A.G.’s book recommendations: Steve Jobs by Walter Isaacson

The book

After one month of almost daily reading, I finally got to the end of Walter Isaacson’s Steve Jobs biography. It was not the writing – rather stiff and cold as an economical piece in a newspaper, but the charismatic persona beyond the words who made go back to it every night. The hope that I will get to understand better the man behind the legend. But, as Dante says, “All hope abandon ye who enter here” because the book is a lengthy account of Apple history and products, a result of a mix between great vision and tantrum fits. Steve Jobs is depicted as a charismatic yet difficult man, with a few distinctive quirks, a great vision and a decisive influence on shaping modern life.

I admire Stevs Jobs for inspiring and making people go beyond their limits. For his focus and drive. For being into yoga and vegan food. For feeling that there must be more to our existence than meets the eye. For seeing opportunities where others saw nothing. Although each one of us have a special mission on this Earth and have our own pathways, in some regards, I would like to be Steve Jobs.

I would like to be authentic and honest to the bone – never, ever do something just to fit in or get acceptance. A work in progress for me, still 🙂 After two years in college, Steve Jobs decided not to waste his parents money anymore. He dropped out but, because he was brilliant, he was allowed to audit the classes he was really interested in such as caligraphy. I would like to be an A lister and surround myself with such people. A listers will always prefer to work with A listers, B listers with B listers and so on. I would like to have persistence and excellency as daily mantra and way of life. Failure is just another stepping stone to success, an opportunity to get better. I would like to keep focus on what really matters. What really matters is knowing yourself better every day, being generous, sharing your gift. I would like to make a contribution and add to the legacy of those who went before. But this imply creating something to last not just to make money, that will stand for something a generation or two for now.

What drove me? I think most creative people want to express appreciation for being able to take advantage of the work that’s been done by others before us. It’s about trying to express something in the only way that most of us know how.

I promise myself to keep evolving, moving, refining my art.

If you are not busy being born, you’re busy dying.

I would like to have a clear vision and see opportunities.

People don’t know what they want until you show it to them. That’s why I never market research. Our task is to read things that are not yet on the page.

I think that human admiration for achievers, for people who are surpassing their limits it’s proof that deep down we are all in some sort, champions. Isaacson’s book will give a nudge to the gifted and successful you, and hopefully, get you to work. Make you take one step away from mediocrity and bring to surface your authentic self.