1. “Innovation distinguishes between a leader and a follower.”
Steve Jobs emphasized the role of innovation in leadership. This quote suggests that to lead, one must constantly strive for innovation and improvement, rather than merely following existing trends or standards.
2. “Remembering that you are going to die is the best way I know to avoid the trap of thinking you have something to lose.”
This quote is a stark reminder of our mortality and the temporary nature of life. Jobs motivates us to live fearlessly, as remembering our impermanence can free us from the fear of taking risks and pursuing our true passions.
3. “The people who are crazy enough to think they can change the world are the ones who do.”
In this quote, Jobs celebrates unconventional thinking and audacity. He champions those who dare to dream big and challenge the status quo, for they are the ones who shape the world and make a significant impact.
4. “The only way to do great work is to love what you do.”
Here, Jobs underscores the importance of passion in producing exceptional work. When we love what we do, we naturally invest more effort and creativity into our work, leading to higher quality outcomes and greater satisfaction.
5. “I’m convinced that about half of what separates the successful entrepreneurs from the non-successful ones is pure perseverance.”
Jobs stresses the power of perseverance in achieving success. He asserts that it’s not just talent or brilliant ideas that bring success, but the ability to persist through challenges and keep striving towards your goals.
6. “Quality is much better than quantity. One home run is much better than two doubles.”
In this quote, Jobs stresses the importance of aiming for excellence rather than settling for mediocrity. It is a reminder that achieving one significant thing excellently is far more valuable than achieving multiple things to a lower standard.
7. “Design is not just what it looks like and feels like. Design is how it works.”
Here, Jobs underscores that design is not just about aesthetics. It’s also about functionality and ease of use, aligning with the user-centric design philosophy that Apple has always championed.
8. “Your work is going to fill a large part of your life, and the only way to be truly satisfied is to do what you believe is great work. And the only way to do great work is to love what you do.”
This quote emphasizes that to achieve job satisfaction, you must be passionate about what you do. When you love your work, you’re more likely to put in the effort necessary to do an excellent job, leading to more meaningful and satisfying outcomes.
9. “Stay hungry. Stay foolish.”
In this iconic quote, Jobs encourages us to maintain our curiosity, openness, and drive. “Stay hungry” refers to an unending appetite for knowledge and improvement, while “Stay foolish” is a call to keep a sense of wonder and not be afraid of challenging conventions or making mistakes.
10. “You can’t connect the dots looking forward; you can only connect them looking backward. So you have to trust that the dots will somehow connect in your future.”
This quote highlights the unpredictability of life and the need for faith in the journey. We often can’t predict how events in our lives will lead to future outcomes, but by looking back, we can see how past experiences have shaped us. Jobs urges us to trust in our path, even when the future is uncertain.
