Steve Jobs

Steve Jobs holding an iPhone ( ())

"If at first you don't succeed, try, try again."  This quote is an amazing embodiment of Steve Jobs' personality. When Jobs first began Apple Computers, his path to success was dotted with problems and hardships. However, none of these setbacks stopped him from achieving the amazing feats he accomplished. From being bullied to facing cancer, Jobs has amazed the world through his tenacious hold on his dreams. The founder of Apple Computers, Steven Paul Jobs, was born in San Francisco, California on February 24, 1955. His two unwed college graduate parents then proceeded to give him up for adoption. Later, he was brought home by the couple Paul and Clara Jobs. Residing in the Californian city known as Silicon Valley, Jobs developed an intense interest in computers and technology during his childhood.  As he grew up, Jobs gradually became a well known hero in society. A hero is a person who has a sincere motive to change the world for the better. Like Jobs, a hero must have a giving attitude, an unbreakable will even when times get tough, and a creative mind. Steve Jobs not only innovated technology that helped change the world, but also inspired others by demonstrating an unconquerable will during hard times and a greedless attitude towards himself.

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Steve Jobs showed the world through his own failures that the only way to achieve a goal is through an unwavering amount of self perseverance. The success that Steve Jobs attained came through many trials and hardships. These trials waged a tedious battle against Jobs mental and physical health. However, to Jobs, these were only a test of his willpower to continue doing what he loved.  "When Jobs was in the seventh grade, he encountered troubles at school, the victim of bullies. He refused to return to that school, and his parents decided to move to Los Altos. Jobs attended Homestead High School in Cupertino, California, where he had a reputation as a loner and developed a keen interest in technology. During a school field trip to the plant of the Hewlett-Packard computer company in nearby Palo Alto, the concept of a desktop computer attracted Jobs' notice. Later, in pursuit of computer parts for a school project, Jobs went straight to the source, contacting William Hewlett, cofounder of Hewlett-Packard." (Steve Jobs). Even though Jobs' interest caused him to be bullied and alienated, it did not stop him from pursuing his passion. By casting aside all regards for his social life, Jobs showed an amazing amount of perseverance as he continued his study in technology. Though Steve founded Apple Computers, his stay there was not as permanent as he hoped for. After the failing of a product:  "Jobs was squeezed out of his position and founded a new computer company, NeXT, and later made another fortune with Pixar Animation Studios, which he bought from filmmaker George Lucas. His comeback was complete when he stepped in as a consultant once again at Apple and oversaw three product lines, the iMac and iBook computers and iPod digital portable music device, which revitalized the company's image and sales" (Steve Jobs). Jobs' undying willpower reveals itself after this incident. Being fired from the very company he helped to create is not only terrible but also very embarrassing. When Jobs refused to give up, he sent a message to the world saying that even when his world came crashing down, he is still able to stand back up. Without pausing to grieve over his loss, Jobs continued to change the world when he created a new company and attempted to finish what he started. His tenacious hold on his dreams paid back when Apple decided to rehire him as a consultant once more. Through the pursuit of his dream, Steve Jobs embodies the trait of perseverance. From a victim of bullying to being fired by the very company he helped create, Jobs has never let any of these hardships stop him from doing what he loves. With an unconquerable will, Jobs faced every problem without fear.

