Steve Jobs aside from being one of the co-founders of Apple Inc. Steve Jobs became one of the most influential figures in not just the tech world but modern business as we know it, Born on February 24th at San Francisco California his innovations and creative vision changed the world forever. His life was filled with triumphs, challenges, setbacks — and spectacular comebacks — making him one of the most colorful and prominent gentlemen in history.”
In Image: Steve Jobs
Infancy and Adoption
Steve Jobs was born to Syrain political science professor Abdulfattah Jandali and graduate student Joanne Schieble. Instead, he was adopted by Paul and Clara Jobs, an unassuming couple living in Mountain View, California. Steve Jobs Parents – Steve Jobs was raised in a loving home by father Paul Jobs, a machinist and mother Clara Jobs, an accountant. Paul, who exposed Jobs to electronics and taught him a lot about his trade, was instrumental in the future entrepreneur’s early interest in building things. Steve Jobs had always been thankful to his adoptive family for providing him shelter through which he could explore his interests and dreams.
From an early age, he has exhibited indications of intellectual and rebelliousness. While academically gifted, he believed traditional learning was boxy. This nonconformity and spirit of disobedience would eventually characterize him in his leadership and career.
The Spiritual Awakening and College Years
In 1972, Steve Jobs entered Reed College in Portland, Oregon, but dropped out after just one semester. Reed may have been the closest he came to having a real mentor; even though he dropped out, Reed influenced how he thought about design and creativity and life in general. Jobs continued to ditch classes, but really enjoyed the calligraphy class, which influenced the Macintosh computer’s typography.
Steve Jobs had the one year of spiritual searching after dropping out from Reed college. He took a journey to India in search of enlightenment and to experiment with some Eastern philosophies in 1974. He became interested in Zen Buddhism at the time, which influenced his minimalist style and method of product design.” During this spiritual pilgrimage, Steve Jobs learned to appreciate simplicity, focus and the idea of perfection; all things he would take back home into his job with Apple.
Apple’s Establishment and Early Achievements
In 1976, in his parents’ garage, he co-founded Apple Computer with friend Steve Wozniak and Ronald Wayne. Wozniak was an engineer nearing the completion of a working design for the Apple I, and Jobs recognised its potential. His tale of Apple began by persuading Wozniak that they could launch a company together. Jobs was never the engineering lead; that’s always been Wozniak.
The release of the Apple II in 1977 was a turning point for the company: one of the earliest mass-market personal computers, it helped establish Apple as a major player in technology. Very soon Steve Jobs was labeled a tough and somewhat difficult boss. His obsession with function, form and user experience became an integral part of the culture at apple. He used to believe, in fact that besides needing something to work well, technology also should be classy and intuitive.
But inside the org Steve Jobs management style also created friction. His singular vision—and his relentless drive to achieve it—led him at times into conflicts with board members and colleagues.
The Macintosh and Apple’s Split
Steve Jobs had a long legacy – Think delivered some of the most famous products from its time, even in 1984 there was Macintosh. The Mac’s graphical user interface was the first of its kind on a home computer, allowing laypeople access to computers. Apple’s launch was heralded by the historic Ridley Scott-directed Super Bowl ad “1984,” which cast the corporation as an antiestablishment counterpoint to corporate computing giant IBM. This was pure Steve Jobs: bold, imaginative and visionary.
Even the success of the Macintosh wasn’t able to ease tensions at Apple. His choices and management style grew increasingly polarising, culminating in a boardroom power struggle with Apple co-founder and then-CEO John Sculley that resulted in Jobs losing his job at the company in 1985. This was the final straw for Steve Jobs but like always he converted this problem into an opportunity.
Pixar and NeXT: An Upcoming Chapter
After leaving Apple Steve Jobs founded NeXT, a company that produced premium workstations for businesses and universities. Although not as commercially successful as Apple, NeXT was a cutting edge technology that would end up becoming the foundation for Apple’s macOS when Steve Jobs returned to the company. NeXT was all about software design and innovation, a manifestation of Steve Jobs’ relentless pursuit of perfection in form and function.
At roughly the same time, Steve Jobs bought a small animation company from George Lucas and formed Pixar Animation Studios. In 1995, Pixar–under the direction of Steve Jobs–shook up the animation industry with Toy Story, the first ever fully computer animated feature film. The firm gained prominence in Hollywood because of Pixar’s success, and Steve Jobs became a millionaire when it went public later that year.
