I never wanted this day to happen yet we all knew it was coming, perhaps even sooner since Steve’s recent resignation.
Steve Jobs passed away today, and I am very sad along with many others. Twitter and Facebook is full of tributes to Steve Jobs including from those that are surprised they feel this way.
Steve Jobs is my hero, my idol, my inspiration and my mentor.
During the summer of 2001 I was given a wonderful opportunity to go work for the company that Steve Jobs created. I became a QA intern working on a new unknown product called iTunes.
I remember one day, I came to work a little later than normal because I had just been arguing with FedEx as my first Apple Titanium Powerbook had been lost in shipment. I wasn’t in a pleasant mood and just wanted to get to my cube. I walked into the elevator along side another employee and hit the “3” button. This guy outside the elevator walked in backwards while talking to someone. He kept talking and talking, holding up the elevator. I wanted to say, “ah come on, hurry up”, but I didn’t. He eventually stopped talking, and turned around to face me. I looked at him and was a little shell shocked. It was Steve Jobs. I had heard stories that Steve had fired someone in the elevator so I didn’t know what to say. “Hi, how are you?” was about all I could say. He smiled and replied, “Just a little busy with MacWorld next week”. And with that the elevator opened and I had to walk out. I couldn’t wait to get to my cube to tell everyone else who I had just met in the elevator. He made my day.
I saw him a few times on campus and it always amazed me that for someone who was a billionaire, he always wore the black shirt and gray shorts. But I thought it was great because he’s down to Earth. As interns we also had the privilege to have a Q&A with Steve in Town Hall. He talked about why he came back to Apple, and how passionate he was about not allowing Apple to disappear. And boy, did he turn it around.
Steve was a genius, a thinker, and a believer. He has changed the world, not only for those who have Apple products. He has reinvented the computer, changed the music industry, and revolutionized the mobile industry. With his leadership he has truly revolutionized the world and the way in which we use technology. Even if you don’t own a single Apple product, the products you do own have been created in someway because Apple did.
The world has been forever changed for the better because of Steve’s amazing vision. He turned a company that was on the brink of bankruptcy to the worlds most valuable company. He has created products that change the way we think, the way we do things, and the way we live. It’s these things that I have been inspired by.
Steve, you have influenced and changed my life in many ways in my personal life, my work life, and the even the way I life by. I am passionate with what I do because of you. If I’m going to do something, I want it to be meaningful and I’m not afraid of changing the world. I remember the day when someone called me “the Indian Steve Jobs”, I felt so incredibly proud.
Steve, thank you. Thank you for everything. I will remember you.
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