There has been a lot of press about Apple’s big milestone in May of becoming the largest technology company in the world at $50 billion plus (and only second in size to ExxonMobil in the U.S.). Recently a friend sent me Steve Job’s commencement speech from 2005 (linked). His messages are timeless; I am focusing on a just a couple of them below.
Failure
As I contemplated my departure from the corporate world to Entrepreneur it was a challenge to focus on the path ahead and not the feelings that I had failed. Even though it was my choice to leave and I had done a lot of soul searching about doing my own thing, I still had feelings of failure. It was too much struggle, things were too difficult. I was not good enough to stick it out and “break the glass ceiling” to become a VP.
Steve Jobs explains that at the age of 30 he was very publicly fired from the company he created. My feelings of failure look downright silly and ludicrous in comparison.
Lightness of Beginning Again
Last fall I was working hard on my leadership project and preparing to leave for China when the big “a ha” hit me: I was creating the stress and struggle that I escaped from in my prior corporate role all over again and I had no one to blame but myself. I was asking myself, “Why did I agree to do this project, what was I thinking? I could be relaxing and recovering for awhile before I really focus on my own business.”
Finally, I let go. I completely let go of all my attachment to the outcome of the project and focused on my love of empowering and coaching people to success. Feelings of lightness and excitement replaced stress and struggle. I eased into the flow and enjoyed being a beginner. Steve Jobs attributes his “lightness of beginning again” to his ability to create two new very creative companies that ultimately took Apple to where it is today.
Faith
Connecting the dots of the experiences in your life can only happen in hindsight. It is a lesson in frustration to try and see how all your current experiences will fulfill your ultimate dreams. I love Job’s advice (paraphrase): follow your heart, listen to your gut, do what you love and have faith that it will all work out. One of the dots that fell in place this past year was all my experience in working with corporate lawyers on complicated supply agreements. It led to a coaching opportunity with lawyers. Who would have guessed?
He goes on to say, “Don’t settle” and “Your time is limited, don’t waste it living someone else’s life.” I wholeheartedly agree, follow your own unique internalGPS and enjoy the ride!
How has the lightness of beginning again or faith allowed you to be more successful? Please share in a comment.
photo credits: Flickrich, Roo Reynolds