This past week we say goodbye to one of the technology industries visionaries: Steve Jobs. Granted there is no shortage of tributes, articles and analysis on this great man. As one of the pioneers of personalizing technology for the every-day person, I look to him as a great source of inspiration for the direction that I hope one day semi-conductor companies, such as TI, will achieve.
The best message Steve brought to this industry is simple :Think DifferentConnect the Dots
Think Different: In 1996, Apple/ Macintosh acquired Steve's current company NexT that he became the interim-later permanent CEO [wikepedia]. He inherited a company, that he had perviously left in his absense had become one of the large silicon valley giants, but had lost its direction. He had to battle both a culture within Macintosh of bureaucracy, complacency and reactionism-and also a perception without of "nice, but not for serious work."... Steve embarked on a culture changing mechanism that created the company we know now.
The embedded video was one of his tools he used to achieve this. On an odd side note-- is one that when I have moments, " what the heck it is that I do?" I watch... and instantly remember that we're helping make Innovation for the future.
Here's to the Crazy Ones
Perhaps what you may not know is that Steve Jobs actually narrated that himself. Belief that your idea... can change the world. That your opinion matters. That YOU are the innovator. That belief became one of Apple's cultural cornerstones that we know and love.
Believing that: is what leads innovation. Not accepting to do things the same way. Making sure there is a better way to do it. It is that passion and those ideas that the University Marketing Programme was created to enable. That is what makes this job so exciting.
Connect the Dots:In 2005, Steve Jobs addressed the Stanford Graduating Class. Commencement Address
Transcript: http://news-service.stanford.edu/news/2005/june15/jobs-061505.html
Follow your Curiosity. Connecting the Dots. You cannot connect the dots looking forward. You can only connect them looking backwards.
What I love about this message?Technology is oftentimes pigeon held for a "type" of person. We want the next chip that does: [insert whatever problem we are experiencing right now because everyone is on our behind to get it done]. We don't often take time to think about the particular issue as it relates to the greater whole. Accepting ideas and concepts outside the traditional silos- you open yourself up to Thinking Different (above).
Technology is not confined to only those who study it. Computer Science- get dirty and grab some hardware. Example: Mechanical Engineering- Ask what you can do with electronics to smarten up your systems. Architecture - What can you do to make your buildings smarter, more aesthetic, more efficient? Biomedical- What tools do you need to create to do your innovations? Photographers- what type of problems are you facing in getting your cameras to coordinate the same? Cooks in training- how amazing would it be for you to be able to know how and when things are getting finished? The list can go on. TI-Semiconductors are not just for electrical engineers. J
Connect the dots. Whatever issue you are facing... there is an innovation that can be had. This is what makes this time, TI's products so exciting!
Farewell Steve Jobs. You will be missed. Thank you so much for inspiring our next set of innovators.
Nice blog, Larissa.