On the day Steve Jobs died, I listened to a replay of his 2005 Stanford University commencement address, where he told three awe inspiring stories that helped connect the dots in his life. I sat mesmerized. I fell in love. 
Then I read reports of Steve Jobs’ lack of philanthropy. I learned that he refused to join the nearly 70 U.S. billionaires who have pledged to give away at least half their fortunes, led by Berkshire Hathaway‘s Warren Buffett and Microsoft co-founder Bill Gates. Was he so single minded and self-centered that he felt himself above this philanthropic campaign? I felt disillusioned. My new found hero was tumbling to the ground.
I had to regroup, and regroup I did. I began to reflect on a different facet to Steve Jobs – the Steve Jobs who was on the forefront of the PC revolution, who introduced technologies that have revolutionized our everyday lives: the Macintosh computer, Ipods, Ipads, Iphones, and apps. Can you wrap your brain around how different our world would be today without his innovations? The model of courage, perseverance and determination he exemplified by starting out in an empty garage with a seed of an idea and building a firm worth $350 billion – that’s $350 billion in shareholder value that didn’t exist 35 years ago. I thought about his employees’ salaries and benefits —at Apple, NeXT and Pixar. That’s a lot of wealth being put back into our economy as his employees invested, made purchases, paid taxes and possibly gave to charities of their choosing.
Suddenly it hit me. Maybe Jobs wasn’t big on donating to charities. But he surely was big on creating products that have enriched our lives, big on creating huge numbers of jobs and putting money back into our economy. Like everything else he did in his life, Steve Jobs did it his way, leaving a legacy that impacts all those he leaves behind. So he too, has become one of my heroes.
Steve, you too have made this world a better place.
Remember, we can do this – one person at a time!
there are some dating coaches who are excellent for women like you. one is jonathon asley. not sure if i spelled it right. he also help you with your online profile and manages each email with you. try him. a good sense of men and woman.
Anonymous:
Remember the saying, "the grass always looks greener on the other side?"
If you are unhappy and want a divorce that is one thing. Isn't it worth writing a letter to your husband and sticking it on the dashboard of his car so you
Steve Jobs was a creative genius and a technical visionary. He was a business man extraordinaire. But he wasn’t a hero. A hero risks his or her life for the sake of others and humanity. At least that’s my definition. Our military men and women are heroes.
Not Steve Jobs.
If you want to judge him poorly for not giving away his billions you can of course. But it’s my opinion that you had no right to expect him to. It’s his money. He earned it. What he did with it should be 100% his choice as long as he was within the boundaries of the law of the land.
Oh, I get how you wanted him to spread it around and thought it was his responsibility. I appreciate you broadened our appreciation for the industry he developed, and the jobs he provided. But the wealth he created for himself–and yes for others in the process–is his to do with what he chooses.
Funny another technical genius died the same week as Steve Jobs, and one who arguably made an even more meaningful impact, but didn’t received near the press……Dennis Ritchie, the man who invented the C language. Many thought he was more important than Jobs to technology today,
http://www.digitaltrends.com/computing/was-dennis-ritchie-more-important-than-steve-jobs/
I love the last line of the linked article you provide: “Who wins? We all do.” As this article points out, comparing these two men is like comparing apples and oranges. They had different talents and work styles, but their contributions were gigantic. I admire them both enormously.
As far as my thinking “it was his responsibility to spread around his wealth”, that really wasn’t the intent of my message. Sure I would have loved him to do that, but the point to my article was this: As I reflected, I realized that there are many different ways to contribute to society. He chose his way and did so admirably. He made huge contributions to society so I really have no right to expect more.
Yesterday a family member who lost her job and is struggling to pay her bills shared a story about how she met a family with 8 children who were hungry and homeless. She immediately went across the street to a grocery store to buy them food. Both parents had lost their jobs and eventually their home. They had no family to turn to for help. This young lady could not walk away without offering a helping hand.
My point is…I still believe that there are a lot of just regular folks who offer help to their family, friends and in this case, strangers. They will never be recognized or read about. They just do what they consider the right thing and they ask nothing in return.
Yes, Debi, I agree, there are many unsung heroes in our midst who lead with their hearts and look for no gold medals in return!
From what I’ve read about Steve Jobs, he was a very tough man to work for and not much of a hands-on father. Of course he was flawed. He was human. But he did enrich our lives tremendously. That he choose not to give to charity may be disappointing, but Dallas Lady is absolutely correct – it was his choice. As far as Warren Buffett goes, I’m glad he gives to charity. I’d even read that he plans on leaving a huge chunk of his wealth to the Gates’ Foundation when he dies. However, he’s also the one trying to drive up taxes on those same types of job creators as Steve Jobs was – all the while Berkshire Hathaway owes a huge sum of money to the US government in the form of back taxes. I’d choose a man like Steve Jobs over Warren Buffett any day. At least he’s not a hypocrite.
I read this today about Steve Jobs and President Obama:
“You’re headed for a one-term presidency,” he told Obama at the start of their meeting, insisting that the administration needed to be more business-friendly. As an example, Jobs described the ease with which companies can build factories in China compared to the United States, where “regulations and unnecessary costs” make it difficult for them.
Jobs also criticized America’s education system, saying it was “crippled by union work rules,” noted Isaacson. “Until the teachers’ unions were broken, there was almost no hope for education reform.” Jobs proposed allowing principals to hire and fire teachers based on merit, that schools stay open until 6 p.m. and that they be open 11 months a year. (here)
Yep. Definitely my kind of man! ♥
Thanks for the Additional comments and clarification. I admired Jobs’ genius. He was an extraordinary man in many ways, but quite human and as flawed as we all are. I admittedly am hyper sensitive to the suggestion that any of us have any business whatsoever to really comment on how others choose or don’t choose to spend their money, I’m all for applauding philanthropy. (although I do think that is sometimes ego driven, when it comes with public disclosure and strings……vs private giving). I’m just not for criticizing others for their lack of it.
I agree with completely. He did what he did and he did it well. That’s all he owes anyone. That’s all any of us owe anyone. I find it kind of offensive that people are obligated to fork over a sum of money to charity. That seems to be a dangerous road to start down.