Pixar’s success was a testament to Steve Jobs’ ability to see potential where others couldn’t. Before computer-generated animation even really took off, he knew that it would be the entertainment of the future. Yet another example of the visionary opportunities he saw during his life; his investment in Pixar.
Going Back to Apple and the iEra’s Rise
Apple had trouble in 1996. A loss-making, shrinking firm that Steve Jobs had co-founded. Steve Jobs returned to early life as an adviser and later as a hard and fast CEO when Apple bought NeXT, unexpectedly. And soon Steve Jobs breathed new life into Apple. The 1900s witnessed perhaps the most unbelievable corporate turnaround ever, designed by Steve Jobs himself, who focused and innovated.
The 1998 iMac launch by Steve Jobs was one of his first major victories after returning. The iMac, with its stylish all-in-one design by Jonathan Ive, was central to Apple’s comeback. Once more, Steve Jobs had emphasized simplicity and design, making the Mac an instant hit with consumers.”
But Steve Jobs was far from finished. Over the next decade he would lead Apple in creating a succession of innovative products that would change several industries. In 2001, the iPod was released so consumers could take thousands of tunes with them in a portable music player. In addition to its innovative hardware, the iPod became popular due in part to Steve Job’s idea of a digital hub model that connected devices such as the iPod with Apple’s software and computers.
Again, Steve Jobs unveiled the iPhone in 2007 and everything changed. The iPhone was not only a phone, it was an amazing device that acted as music player, camera and mobile computer. The current smartphone era starting in 2008 when the App Store supercharged the iPhone. The iPhone became one of the best-selling consumer devices of all time and propelled Apple to number one in the global market capitalization rankings.
The iPad was another Steve Jobs invention however, which changed the way everyone interacted with technology and came in 2010. As always, Steve Jobs had delivered a product was that no one knew they wanted until after they used it.
Legacy and Leadership Style
Steve Jobs was infamous for his even stricter management style. He was famous for being able to instill great affection and a sense of loyalty in his teams by pushing them to achieve objectives they thought at one time were impossible. But he could also be menacing, unpredictable, and a relentless perfectionist. His famous “reality distortion field,” his power to convince others — and, when necessary, himself— that anything was possible, was at once a boon and a challenge.
One of the few people who could combine technology and art was Steve Jobs. Instead of just powerful machinery, he wanted to create clean design products that were both simple and revolutionary. He was willing to take risks where most any other CEO would be too scared to move forward, and more importantly, he had a unique vision for understanding what customers wanted before they even knew it themselves. That “making a dent in the universe” mission wasn’t just some catchy phrase, it was what made everything he did tick.
Every Apple product to see the light of day has inherited a bit from Steve Jobs — be it the iPhone, or the Apple Watch (or take me — every other device still.) His story remains an inspiration for entrepreneurs and innovators around the world, impacting technology, design and business on a massive scale. Apple emerged as a hallmark of quality, innovation and creativity under Steve Jobs.
Health and Personal Life Challenges
Steve Jobs was so successful in the business world, and his personal life is just as complicated. Laurene Powell Jobs is a differential partner of him & also Reed, Erin, and Eve are his three children from his marriage with Laurene. He also had a daughter, Lisa Brennan-Jobs from an earlier relationship. He kept a long-distant, icy relationship with Lisa, until they made amends.
In 2003, Steve Jobs was diagnosed with a rare form of pancreatic cancer. For years — while battling cancer, which he kept a secret — he led Apple and introduced the world to new products. However, his health began declining and in 2011, Steve Jobs resigned as the Apple CEO and recommended Tim Cook to become him. Steve Jobs died on October 5th, 2011 at the age of 56 leaving a legacy unmatched by very few.
Steve Jobs’s Effect on Culture and Technology
There may not be a larger figure that outstrips the influence of early-mid 2000s Steve Jobs on our culture and technology today. He designed things, for sure — but he also changed the face of entire industries and how we live and work. For many revolutions in the digital age, his contributions to entertainment and music as well as the mobile and personal computer had made him a pivotal player.
The User Experience — Steve Jobs and the Heart of Technology The target has always been to make technology affordable, easy to use and fun for the average consumer. Before Steve Jobs, computers and other electronics were viewed as complicated tools best suited for specialists or tech enthusiasts. Apple made a deliberate decision to target every user, from the tech whiz kid in your family to grandma.
