As an innovator and visionary, Steve Jobs changed the world.
From Apple computers to iPhones, his accomplishments have impacted our lives in ways we never thought possible.
But for today’s generation of entrepreneurs, who dream of making a real difference, the greatest legacy Jobs has left behind is a set of beliefs that make up the foundation of his extraordinary success.
Here are five essential principles, inspired by how Steve Jobs ran his life and business, and what you can learn from them.
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It’s a quote that has inspired numerous generations of entrepreneurs, but few people know the story behind Jobs’s inspiring words of wisdom.
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Steve said the famous two words during a conversation with a retail executive who had received the task to innovate the Disney Store. The executive sought Jobs for advice.
Jobs, who was also Disney’s largest shareholder, responded with two words: “Dream Bigger.”
It was those two words that inspired the folks at Disney to change things radically.
Executives decided the Disney Store would no longer be just a place where customers can come to buy products. The new concept represented that every store in their network would embody the Disney state of mind.
So how can you apply this principle to how you live your life?
Well, it’s all about stepping outside your comfort zone and pushing yourself to look at things differently. Set higher goals! Don’t be afraid to try different experiences and go beyond what you think others expect of you.
[clickToTweet tweet=”Learn from #SteveJobs: Step outside of your #comfort zone.” quote=”Learn from Steve Jobs: Step outside of your comfort zone.”]
Don’t settle for good when you can be great.
Simply, dream bigger.
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This quote is more than just the slogan of one of Apple’s most successful advertising campaigns. “Think different” became the company’s mantra which drove Apple to develop breakthrough products.
Steve Jobs himself was known for his incredible ability to connect the dots and acknowledge opportunity where others didn’t see it. “Innovation happens on the edges of an industry first”, he said.
[clickToTweet tweet=”Innovation happens on the edges of an industry first” -Steve Jobs quote=”Innovation happens on the edges of an industry first” -Steve Jobs]
One of Jobs’s secrets to his extraordinary success was his genius-like capacity to make unexpected connections.
You see, Jobs was less of an inventor in the conventional sense of the word and more of an innovator. He was a visionary who combined what he saw in disparate fields to produce beautifully designed, seamless, user-friendly products.
He excelled at connecting the unconnected.
More often than not, he wasn’t the one who came up with the original idea. His genius consisted of his ability to think about those ideas differently and turn them into products that people would love.
He didn’t invent the computer mouse or the graphical user interface, but when he saw what they could do, he immediately began to think about practical applications that no one else thought about before him.
The iPod wasn’t the first MP3 player. The iPhone wasn’t the first smartphone. And tablet computers were around long before Apple introduced the iPad 1 in 2010.
Still, each one of these Apple devices was deemed as innovative and dominated their markets.
[clickToTweet tweet=”Channel Your Inner #SteveJobs! Connect the unconnected” quote=”Channel Your Inner Steve Jobs! Connect the unconnected”]
The main point you can take from this is that you should always be open to everything because the best ideas can often sneak up on you.
Remember that there’s always a new angle you can tackle. You don’t have to come up with a brand new idea or reinvent the wheel.
Train your mind to engage in associational thinking, be consistent with your efforts and last but not least, be patient. Like most skill-based activities, it takes practice.
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“Much of what I stumbled into by following my curiosity and intuition turned out to be priceless later on.”
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It’s a quote by Steve Jobs that speaks volumes about the life principles that he used to run his life by. His intense curiosity was one of his greatest qualities and the engine that fueled Apple’s growth into one of the world’s leading computer companies.
Curiosity is what made Jobs want to get to know his company inside and out. It’s what helped him come up with creative solutions to the challenges and problems he came across along the way.
Ultimately, curiosity is what fueled his determination to never stop looking for new ideas to improve his businesses.
Some people are naturally curious. But most of us have to make a conscious effort to flex our curiosity muscle.
[clickToTweet tweet=”Make a conscious effort to flex your #curiosity muscle.” quote=”Make a conscious effort to flex your #curiosity muscle.”]
So how do you strengthen your curious mind and channel your inner Steve Jobs? Here are a few simple things you can try:
- Expand your range of interests.
- Make a consistent effort to increase your knowledge in many diverse fields and subjects.
- Do more things you don’t already know.
- Ask questions as often as you get a chance.
- Interact with people outside your usual social groups.
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Steve Jobs was extremely outspoken and wasn’t afraid to share his opinions related to both business and life in general.
And one of the best advice he’s ever given to would-be entrepreneurs was related to the importance of enjoying your career.
“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.”
[clickToTweet tweet=”Don’t settle. – Steve Jobs” quote=”Don’t settle. – Steve Jobs”]
More often than not, greatness stems from passion, and life is too short to invest your energy in doing things that don’t bring you fulfillment and don’t make you happy.
Of course, in theory, following your passion seems pretty easy to do.
But in practice, it’s the opposite of that. Doing what you love takes a lot of courage and determination. It often requires taking risks and going down the road less traveled.
As Steve Jobs said in his iconic speech that he delivered at the Stanford University commencement in 2005, as long as you trust your instincts and have faith that the dots will connect in the end, you will find your way.
[clickToTweet tweet=”Have faith that the dots will connect in the end and you will find your way.” quote=”Have faith that the dots will connect in the end and you will find your way.”]
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From the get-go, Jobs set out to build a company that stood out and made a real difference. “We’re here to put a dent in the universe. Otherwise, why else even be here?”
And it’s safe to say he managed to do just that.
Steve Jobs’s genius lives on in products today – including those sold by competitors. And with every new generation of entrepreneurs who try to follow in his footsteps, his beliefs carry on.
Of course, Apple’s success can’t be credited to a single man. There are hundreds of brilliant minds working for the company, who have contributed to creating products that redefined the standards in their markets.
[clickToTweet tweet=”‘Jobs’s greatest creation isn’t any Apple product. It is Apple itself.'” quote=”‘Jobs’s greatest creation isn’t any Apple product. It is Apple itself.'”]
But Jobs was the one who imagined the environment where those products were built. John Gruber said it best in 2011, “Jobs’s greatest creation isn’t any Apple product. It is Apple itself.”
Changing the world and ‘putting a dent in the Universe’ is not easy, or else everyone would do it. It was also Steve who said that “things don’t have to change the world to be important.”
What you can take away from Steve Jobs’s ambition is that it’s important not to take shortcuts. Don’t do things halfway and always go that extra mile, whatever you do.
Also, be willing to make sacrifices to be great at what you love. And maybe, just maybe, people will be writing articles like this about you in a few years.
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So here’s what the plan is: from now on, every one of the new versions of Squirrly SEO for WordPress will pay homage to one of the greatest names in marketing.
We’re talking about people who weren’t afraid to assume risks, change the rules of the game, and be the best at what they do.
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For all the times Steve Jobs was the first, we named the latest version of Squirrly, Steve. It ‘s our way to honor his legacy and pay tribute.
It’s also because we as a company resonate with his unique way of running a business.
Squirrly is all about:
- Building customer-centric products
- Thinking Different
- Making a real difference for the better in the lives of our users
If you’d like to learn more about Squirrly Steve 2018 and how Steve Jobs inspired it, then you should know we’ll share more details during our official LIVE launch event on October 10th, 2017.
It’s gonna be “insanely great.”
Update: In case you couldn’t join the live event, you can still watch it here!
