- A life that leaves nothing behind is a life wasted on the planet
- As you make a point to conquer the conference room, do find time to feel the energy and the vibrancy of the vegetable market wherever work takes you
- In the poetry and prose of humanity, all wisdom has been recorded for posterity
- The plants do not come to the gardener; the gardener must go to where the plants may be.
- Each plant has different needs at different times and the gardener must anticipate those and be proactive.
No Goodbyes, Steve.
Steve has left behind two legacies: Apple and the capacity to rise beyond the immediacy of personal pain, mediocrity, disability and constraints of our own making.
By some coincidence, I am in Palo Alto today and a few hours back when I got the news of Steve Jobs’ moving on, the Sun was setting on the Pacific West and there was a huge cloud in the sky that was softly orange; the air was still and not a leaf was stirring. There was a preparation in the air to receive one of the worthiest-born sons, as he returned to her lap.
I felt empty; not sad.
Sadness is not what you want to feel for a soul like Steve. He was so way beyond it; if you have ever downloaded the commencement speech that he delivered at Stanford a few years ago, you knew that he, like the setting Sun of the last afternoon, was letting the Universe know that it was a matter of time. There was this tinge of inevitability even as he said, I am fine. I am now cured. He was simply preparing us. He was, from somewhere deep inside telling us, like everything made of elements, he too must go. But go like what?
After the news sunk in, I stepped out for a walk. For as far as I could see, there were no people. After some distance, I turned into a lonely street. A young woman stepped out of her home and walked towards her car and briefly, made eye-contact. I thought she was going to cry. She simply muttered, ‘it is sad day’ and I nodded. We will never meet again but she had to tell her feelings to a stranger who was united with her in a loss like no other.
Steve Jobs was not about technology
The man was about life and living and love. And, giving. Making people twice, thrice, a hundred times removed, to feel wonderful.
Every day, I meet leaders in positions of importance in organizations of different sizes and shapes. They talk about constraints, they exude entitlement, they tell me how brilliant they are and how screwed up the world is and why they could do so much more, if only….!
I think of Steve Jobs when I hear them. None of them were given away at birth; none suffered the isolation of growing up without an identity in the Valley where Stanford alone was synonymous with intellect. None of these people had to walk to the Hare Krishna temple for a meal. We so easily, so quickly, become entitled.
Steve has left behind two legacies: Apple and the capacity to rise beyond the immediacy of personal pain, mediocrity, disability and constraints of our own making. We blame things around because we are not willing to create the future. In leading Apple, Steve Jobs was showing us all that the innate capacity we have to give away (and in what quantum!) even as sometimes, in some ways, we are all “given away”.
No goodbyes to a man who will live in our hearts for ever.
Thanks Sir for putting this down so wonderfully. I had the same feelings just not the words.
We all will miss Steve for sure….
Dear Mr. Bagchi,
Many people have penned odes to Steve, but this one is beautiful. Since I don’t use any Apple products, not as yet, I know of Steve largely because of, as you put it so well – the capacity to rise above odds. Thank you for penning this.
Best regards,
Lubna
Fantastice write up sir.. and you are right, no goodbyes to a man who will live in our hearts for ever..
It’s really true that Mr. Steve Jobs will always remain in our hearts. There are great lessons to be learned from this person.
We will really miss him.
Your ode to Steve, would have impressed the man himself I guess – simple, to the point and elegant. Thank you for penning this, like myself I am sure many more people will enjoy reading this.
So beautifully said, Mr Bagchi! When someone like Steve Jobs, who, rising from nothing/no where, with just his intellect and imagination and ability to dream, leaves such a stupendous mark on the lives of others, he is truly an inspiration, an icon for the rest of us to try and emulate! Steve Jobs, RIP.
A fitting tribute indeed!
Steve you will be preserved forever in our memories and thoughts and heart!!! that was a really touching sentences Bagchi sir.. more than a visionary we lost a good human being-an inspiration,a new dimensional entrepreneur, a Saint.. the one explored the ability of facing crude death…No Goodbyes, Steve. your life will be a moral for many…
Eulogy Written in Palo Alto
Dear Gardener,
“I felt empty; not sad.”
It is your poetic sensitivity that has given us not an elegy but an eulogy out of your feelings of emptiness.
