Steve Jobs' 2005 Speech

"I'm not the kind of fool who's gonna sit and sing to you about stars," Stuck on The Puzzle by Alex Turner.


So while watching the Phillip De Franco show, he recommended a video of Steve Jobs. It's his commencement address for Stamford University's graduation ceremony of 2005. It's truly inspiring, and I recommend you to spend 15 minutes listening to it. I just wanted to share some quotes and a few thoughts of mine about the three stories that he shared:







1. Connecting the dots.
"You have to trust that the dots will somehow connect in your future. You have to trust in something ... because believing that the dots will connect down the road will give you the confidence to follow your heart even when it leads you off the well-worn path. And that will make all the difference."


To me, he just said "believe in Qadha and Qadr", you know, the sixth pillar of Iman? That's why Islam is the only religion to turn to, because Islam encompasses everything. A Muslim should never feel despair, because we trust in Allah. We trust that things will work out for us in the end, that as long as we're holding on to the rope of Allah [3:103], we'll never lose. It also serves as a reminder to me that I should remain steadfast on the road that I believe that will bring the most benefit to the most people. I hope this feeling remains within myself, as well as in everyone out there.


2. Love and loss.
"You've got to find what you love... The only way to do great work is to love what you do."


True love is based on the love towards Allah, and if you're doing something that, in the end, you know will bring you closer to Him, you know you've hit the jackpot. Steve also added "as with all matters of the heart, you'll know when you find it". So don't settle for something you're not in (true) love with. Keep on looking for that something that will ultimately bring you closer to your Creator, because ultimately, that's where you're headed.


3. Death.
"..I have looked in the mirror every morning and asked myself, 'if today were the last day of my life, would I want to do what I am about to do today?' and whenever the answer has been 'no' for too many days in a row, I know I need to change something... because almost everything... just falls away in the face of death, leaving only what is truly important. Remembering that you are going to die is the best way I know to avoid the trap of thinking (that) you have something to lose."


I think this quote is true for all world-changers. They do what they ultimately want to do, make the world a better place. To have this world-changer-mentality, death needs to be in your thoughts, because it is definitely, without a question, thinking about you. What are you going to do in your life that's going to make you special? Don't tell me you don't want to be special. You need to. 


Rasulullah (may peace be upon him) was many things, but he was nothing if not a world-changer. He brought light to a world filled with darkness. That was his ultimate mission. So we as Muslims should carry on that mission. Sure we won't be able to shine as bright as he (may peace be upon him) did, but we still need to shine in some capacity, and that is to our fullest. All of us have potential. We just need to realise it, unleash it. Bring light to the world in our own way, the way that most suits us.


Of course, these are just my own thoughts on his words. As the Malay saying goes, lain padang, lain belalang. Lain orang, lain fikirang. (Okay, that second part was made up. But it's true, ain't it?)


It's not wrong to acknowledge wisdom. We may learn from anyone and everyone, even a crazy person, apatah lagi a person by the name of Steve Jobs.


May peace and blessings be upon you (the reader).


Cheers!