From the 60 Minutes Archive: Steve Jobs
Steve Jobs (1955–2011) was a visionary entrepreneur, inventor, and business leader, widely regarded as one of the most influential figures in technology and modern business. As the co-founder of Apple Inc., Jobs played a crucial role in shaping the personal computing, smartphone, and entertainment industries. His relentless drive for innovation, combined with his focus on design and user experience, helped create products that revolutionized the way people interact with technology.
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Early Life and Education:
Birth: Steve Jobs was born on February 24, 1955, in San Francisco, California, and was adopted shortly after his birth by Paul and Clara Jobs. He grew up in Cupertino, California, which later became the heart of Silicon Valley.
Education: Jobs attended Reed College in Portland, Oregon, but dropped out after just one semester. However, he continued auditing classes, including one in calligraphy, which would later influence the design of Apple's typography and user interfaces.
Founding Apple Inc.:
Apple's Birth (1976): In 1976, Steve Jobs, along with his friend Steve Wozniak and Ronald Wayne, co-founded Apple Computer, Inc. in Jobs' garage. Their goal was to build and sell personal computers, a vision that began with the Apple I, designed and built by Wozniak.
Apple II (1977): The Apple II, launched in 1977, was one of the first highly successful personal computers and was key to establishing Apple’s dominance in the industry.
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The Macintosh (1984): Jobs played a central role in the development of the Macintosh. The Macintosh was one of the first personal computers to use a graphical user interface (GUI), making computers more user-friendly and accessible to the general public.
Departure from Apple:
Firing from Apple (1985): In 1985, after a power struggle with Apple's board of directors, Jobs was ousted from the company he co-founded. This was a significant turning point in his career, but rather than retreating, Jobs went on to pursue new ventures.
NeXT and Pixar:
NeXT (1985): After leaving Apple, Jobs founded NeXT, a computer company focused on creating high-end workstations for universities and businesses. While NeXT computers were not commercially successful, the company played a crucial role in advancing computer technology, especially in software development.
Pixar (1986): Jobs purchased The Graphics Group from Lucasfilm in 1986, which was later renamed Pixar. Pixar became a groundbreaking animation company and produced the first-ever fully computer-animated feature film, Toy Story (1995). Pixar's success culminated in its acquisition by The Walt Disney Company in 2006, making Jobs Disney’s largest individual shareholder.
Return to Apple and Resurgence:
Apple's Revival (1997): In 1997, Apple acquired NeXT, bringing Jobs back to the company. Jobs soon became the CEO of Apple and began to transform the company.
Iconic Products:
iMac (1998): One of Jobs’ first successes upon returning to Apple was the release of the colorful, translucent iMac, which helped revive Apple’s fortunes.
iPod (2001): Jobs introduced the iPod, a portable music player that revolutionized the music industry and laid the groundwork for future Apple products.
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iTunes and the App Store: The introduction of iTunes (2001) and the App Store (2008) changed the way people purchased and consumed digital media, and helped create a thriving ecosystem for developers and content creators.
iPhone (2007): Perhaps Jobs' most famous product, the iPhone, was introduced in 2007. It combined a phone, music player, and internet browser into one device, fundamentally changing the smartphone industry and consumer technology.
iPad (2010): Jobs introduced the iPad, further defining the tablet market and expanding Apple's influence in mobile computing.
Leadership and Philosophy:
Design and User Experience: Jobs was famous for his obsession with design, simplicity, and user experience. He was deeply involved in every aspect of Apple’s product development, from hardware design to software and packaging. He was known for demanding perfection, often pushing his teams to their limits to create products that were not only functional but also beautiful.
"Think Different": The "Think Different" campaign, launched by Apple in 1997, became emblematic of Jobs' philosophy. It emphasized creativity, innovation, and challenging the status quo, resonating with consumers and aligning with Apple’s brand identity.
Visionary Leadership: Jobs was known for his charisma, vision, and ability to inspire those around him. He had a unique way of seeing possibilities in technology that others could not. His leadership style was often described as demanding and sometimes confrontational, but it drove Apple to become one of the most valuable and innovative companies in the world.
Steve Jobs' Health Struggles and Death:
Pancreatic Cancer: In 2004, Jobs was diagnosed with a rare form of pancreatic cancer, a condition that eventually took his life. He kept the diagnosis private for a time and continued working despite his illness.
Death: Steve Jobs passed away on October 5, 2011, at the age of 56. His death was met with an outpouring of tributes from around the world, with many recognizing his transformative impact on technology, business, and culture.
Legacy:
Steve Jobs left behind a legacy of innovation, having revolutionized not only the technology industry but also music, telecommunications, and entertainment. He was instrumental in the creation of a global tech ecosystem that continues to influence the world today.
Apple’s Market Dominance: Under Jobs' leadership, Apple became one of the most successful and valuable companies in the world, known for its innovation and sleek design.
Cultural Impact: Jobs' impact went beyond technology; he changed how people communicate, consume media, and interact with digital content.
Books and Films: Jobs' life has been the subject of numerous books, including the bestselling biography by Walter Isaacson, and films like the biopic Steve Jobs (2015), in which Michael Fassbender portrayed him.
Steve Jobs' 2005 Stanford Commencement Speech:
One of Jobs' most memorable moments was his 2005 Stanford Commencement Address, where he shared powerful lessons on life, failure, and following one’s passion. The speech resonated deeply with millions and is often cited as one of the most inspiring commencement addresses ever delivered. Some of the key themes of the speech included:
“You can't connect the dots looking forward; you can only connect them looking backward.”
“The only way to do great work is to love what you do.”
"Stay hungry, stay foolish."
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