Thomas Gray could well have written this epitaph for Steve Jobs (with a slight twist):
http://www.bartleby.com/101/453.html
THE EPITAPH.
Here rests his head upon the lap of Earth
A Youth to Fortune and to Fame unknown.
Fair Science frown’d not on his humble birth,
And Melancholy mark’d him for her own.
Large was his bounty, and his soul sincere,
Heav’n did a recompense as largely send:
He gave to Mis’ry all he had, a tear,
He gain’d from Heav’n (’twas all he wish’d) a friend.”
Thanks and regards,
Geetha
Thank you for a beautifully moving piece. I am sharing this on my facebook page.
I have read and re read and can still re read his Stanford address any number of times.. among-st others ,I loved his message therein that no education ever goes waste ..a wonderful message for our children… I think it was the personal example he set which as u aptly summed up as “the capacity to rise beyond the immediacy of personal pain, mediocrity, disability and constraints of our own making” which has touched millions of hearts and has left us grieving … One sees such outpouring of grief for a statesman, a religious figure.. but for an entrepreneur, a businessman? Unbelievable ! Leaves me awed…
Very good write up Sir, No Good bye Steve.
You only introduced me to Steve Jobs and his outstanding personality a couple of years ago. “Stay hungry!” and “Stay foolish” – these simple words he spoke to the graduates at Stanford University in 2005: deep, meaningful, profound, essential in life – no matter at which age, professional career or path. We must not forget. He left his footprints and will always be remembered.
I was thinking about Steve and thought whether our Great Indian CEO’s are having time to think about a Genius and to my surprise when I opened your blogs, you penned down about Steve.. I would say you are really lucky to be in Palo Alto.
Just a wonderful writing about Steve Jobs ideas for life. May be Steve Jobs always wanted people to understand his thought the way you have put in words. Hats off to Steve and hearty thanks to you for this blog.
regards,
Bimal
Good writing. Steve never spoke about profitability. He pioneered innovation at work and himself was one. I was told that the IPAD was conceptualized way back in 80s, which I believe could be true….Kudos to Steve for setting a benchmark with respect to user experience. Many of us are good at criticizing when people fall, but start writing good all of a sudden when we get an opporutinity to do so….Well, Steve has set an example of focus, determination and innovation, keeping profitability off the table, which he felt, would be led automatically by innovation.
Wonderfully expressed.
Dear Mr. Bagchi,
Your thoughts are wonderfulully scribed. You are right -The man was about life and living and love. and, giving. Making people twice, thrice, a hundred times removed, to feel wonderful.
Steve Jobs may not be present in his known physical form, but he will continue to live in spirit through his beautifully crafted products and the legacy of thinking beyond the ordinary.
There will be a bit of Steve in all the future developments
Stay well Steve wherever you are.
Subroto
Dear Mr.Baghci
Steve has created an era,which is probably timeless.That era not only boasts upon technology,boasts upon a impressive quality to look for a new invention even within pains,and even within disabilities.He had a vision that seems unmatchable to the vision of every technocracts of the day.The domain of his vision was so vast,that always surpised n thrilled anybody n everybody to some extent.The loss is irrepairable ,even beyond imagination.
Dear Mr.Baghci
Steve has created an era,which is probably timeless.That era not only boasts upon technology,boasts upon a impressive quality to look for a new invention even within pains,and even within disabilities.He had a vision that seems unmatchable to the vision of every technocracts of the day.The domain of his vision was so vast,that always surpised n thrilled anybody n everybody to some extent.The loss is irrepairable ,even beyond imagination.
Very well written.
Surely We all missed Steve
It was a simple and heartfelt message. The message bought out the feeling what many of us had felt in our hearts.
Steve Jobs was not only about Apple,he was about Pixar,NeXt too.He was about neatness,perfection and never worrying about feedbacks or profits.He was fearless.
Hats off to Steve and hearty thanks to you for this blog.
Thank you for this heartfelt piece.
I recently read the biography of the legend and experienced two overpowering emotions. One, that the period of the tech revolution in the valley had come alive for me and how I wished I had been there. Two, that if you care deeply and further still about excellence, it really doesn’t matter what the world around you thinks, feels and does.
Nice Tribute. we will miss him
Sir, its amazing to see the world through your eyes… An amazing tribute.
