“iCelebrate” Steve Jobs

“I just want to put a ding in the universe.”

~ Steve Jobs

When I heard the news that Steve Jobs died I felt crushed. Tears came to my eyes. A feeling of sadness, emptiness and loss consumed me. I immediately logged off my computer and settled in for the evening to watch the news and listen to reflections and condolences from around the world. My feelings echoed those of many around the planet. “iSad.”

I had grown up with the computer industry and in turn with Steve Jobs and Apple. My first computer was a Mac in 1984. Being a visual person I loved it. I thought it was beautiful. It literally smiled at me. Steve Jobs was larger than life and like many others in the 80′s I adopted his trademark bow tie look. Over time Steve literally touched all areas of life and it was a joy to see him grow, evolve and contribute so much to our global society. Now, a day after the iPhone 4S announcement, Steve was gone.

Sadness is our immediate reaction and emotion to such a loss but should we forever feel sadness when thinking about Steve? I believe that we should move together from sadness and forever celebrate his impact and the tools he gave us to progress, innovate, question and create.

Instead of feeling “iSad” let’s “iCelebrate” Steve Jobs and his tremendous and enduring impact. Enjoy these reflections and offer your own.

1. Victor Grigorieff – Senior Director of Engineering for Adobe Systems

“I wasn’t expecting to tear up when I read about Steve jobs passing. I was 9 when I was writing BASIC programs on my Apple II and I enjoyed it so much that I figured I could never get a job working with computers since it was so fun. I remember opening the box of my first Mac (purchased with my paper route savings) and years of loving all things Mac. I am not sure I would have discovered my passion for computers without the Apple II and the Mac. While I never met Steve, I really miss him.”

2. Kimberly Dianne Smith Ohlson – Former Microsoft Account Executive and Apple Enthusiast

“Steve Jobs is more than an Einstein, or a John Lennon to me, it was shattering to hear that he passed away. I felt numb from the thought that a great inventor, marketer, businessman who pioneered new ways of marketing and selling into what was thought of as an industry that had no major milestones in technology innovation.

Here comes Steve Jobs to prove the world wrong. He impacted a great many lives by giving society a new and exciting way to interact with each other and our technology. Steve made it exciting, fun, simple, elegant and intuitive. He did it his way. Steve has made his mark on us with all the great technology and services he innovated. I will celebrate Steve by continuing to support Apple, his vision, his passion in life.”

3. Sean Toomey – Vice President at Colliers International

“I vividly recall writing all my own programs to create games to play on the Apple II back in the very early 80′s. There was a computer store at Town & Country (what is now Santana Row in San Jose) that sold Apple, Commodore, and TI computers. My friends and I would hang out there teaching ourselves to program just so we could actually have games to play. Such great memories. More recently (10+ years ago), the iPod was one of the first “must-have” gadgets of my adulthood, followed by the iPhone. Just last week we bought our first Apple computer, a Macbook Air laptop for my wife, and admittedly (being a PC guy) it is pretty darned cool. Steve Jobs had the vision and the CEO power to force products into compliance with his vision, and it paid off in spades. Kudos to him for his vision and unwavering determination.”

4. Margie Clayman – Director of Client Development for Clayman Advertising & 12 Most Editor in Chief

“The Stanford speech, when it first came out, was just the most amazing thing. To tell adopted children that there was no shame at all in being adopted, to tell people without hope that there should always be hope…that speech had very little to do with computers, but what a contribution to his legacy!”

5. Parissa Behnia – Idea Chef at 678 Partners LLC

“I obviously never came close to knowing Steve Jobs personally but, as a consumer, the experience has been nothing short of exquisite. There is no shortage of time, effort or energy that’s required to make the in store experience the magical first step (for some like me) in an Apple love affair. This attention to detail, to me, shows that he “cared” for the little guy.”

6. Daniel Newman – CEO of United Visual Inc. & 12 Most Co-Founder

“It is a bit hard to write about Steve Jobs as if I knew him or as if I was even in a sphere close to his. What I do want to share is Steve Jobs built not only a company, but a legacy. He built a benchmark for what “brand” should mean. Whether it was the products or the service; Apple has created a bar that is so high that I wonder if any other company could ever reach it. I find his success to be humbling, his passion for innovation to be inspiring, and his business sense to be unmatched.

In his passing I choose to smile; not because there is anything good about it, but because I want to celebrate his life. Steve Jobs often spoke about “Leaving your Mark,” well unlike so many, he did that. Not once, or a few times, but repeatedly for the better part of the past 40 years. I will remember him for his greatness, miss him for his innovation, and celebrate him as an icon. RIP Steve Jobs.”

7. Peggy Fitzpatrick – Director of Marketing, Positive Vibe Producer – Kreussler Inc. & 12 Most Community Manager

“What I will remember most about Steve Jobs is that he changed this whole generation, how we listen to music, talk to each other and spend our free time. He innovated an entire industry as well as touched people’s lives in ways that we didn’t realize. The most touching thing after his passing was Guy Kawasaki’s speech given 10 minutes after learning of Steve’s death on the Facebook Summit which was supposed to be ‘How to Use Facebook to Enchant Your Customers’ but instead was this heartfelt tribute to Steve Jobs.”

