I’ve been impressed at how well behaved people have been regarding the death of Steve Jobs. While I knew a great many of us, especially those in the tech industry, would be affected and take the event to heart, I also expected the usual array of trolls to come out and shoot down the importance of Steve Jobs with little regard to his impact.
By now, we’ve all had a chance to think, read and hear about how Steve, and Apple, have impacted life as we know it. They brought us devices that changed the way we interacted, worked and socialized. They found the balance to walk the fine line between beauty, simplicity and functionality, while making devices so intuitive that a 2 year old can pick one up and make it work.
Countless businesses have been built on what Apple started and entire industries changed because of Jobs vision.
But I think that is only half of the story as to why so many people are so taken back by the loss of Steve Jobs.
So for the few dissenting voices, or those who think we’re making too big of a deal about this, I’d like to put into context why his loss is so significant right now.
We live the age of Arthur Andersen, Bernie Ebbers and Bernie Madoff. When companies lay off people by the 10′s of thousands while CEO’s take multi-million dollar bonuses.
We’re inundated by stories of Enron, Lehman Brothers and politicians who vilify corporations while accepting their campaign donations.
Let’s face it, our view of Corporate America is disenchanted at best and downright hated at worst.
Then there was Steve and Apple.
While I’m not so naive to believe that Apple has never done anything questionable, or ruthless (which is often business by it’s very nature), they were in the business of improving our lives through technology and did so in a way most of us have come to strongly appreciate. They gave us devices we love and helped make technology what it should be, a compliment to our lives, not a means to overcomplicate it.
Apple isn’t alone, there are other great companies out there and surely others will rise. But Apple was the shining example and most importantly, gave us something to look forward to.
Apple isn’t perfect, nothing ever is. But in a time when Corporate America is riddled with scandal, distrust and can’t seem to get it right, Apple did, and it was Steve’s vision that got them there.
My business exists largely because of Apple. Everyone I work with at Livid Lobster (parent company of GeekBeat.tv) is here because of Apple.
How did Apple affect your life?
