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Steve Jobs: Eulogy for a man who made my life richer

The world is mourning the loss of an icon today. And not just a leader and an innovator, but a true visionary.

When I first set my hands on the “Lisa II” when I was a kid growing up in San Jose, a short distance from Steve’s home in Cupertino, I should have been proud that my parents were one of the first ones to have a “personal computer”. In college, all the good students turned their essays in on laser paper from a Mac with Helvetica font. (Me? I was still typing them out on onion skin paper and smearing the words and getting a worse grade for it. Writing code in DOS kept me from embracing computers..)

Then, in 1993, there was no more avoiding it, I had to learn to use a Mac so I could function in a PR agency. The ease of use was AMAZING. I wanted to kick myself for not learning sooner. After that,  I began a very long love affair with all things Apple.

I have run races with iPods, gloriously traveled with ease and grace due to the mapping feature on my iPhone, entertained my kids for hours with apps on my phone, started a consulting business using a Mac, given presentations with my Mac laptop, and even owned an iPad2. Steve Jobs was behind it all.

As we mourn his passing today, I want to say that we lost him too soon. I am somehow in awe that with all his fame, fortune and famous friends that they could not save him from such a pedestrian disease. You mean we are ALL mortal? That somehow sucks. You mean that even when we give the world some of the best devices mankind has ever known, we may still succumb to a painful and deadly disease?

Steve worked his ass off. I met his personal assistant. He had his hands in just about every decision. I don’t know what the future for Apple will hold, but the likes of Steve and his hard driving, micro managing, innovating and futuristic thinking will not be matched any time soon. He was a genius.

Here is one of my favorite quotes from Steve: “You can’t connect the dots looking forward; you can only connect them looking backwards. So you have to trust that the dots will somehow connect in your future,” Steve Jobs told Stanford University graduates during a commencement speech in 2005. “You have to trust in something: your gut, destiny, life, karma, whatever. This approach has never let me down, and it has made all the difference in my life.”

Thank you Steve, for the mouse, the keyboard, the music and the media. My life is richer and more connected thanks to you. I understand, like and can even teach technology, because of you. For a kid who asked William Hewlett for some computer parts for a high school project you were working on, I’d say you done good. Enjoy your time conquering new paths. RIP.  A Hui Ho and Aloha.

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8 Responses to Steve Jobs: Eulogy for a man who made my life richer

  1. Jeff Turner October 6, 2011 at 2:31 am #

    I think the best eulogy we can all deliver is one where we raise our game and make this world a better place. Thanks for sharing this, Julie.

    • admin October 6, 2011 at 6:06 am #

      Thanks Jeff. Raising the game over here as much as possible, that’s for sure!

  2. Jim Walberg October 6, 2011 at 4:22 am #

    What a loving posting honoring one of the few people who completely changed our world with his vision and commitment to action. Now it is our turn to contribute, big or small. You are doing your part in Hawaii. Until next time…Julie

  3. admin October 6, 2011 at 6:03 am #

    Thanks Jim for your comment. You should read what Jeff Turner wrote on his blog, too…he actually had a chance to shake Steve’s hand and let him know he had made an impact on his life. THAT would have been cool! I still feel like there is a sigh in the tech world..”The day the music died”.

  4. Laura Kinoshita October 6, 2011 at 8:40 am #

    Of all the pieces out there on Steve Jobs, for some reason, I really liked this one the best! Thanks, Julie!

    • admin October 6, 2011 at 8:46 am #

      THAT is quite a compliment, Laura! Thank you. Did you read what they wrote about Steve in the West Hawaii Today? See how they ended the article if you have the paper..he definitely had his share of detractors..but he just said, “BRING IT ON”! Love that.

  5. Eric Berman October 7, 2011 at 8:01 am #

    I’m with you on everything. But running a race with an iPod is not one of them 😉 Thanks for sharing!

  6. Vivian February 21, 2012 at 9:08 am #

    Love the blog

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