8. Bruce Sallan – Host of #DadChat

“I was at @IdeaLab last night when we all heard the news. It was an ironic place to be, as it turned out. For many people there, Steve Jobs was a real meaningful icon. I marveled at being with Bill Gross as he showed those of us invited there something new and exciting he was working on. It made me wonder and reflect on how it must have felt back in Jobs’ garage in 1978? I was born (don’t tell anyone) a little bit before Steve Jobs so the idea that someone so young and so vital can die touches home and is mighty scary. The only takeaway for me is my ongoing desire to leave the world a better place, to be there for my boys, to not carry certain regrets to the grave and to always give IT my best. Steve Jobs did and we are all living the benefits he provided us. Now, we need to carry it on – each in our own way.”

9. Paul Biedermann – Creative Director/Owner of re:DESIGN & 12 Most Media Editor

“Almost every day for the last 20 years I have interacted and enjoyed the genius of Steve Jobs in some way. Other than a computer class in college where I gained a very rudimentary understanding of Basic and Fortran, Mac has always been the way for me.

The fact that I work in a creative field had everything to do with this, of course. Now my wife is also a big Apple convert (at home that is, which is under her control, but she always worked in the PC world professionally) and my kids have been weaned on Apple juice since before they could push a mouse. From iMacs to Power Macs to iPods, their fingers and eyes seemingly never leave a Jobs’ creation.

I had the good fortune to once see Steve Jobs at his stage performer’s best, doing his thing in blue jeans, black shirt and sneakers at a MacWorld convention in NYC around the mid-90s. I remember the focus being on how Macs were now faster than the latest PC offerings and their Intel chips. The audience hung on every word; nodded, “oohed” and “aahed” with approval at every inspiring declaration. It was at that moment that I fully understood the scope of the magic that was Steve Jobs and how his audience was more a gathering of disciples than a target market. This is what companies can only wish to achieve in their wildest dreams. For Jobs and Apple, it was reality — creating products that people need, crave, and can’t live without.

But for me, the genius of Steve Jobs is seen in the elegance of simplicity. Jobs understood that design is not just about how something looks, but is also about how it functions and solves a real human need. Good design makes life better, easier, more productive and beautiful all at the same time. From first opening the package, to setting up and ultimately using the product itself, every detail is thought through and the result is such a naturally satisfying experience that one almost misses the smarts behind the simplicity.

Steve Jobs will be missed, but I hope we’ve all learned something along the way and build on it.”

10. Dino Dogan – Co-Founder Triberr.com

“For me, the history of Apple is really the history of Steve Jobs. He is the Founder, but he is also the visionary. I read somewhere that back in the 70s, he and Steve Wozniak went to a Buddhist retreat with explicit purpose of appropriating some of the Easter design elements into their products. No wonder Apple products feel very Zen like.

When Steve left Apple in the 80s, Apple lost its luster. Let’s not mince words here…the company went down the drain.

When Steve returned, Apple came back in colors…everywhere… (remember the jingle?)

When I heard on the news that Steve Jobs had died it made me very sad. Only two deaths of public figures have had that effect on me. Farrokh Bulsara, whom you might know better as Freddie Mercury, the flamboyant singer of the rock band Queen. And the other was Frank Zappa.

Steve Jobs is now on that very short list. Rest in peace, Steve.”

11. Aaron Biebert – President & Healthcare Industry Consultant at Clear Medical Solutions & 8pm Warrior

“I’ve been there. Down in the dumps. Fired by the board. Doubting. Aching. Wondering. ‘Can I do it? Can I make it.’

One of my inspirations was the story of a college dropout who started a company in his garage that grew so big it became the most valuable company in America. Along the way, he was fired from his own company, started two more, and eventually was asked to come back to his old company and save the day. Steve Jobs was a warrior among warriors. Steve never stopped fighting. Steve was inspiring and always will be. In some of my darkest moments in business, his story has reminded me of what is possible when you don’t give up doing the work you love. Steve’s story reminds us to press on.”

12. Cynthia K Seymour – SeymourResults.com

“It’s amazing how much Steve Jobs’ innovative spirit has touched three generations of my family. My 72 year old father is the technology pioneer in my family and is always the first to get the latest Apple gadgets. In the early 80′s, too many hours were spent on games. My greatest memory, however, is watching the Pixar movies with my kids. Toy Story, Cars & Monsters, Inc. have all been family favorites for many years.”

Please help us celebrate Steve Jobs. Share your thoughts, reflections and stories.

Primary featured image courtesy of Jonathan Mak Long and licensed via Creative Commons. iCelebrate term and graphic added courtesy of BrandFlair and licensed via Creative Commons.