Steve Jobs - Connecting The Dots - Motivational Video

Summary

In this motivational speech, the speaker shares three pivotal stories from their life. The first recounts their decision to drop out of college and how seemingly unrelated experiences connected later, illustrating the importance of trusting one's intuition. The second story discusses overcoming failure after being fired from Apple, which led to new creative successes like Pixar. The final reflection emphasizes the significance of finding and pursuing work one loves, urging listeners to keep searching for their passion and live each day meaningfully.

Takeaways

• 🔗 **Connecting the Dots:** You can only connect the dots looking backwards, not forwards. Trust that they will connect in the future, whether through destiny, karma, or intuition.
• 📚 **Dropping Out:** The speaker dropped out of college after six months because he couldn't see its value and didn't know what he wanted to do with his life.
• 💡 **Curiosity and Learning:** After dropping out, he attended classes that interested him. This unconventional path led to invaluable experiences.
• 🗺️ **Life's Challenges:** He faced hardships like sleeping on friends' floors and returning bottles for food. These struggles were part of his journey to self-discovery.
• 👨‍💻 **Finding Passion Early:** He found his passion early, starting Apple in his parents' garage at 20. Despite initial success, he was fired from the company he helped build.
• 🌱 **New Beginnings:** Getting fired from Apple was a painful but necessary step, leading to a period of immense creativity and growth.
• 🎥 **Success with Pixar:** He started Pixar, which created the first computer-animated film, 'Toy Story,' and became the world's leading animation studio.
• 🔄 **Return to Apple:** Apple acquired NeXT, his next company, and he returned to lead Apple, using NeXT’s technology to drive a revival.
• ❤️ **Pursuing What You Love:** The only way to do great work is to love what you do. If you haven’t found your passion, keep searching and don’t settle.
• ⏳ **Live Each Day Fully:** He asked himself every day if it would be his last. This mindset pushed him to live a life true to his desires and values.

Q & A

What is the first story about?

The first story is about 'connecting the dots,' where the speaker shares his experience of dropping out of Reed College and how the seemingly unconnected events in his life later formed a meaningful pattern.

Why did the speaker drop out of college?

The speaker dropped out of Reed College because he couldn't see the value in it, had no clear idea of what he wanted to do with his life, and how college would help him figure it out.

What motivated the speaker to drop out of Reed College?

The speaker decided to drop out and trust that everything would work out. He wanted the freedom to follow his curiosity and intuition by attending only the classes that interested him.

How did the speaker manage after dropping out of college?

After dropping out, the speaker faced challenges like not having a dorm room, sleeping on friends' floors, returning Coke bottles for money, and walking long distances to get a meal at the Hare Krishna temple.

What lesson does the speaker convey about connecting the dots?

The speaker emphasizes that you can't connect the dots looking forward; you can only connect them looking backward. This means you have to trust that your experiences will make sense in the future.

What is the second story about?

The second story is about 'love and loss,' where the speaker talks about his experience of starting Apple, being fired from the company, and how he rediscovered his passion and creativity afterward.

How did the speaker feel after being fired from Apple?

The speaker felt devastated and considered himself a public failure. However, he eventually realized that he still loved what he did and decided to start over.

What did the speaker do after being fired from Apple?

After being fired, the speaker started two new companies, NeXT and Pixar, and met his future wife. These experiences led to significant personal and professional growth.

What is the significance of the speaker's experience with Pixar?

The speaker's work with Pixar led to the creation of the world's first computer-animated feature film, 'Toy Story,' and Pixar became the most successful animation studio in the world.

What overall message does the speaker convey through his stories?

The speaker conveys that life's challenges, such as dropping out of college or getting fired, can lead to unexpected opportunities and growth. He emphasizes the importance of following one's passion, trusting in the process, and not settling until you find what you love.