The selfless acts towards his company have distinguished Steve Jobs from many other corporate leaders. In order for Apple to change the world, Jobs had almost no regard of his own personal needs. Steve Jobs' body was never a very healthy or strong one. His career was constantly threatened by his health conditions. Even though Apple was a very successful company: " The…success...was overshadowed, however, by Jobs' health problems. When he introduced new Apple products in the fall of 2008, he was quite gaunt and many were worried about the state of his health and its affect on his company. In January 2009, Job announced that he had a treatable hormone imbalance. Though he vowed to run Apple while receiving treatment..." (Jobs, Steven) Jobs was dedicated to his work, and was willing to sacrifice his health to see that his company would continue to help the world. By telling others that his condition was 'treatable' and getting rid of any doubt about his ability to lead, Jobs was able to continue his work in Apple. Though Jobs body did fail at the end, "he vowed to run Apple while receiving treatment..." This shows Jobs' complete disregard for his health. Instead of taking a break, he continued to help Apple achieve its goal. Jobs did not care much about money. Rather, he cared about how his company was doing and how it was helping others. Steve made the ultimate sacrifice when he: "...officially resigned as Apple CEO in late August of 2011. In a statement released by the company, Jobs explained he was no longer able to meet his "duties and expectations" and the time had come for him to step down. Jobs were moved into a chairman role, and Tim Cook, the company's COO, moved into the leadership role." (Steve Jobs). Job's was able to give up all the glory and money his position was bringing him just so Apple could have a more able leader. By openly admitting that "he was no longer able to meet his duties and expectations," and giving the CEO position to someone else, Jobs showed that he is willing to give up his prestigious position in order for Apple to prosper. Fame and fortune was nothing compared to the well being of his company. By giving up his leadership role, Jobs ensured that Apple Computers would continue to shape the world for the better. Through his life, Steve Jobs never believed in money. He only believed in his company and helping others.

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Perhaps one of Jobs' most admiring traits was his sense of innovation. He saw that the world was at first intimidated by computers, thus he set it his goal to make computers something the whole world could use. Steve Jobs revolutionized the computer industry by taking something that was previously complex, and simplifying the process so the world could benefit from it. The first step Jobs took was noticing the: "... huge gap in the existing computer market, as no product was targeted for home use. Wosniak improved his initial computer while Jobs lined up investors and bank financing. Marketing manager A. C. Markkula eventually invested $250,000 and became an equal partner in the Apple Computer Company. With new capital, Jobs and Wosniak refined the prototype. The redesigned computer--christened the "Apple II"--hit the market in 1977, with impressive first year sales of $2.7 million." (Jobs, Steve) This quote shows that Jobs understood the root problem in the PC industry. By using his innovative spirit, Jobs was able to come out with the Apple II computer, a more user friendly device that wasn't so complex.  Jobs innovative spirit is also shown through his ability to get funding for his project. The manager, Markkula, saw the benefits and creative aspects of Jobs' product and decided to invest in it. Jobs helped the world realize the amazing power of computers, but he also helped the world in a different way. Steve used his creativeness to also start up a whole new branch of movies. "With this new company, renamed Pixar Animation Studios, Jobs set out to create a major animated-movie studio. Pixar began by making commercials and short animated films, many of which won prestigious awards..... In 1991 Pixar signed a deal with Disney to develop and distribute feature-length animated movies. Four years later Pixar released its debut film, Toy Story, the first movie to be completely computer animated" (Steve Jobs). In this quote, Steve Jobs uses his creative spirit to allow others to experience the new sensation of watching a movie with absolutely no actors. By creating the first fully animated film, Jobs allowed others to see that touching stories could be created through digital images and computers. Jobs also reinforced the old saying of "nothings impossible." Before Toy Story, no one believed that a movie could be filmed without actors. However, through Jobs' creative and innovative actions, he changed the views of movie making for the entire world. Steve Jobs' innovations have not only helped the world realize the power of computers in their own homes, but in movies and recreational activities as well.

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Steve Jobs used his creative mind to revolutionize the personal computer industry, and inspired others through his perseverance and unselfish attitude towards himself. Jobs was able to withstand the harshest trials in life while dedicating himself to helping society through his company and products. Steve Jobs is truly an inspiration to me because he shows us that to be a hero, you must believe in the quote saying "There is never a wall too high to climb." Overcoming great odds, Jobs is a symbol of success and inspired the world through the constant pursuit of his dream. From computers to animating movies, Jobs never gave up despite the physical and emotional difficulties. In the end, Jobs lost the battle against his pancreatic cancer and died on October 5, 2011. Even though he is not living anymore, his products continue to help and bring joy to people around the world. Without Steve Jobs, thousands of songs would not be able to fit in a pocket, nor would the PC industry be as successful as it is today.