The end of an era....

This week the world mourned the death of an inspirational and visionary man. Steve Jobs made an impression on the world. He changed the world. He inspired generations of people and showed how with hard work, dedication and perseverance, you can turn an idea into a world leading product. That anything is achievable.

He touched the lives of millions of people, some famous, most of us not, and I think it’s safe to say that without Steve Jobs, the world of computing and all it’s devices would not be where they are today

A few months ago I came across Steve Jobs commencement speech at Standford University and in all honesty, it was one of the most amazing and inspirational speeches I have ever heard. How fortunate those graduates were to have Steve Jobs address them as they embark on their future. I would love to know if any of them really listened to him and took his advice. If you haven’t watched it, then I urge you to do so. It’s amazing, thought provoking and inspirational.

Here is an excerpt from it:

(After being fired from Apple).....”Sometimes life hits you in the head with a brick. Don't lose faith. I'm convinced that the only thing that kept me going was that I loved what I did. You've got to find what you love. And that is as true for your work as it is for your lovers. Your work is going to fill a large part of your life, and the only way to be truly satisfied is to do what you believe is great work. And the only way to do great work is to love what you do. If you haven't found it yet, keep looking. Don't settle. As with all matters of the heart, you'll know when you find it. And, like any great relationship, it just gets better and better as the years roll on. So keep looking until you find it. Don't settle.”

For anyone looking to make life changes there are books you can read, videos you can watch and programmes you can attend and like Steve says, don’t settle. The world really is your oyster.

Steve Jobs death has had a profound effect on me – I was quite surprised to be honest just exactly how it has affected me. I am a user of Apple products and have been for some time now, but it’s not that. It’s that the world has lost a creative genius at such a tender age of 56 and that in itself is tragic.

I’d like to leave you with some quotes that have been in the press since his death:

Barrack Obama - "Steve was among the greatest of American innovators - brave enough to think differently, bold enough to believe he could change the world, and talented enough to do it. The world has lost a visionary. And there may be no greater tribute to Steve's success than the fact that much of the world learned of his passing on a device he invented."

Bill Gates, his friend, competitor - "I will miss Steve immensely. The world rarely sees someone who has had the profound impact Steve has had, the effects of which will be felt for many generations to come.

Carol Bartz, former Yahoo Boss - "He got to where he was because he had a vision and a purpose. It's easy to try and please everyone, but he kept to his principles."

Thank you Steve for being an inspiration.

Helen Mills
Financial Controller