Every entrepreneur has moments of struggle – moments when the path is too stony and lonely, and where they just can’t quite see the way to the outcome they dream of. And that’s why today I ask you to remember Steve Jobs. His occupation was listed on his death certificate as “entrepreneur”.

Sometimes the Challenges Are Gifts

Steve dropped out of college because he couldn’t afford it, but that freed him to learn what really intrigued him. Later, he was fired and humiliated by the company he built, and endured to return triumphantly and steer them to new creative heights.

He has influenced the entertainment and communications of most people in the developed world, with the iTunes music service, the most sophisticated smartphones, and of course the Mac computer.

“You can’t connect the dots looking forward; you can only connect them looking backwards. So you have to trust that the dots will somehow connect in your future. You have to trust in something — your gut, destiny, life, karma, whatever. This approach has never let me down, and it has made all the difference in my life.”

– Steve Jobs

Steve Jobs was essential to the creation of Apple Computer, Pixar Animation Studios, and NeXT. His leadership and drive for excellence brought us the Macintosh computer, the iPhone, iPod and iPad, and some of the best computer animation there’s been to date (Toy Story, Cars, and many more). He’s named on more than three hundred patents or patent applications.

Steve Jobs Was Passionate About Following Your Heart

“Your time is limited, so don’t waste it living someone else’s life.”

– Steve Jobs

Seth Godin challenges us to appreciate his legacy and carry it forward: “Steve devoted his professional life to giving us (you, me and a billion other people) the most powerful device ever available to an ordinary person. Everything in our world is different because of the device you’re reading this on.

What are we going to do with it?”

Don’t Give Up

Today is a good day to take one small action in memory of Steve Jobs. Create something. Learn something you really want to learn. Make something beautiful as well as functional. Appreciate something you love.

“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. As with all matters of the heart, you’ll know when you find it. And, like any great relationship, it just gets better and better as the years roll on. So keep looking until you find it. Don’t settle.”

Image Credits: Matt Yohe and Matt Buchanan.

About the author

Karilee

I'm a big fan of entrepreneurship. Most of my learning, teaching and business is focused on effectively creating "freedom businesses" that allow you to focus on your strengths, and bring what you're really good at to the world - profitably. My clients are looking for more of the right customers - and I show them how to make that happen. I help them develop their web presence through their website, SEO, social media and other marketing tactics.