Apple Inc. co-founder and chief executive officer Steve Jobs told students to “find what they love” in his commencement speech at Stanford University on June 12.
Delivering his keynote address to a crowd of about 20,000 people gathered at Stanford Stadium, Jobs shared some of the lessons he had learned in a lifetime of ups and downs.
Adopted at birth, Jobs explained the pressures he felt from a young age to be successful. He spoke about the importance his biological mother had placed on higher education, and how he wound up finding success in spite of never finishing his degree.
Jobs recalled dropping out from Reed College in Portland, Oregon, and the struggles he encountered afterward. He credited his decision to drop out in helping him find his way, and encouraged graduates to stay true to what they love and trust things will work out for the best.
“You have to trust that the dots will somehow connect in your future,” Jobs said. “Believing that the dots will connect down the road will give you the confidence to follow your heart, even when it leads you off the well-worn path, and that will make all the difference.”
The example of his college years was reflected in his personal examples about his career at Apple as well. Jobs expressed his bewilderment at being fired in 1985 from the company he helped to found.
John Sculley had been hired to help take the company into the future in April of 1983, and it soon became evident to Jobs their visions for the company did not align. A power struggle ensued, and as Jobs puts it, he found himself, “out…and very publicly out.”
Just as was the case with his college career, Jobs eventually found his way, and said he would have missed out on so many of the blessings in his life if he had never faced such unfortunate circumstances.
Jobs eventually returned to Apple when they purchased his new venture, NeXT Inc., in 1997. During this time away from Apple, Jobs was married to his wife Laurene, and also co-founded Pixar Animation Studios, which he called, “the most successful animation studio in the world.”
All of this would have never happened if he had not been fired, he said.
“Sometimes life is going to hit you in the head with a brick,” Jobs said. “Don’t lose faith…You’ve got to find what you love, and that is as true for work as it is for your lovers.”
He went on to explain the importance of refusing to settle in life, telling students how great work can only be achieved when you find something you truly love to do.
“As with all matters of the heart, you will know when you find it,” Jobs said. “Like any great relationship it just gets better and better as the years roll on. So, keep looking. Don’t settle.”
Jobs also shared his thoughts about death, and gave students a few parting thoughts to inspire them into the next chapter of their life.
He spoke of a cancer scare a year ago in which he expected the worst, only to find the type of cancer he had was treatable through surgery. Jobs told students his brush with death helped him to realize how important it is in facilitating change.
Apologizing to students for being, “so dramatic,” Jobs told students the newness they have now will soon fade, and stressed the need for them to stay true to themselves.
Jobs concluded his speech by remembering the parting words from the back cover of an issue of The Whole Earth Catalog, a magazine Jobs described as “Google in paperback form.” The publication stopped publishing regular editions in 1972, but left an undeniable imprint on the young entrepreneur’s mind.
“It was their farewell message as they signed off, Jobs said. “Stay Hungry. Stay Foolish. And I have always wished that for myself. And now, as you graduate to begin anew, I wish that for you.”