Steve Jobs Secrets of Life

Silicon Valley Historical Association

6 Oct 201101:40

Summary

TLDRThe speaker asserts that we're often told the world is fixed, but in fact everything comprising our lives was created by people no smarter than us, so we can mold and improve reality. Once realizing we can poke life and spur change, we can't see things the same. Though life feels set in place, it's erroneous to believe we're just here to live inside it without changing things. We can build, influence, lead impactful lives. Life is messed up in many ways, so once recognizing its malleability, we'll feel compelled to better it rather than passively exist.

Takeaways

😲 The world and your life are not fixed, they were created by people no smarter than you
😎 You have the power to influence and change the world around you
👷‍♂️ You can build things that others can use to change the world
🔨 If you try to change life, something will happen as a result
🌟 Life is messed up in many ways, so you should try to improve it
💡 Once you realize you can change the world, you will never see things the same way again
🎯 Your goal should be to embrace life, change it, improve it, and make your mark on it
😕 The notion that you just have to live inside the world as it is is wrong
🚀 You have immense potential to mold and shape the world around you
🌈 Discovering that you can change the world opens up new and exciting possibilities in life

Q & A

What does the speaker mean when he says 'the world is the way it is'?
-The speaker is referring to the common belief that the world, including societal structures and norms, is fixed and unchangeable.
What does the speaker mean when he says to not 'bash into the walls too much'?
-The speaker means that people tend to accept the world's limitations without trying to push beyond or change them.
Why does the speaker advocate for making your 'mark' on life instead of just living in it?
-The speaker believes that life can be molded and shaped through human will and imagination, so we should seek to actively influence and improve the world instead of passively accepting it.
What is the 'simple fact' the speaker refers to?
-The simple fact is that the world and societal structures were created by people no smarter than oneself, so one has the power to change and reshape them.
What wall is the speaker referring to when he says to not bash into them too much?
-The 'walls' represent the limitations and widely-accepted norms that people tend to not question or try to change.
What does the speaker mean when he says you can 'poke life' and get something to 'pop out the other side'?
-This figurative language means that by questioning, researching, and experimenting, you can gain new insights and possibilities beyond the status quo.
Why does the speaker seem to have a negative view of traditional life paths like having a family?
-The speaker isn't necessarily criticizing traditional family life, but rather advocating that there are many more possibilities in life beyond convention if one recognizes their agency.
What capabilities come with the realization that you can change life?
-The capabilities that come with this realization include influencing societal norms, innovating new systems and technology, reforming organizations and structures, and generally shaping the world.
Why does the speaker think this realization can make life 'kind of messed up'?
-By recognizing the malleability of societal constructs, one also recognizes their arbitrary and imperfect nature, which can make life seem more complex.
Why do you think the speaker says you'll 'never be the same again' once you have this realization?
-The speaker emphasizes the profoundly life-altering nature of recognizing one's agency to change the world - it fundamentally shifts one's worldview and sense of possibility.

Outlines

00:00

😊 You Can Change and Improve Life

The paragraph argues that life is not fixed, but malleable. We are told the world is set, but very person has the power to change, influence, build, and improve life. Once you understand you can mold life, you will want to make your mark on the world and change it for the better.

Mindmap

Keywords

💡world

The speaker refers to 'the world' to represent broader society and the systems, rules, and limitations that exist within it. He argues that people falsely think 'the world' has to be the way it is when in fact 'the world' is created by people and can be changed.

💡change

The ability to 'change' the world is a major theme. The speaker urges the listener to understand that they can influence and 'change' the systems and constructs of the world, rather than passively accept them as unalterable.

💡life

The speaker contrasts a 'limited life' where one just accepts 'the world' as is, versus a 'much broader life' where one realizes they can mold and shape the world around them. 'Life' represents the opportunities and scope for impact.

💡people

The speaker highlights that the world and societal systems were created by 'people' no smarter than the average person. This emphasizes that anyone has the power to change the world.

💡build

The act of building and creating things that others can use is given as an example of how one can influence the world, with technology implicitly being an impactful sphere.

💡poke

'Poke' and 'pop out the other side' conveys that the world and life are malleable systems that will shift and transform if one takes action and exerts agency.

💡mold

The metaphor of being able to 'mold' the world emphasizes the speaker's view that the world is pliable rather than fixed, able to be shaped based on one's intention and will.

💡mark

The speaker urges the listener to make their 'mark upon' and shape the world in an impactful way according to their vision rather than passively live inside a world partly shaped by others.

💡messed up

The speaker critiques the world as currently 'messed up', highlighting problems and flaws in need of improvement and change.

💡agency

The overall message is around personal 'agency' - that individuals have the power to influence change in the world around them rather than be passive participants.

Highlights

You tend to get told that the world is the way it is and you just have to live your life inside it

Life can be much broader once you discover that everything around you was made up by people no smarter than you, and you can change it

You can influence and build your own things that other people can use

You can poke life and actually something will pop out the other side that you can change and mold

The most important thing is to shake off this erroneous notion that life is there and you're just going to live in it

Embrace life, change it, improve it, make your mark upon it

Once you learn you can change life and make it better, you'll never be the same again

Life is kind of messed up in a lot of ways

You tend to get told the world is the way it is and your life is just to live inside it

Try not to bash into the walls too much, have a nice family life, save a little money

That's a very limited life

You can influence and build your own things that other people can use

Make your mark upon life

Life can be much broader once you discover one simple fact

You'll want to change life and make it better