The Macintosh’s graphical user interface increased the intuitive nature of a personal computer by allowing users to interact with windows and icons, rather than write text instructions. By packaging stylish design with a simple-to-use set of functionality, the iPod transformed how people listened and interacted with music. As a reaction, the iPhone revolutionized the mobile phone from top to bottom, blending it with computing and creating an entirely new category of device: the smartphone. Depending on whom you ask, the iPhone’s touch-screen interface, applications and integration with the Internet have revolutionized communication, business transactions and leisure time.
Additionally, Steve Jobs changed the design approach of companies. He also maintained that technology should not only work well but also look good. Inspired by, grace and minimalism, his style of designing was inherently professional and simplistic. It set a new standard for consumer electronics and gave Apple its style. Every Apple device, from the original iMac to the svelte lines of the iPhone and iPad, bore evidence of Steve Jobs’ sentiment that form should follow function. This design-led approach has since, transformed millions of businesses on the globe but more so, the IT industry to prioritize aesthetically pleasing and user-friendly designs.
The entertainment sector had the influence of Steve Jobs, too. Through Pixar, Steve Jobs transformed the medium — raising animation filmmaking out of a traditional 2D standard to hip new ground in 3D computer generated imagery (CGI). Starting with Toy Story, Pixar films did all the things that broke artform new ground but also rooted entertainment value in heavy hitting, relatable storytelling digestible for audiences of all ages. Under the stewardship of Steve Jobs, Pixar became one of Hollywood’s leading lights and helped to prove the idea that technology could be friendly with story.
Then, with the launch of iTunes and the iTunes Store, Apple continued to disrupt their entire music business by providing customers with a simple and legal way to purchase and organize their digital music. It forced the music industry to face the facts of digital distribution. Likewise, the App Store transformed software development and distribution. It opened up the world of app development to independent developers and created an entire new app industry.
The Innovative Legacy of Steve Jobs
One of the main pillars in Steve Jobs´ legacy is his passion to innovate. He kept redefining the possible and demanding that his people do better and work harder. It was not just a marketing tagline; it encompassed his entire philosophy of business and innovation. Steve jobs was always looking into the future, he could see potential use of technology and products years before other people, or even his competitors realized it.
Perhaps one of his most important contributions to new ideas was [the] insight into the convergence of technology and behavior,” according to Tom Peters. From the outset he recognised that technology was evolving beyond just a business tool, it was becoming central to people’s day to day existence. Providing consumer access to technology was his mantra — creating useful & enticing items were what he focused on. The iPhone, for example, is not only a phone and web browser but also a music player, camera, personal assistant, and door to the digital realm. His integration of technology to everyday life is one of his greatest social contributions.
Not only did Steve Jobs create amazing products, he also transformed the business strategy for Apple. During his time, Apple became known for having a vertically integrated business model, controlling both the hardware and software of its products. This level of control allowed Apple to provide a seamless experience across all its devices, helping the company stand apart from competitors that often relied on software developed by third parties. They also applied this tactic to Apple’s bricks and mortar presence; the launch of Apple retail radicalized computer goods shopping. Apple Stores were meant to be more than just stores; places where people would go to interact with the merchandise, get help, and get plugged into the Apple community.
It has often been said that Steve Jobs understood the importance of branding and storytelling too. He mastered the art of creating hype for new products and the unveiling of details — most often saving them for his famous keynote speeches. These “Stevenotes” evolved into major events, garnering extensive press attention and reinforcing Apple’s identity as an innovative company. Steve Jobs was not only a tech visionary, but also one of the greatest marketing geniuses because he had an innate sense of how to communicate a product’s value to engage consumers.
Steve Jobs was the visionary person who changed our interaction with technology and outside world. He was much more than just a successful businessman. He has influenced and will continue to influence the IT industry and greater world through his commitment to design, passion for innovation, and relentless drive for perfection. The personal computer and the smartphone revolutionized entire sectors of the economy, while also raising the standards for technological capability — all thanks to Steve Jobs.
"His touch can be seen in all Apple products, Pixar productions, and the many businesspeople and inventors that have come after him. Steve Jobs demonstrated to the world how technology, when paired with imagination and foresight, can really transform the world. He will have an impact on generations to come because his life story will serve as motivation for those who dare to dream big."