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From Garage to Global Icon: The Steve Jobs Story
Steve Jobs is not unknown to anyone and one of the most impactful figures in the world of technology - the co-founder of Apple Inc. who led it to one of the most valuable companies in the world. From dropping out of college to becoming a visionary leader who changed the world with his innovations is truly inspiring.
Steve Jobs was born on February 24, 1955, in San Francisco, California. He was adopted by Paul and Clara Jobs, who raised him in Mountain View, California. Steve started taking interest in electronics started at a very young age. He was inspired by his father, who showed him how to dismantle and rebuild electronical items in his garage.
Steve got admission at Reed College in Oregon but soon dropped out after six months. Een after he left the school, he kept on attending the audit classes which always was of his interest, such as calligraphy. This can be noticed in the design methodology of Apple products, which are well known for their beautiful typography and design. After leaving college, Jobs came back to California and started attending meetings of the Homebrew Computer Club with his friend Steve Wozniak. That’s where they both decided to build a computer together.
In the year of 1976, Jobs and Wozniak started Apple Computer, Inc. in Jobs' garage, where they created the Apple I computer, which was a simple computer in the form of a kit. The Apple I proved to be huge success and following that, they developed the Apple II, which also became one of the first highly successful mass-produced personal computers. The Apple II was a breakthrough, with features such as colour graphics and an open architecture, which allowed users to add their own components.
Later in 1980, it was decided for Apple to go public, which made Jobs a millionaire at the age of just 25. However, the journey was full of challenges. In 1985, due to internal conflicts and a power struggle, Jobs was forced to resign from the company which he had co-founded.
After leaving Apple, Jobs founded NeXT, which was a computer platform development company. NeXT computers were technologically very advanced and expensive, and couldn’t prove to be commercial success. However, since the NeXT operating system was very advanced, it served as the foundation for macOS, which runs modern day Mac computers. It was at this time that Jobs bought a small computer graphics division from Lucasfilm, which became Pixar Animation Studios. Under Jobs' leadership, Pixar created the first ever computer-animated feature film, "Toy Story," which was a massive success. Then, Pixar went on to produce many blockbuster films and was later acquired by Disney, making Jobs the largest shareholder in Disney.
In 1996, Apple took over NeXT, and Jobs also joined back to the company. He initially returned as an advisor however, he soon became the interim CEO. Jobs quickly began transforming Apple. He simplified the product line, discontinuing unnecessary projects and putting the main entire focus primarily on innovation.
Now comes the year 1998 and Apple introduces the iMac, a colourful and sophisticated computer that became an instant hit. The iMac's success helped revive Apple and helped it for future innovations.
During Job’s tenure, Apple was able to introduce several revolutionary products one after another that changed the world. Here is the list of the of those products:
- iPod (2001): The iPod revolutionized the music industry by allowing people to carry thousands of songs in a very small device which can be fit in the user’s pockets. It was sleek, user-friendly and thus became a huge success.
- iTunes Store (2003): The iTunes Store – an online music store – where the people can purchase and download music in a legal and easy method. It transformed the way people purchased the music.
- iPhone (2007): The iPhone was a revolutionary product in the mobile phone industry. It was basically a combination of a phone, an iPod and an internet communicator in just one device. The iPhone's touchscreen interface and app ecosystem revolutionized the smartphone market.
- App Store (2008): The App Store was a place where developers were allowed to create and sell applications for the iPhone. This led to creation of millions of apps and entirely changed the way people used their phones.
- iPad (2010): The iPad created a new category of devices which was in between smartphones and laptops. It proved to be very useful for browsing, reading, gaming and much more.
- MacBook Air (2008): The MacBook Air was a thin and lightweight laptop that set the new standards for portable computing.
Steve Jobs left the world on October 5, 2011, as he was suffering from pancreatic cancer. He will be remembered for the revolutionary products he created and the most valuable company he built. Apple continues to innovate and its products are bought by millions of people around the world.
There are many valuable lessons which we can learn from Steve’s life. He had a passion for technology and design from a young age and followed his interests persistently. Jobs was always very curious and never stopped learning, even after dropping out of college. He always welcomed failure and used them as learning opportunities, which led him to achieving huge success. Jobs always thought differently and looked for innovative solutions for the problems, creating groundbreaking products. He never compromised on quality, which set Apple apart from its competitors. He took risks, as he always believed in his vision and stayed committed to it despite numerous challenges in the way. He had an unwavering focus on creating simplified products, with a view to make them user-friendly and intuitive, leading to better user experiences. His impact goes beyond his products, as he inspired many people with his vision, creativity and determination.
Jobs' notable achievements remind us that with determination and creativity, we can solve biggest problems and achieve great success in life. His journey has proven that anything is possible only if you dare to dream big.
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