iPassion: The REASON Why I Cried When I Learned of Steve Job’s death

    Steve Jobs, the Icon. What more is there to say?

   More than his ingenuity, creativity and brilliance, there is one word, the reason that made me shed a tear the day Apple, the company he co-founded officially announced his death: PASSION.

   His Passion for what he’s doing is so obvious that it brims in the stage whenever he does product presentations. It doesn't only affect the people in the four corners of the venues, but also translated to the four corners of the houses or the offices of the watchers of his presentations in You Tube. One word will escape from your mouth after he presents the product, “Wow!” And that what makes consumers purchase his products. He doesn’t sell products, he sells lifestyle.

     Now, how can you imagine an ipod-less or iphone-less society? Impossible. All because of a man who happens to be a visionary. He’s penchant for passion is just amazing, unimaginable and great.

   

     I learned of Steve Jobs’ death on the day when I was about to apply for a job, on one of the strings of days when I was figuring out what to do next after a 5-month sabbatical period. Had my resources were not depleting; I would have not dared bailing myself out in this wondrous rest mode. But I have to go out and find a living. The thought of it dragged me but I have to make a responsible decision. After all, even though both my parents were already gone, I still have a very good support of my sibling and friends to back me up with whatever dreams I want to reach or endeavors I want to fulfil. I was so close to deciding to get a choice on the mere basis of “I got no choice.” Then Steve Jobs died and the message of passion echoed strong and hard: “If this is your last day on your earth, would you want do the thing that you'd do today?” My answer was no, but thinking of the activity I would have to do to the next day which is attending an environmental symposium, then, it’s a CLEAR yes.

   Sigh. Passion. In this mediocre world, it’s easy to get lost with what lowly the world offers, with what is easy to grab.   Steve Jobs death reminded me to dig deeper into my heart then listen to it. It’s hard though. Even if I consider myself a risk-taker, I still take calculated risks. If I follow my passion which is writing, arts and advocacy, how am I to support myself financially?

     Articles, memorials, messages of heartfelt gratitude surface in overwhelming scale one after the other, in surprisingly creative way in each passing day that he’s gone. In each write up, I am reminded of what for me was the greatest message of his life, more than his legacy of awesome gadgets, it is the PASSION he has put on what he’s doing that sets him apart. And the world was never the same again.

     A week after he died, the world continues to revolve. In my life, I will make an important decision on which organization I will pour my talent, skills and effort. Or maybe I will need to build one. Half kidding aside, his death reminded me to take inventory of my own skills and talents which God has given to me. In sharing that to others, I need to make sure that it’s sealed with much zest – just like what Steve Jobs did -- iPassion


     "Sometimes life hits you in  the head with a brick, don't lose faith."




     "Our work is going to fill a large part of our life, and the only way to be truly satisfied is to do what we believe is great work. And the only way to do great work is to love what we we do. If we haven't found it yet, we should keep looking. Don't settle. As with all matters of the heart, we'll know when we find it. And, like any great relationship,  it just gets better and better as the years roll on. So we need to keep looking until we find it. We shouldn't settle."