in his shadow can see the value of ignoring critics and stepping out onto the ledge. What future will they design?
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