Here's to you Steve...

My first recollection of you was a 1992 article in Economic Times?titled ‘What’s NeXT?’. That cool picture of yours with the Next Computer along with an account of your ouster from Apple is still fresh in my mind and it was the first time I was inspired by a business personality. Thanks for showing us that superstars don’t always hold a guitar or a racque

That article had something to do with my decision to choose Apple as an employer over a traditional IT MNC 7 years later. My business card ‘Sales Manager – Apple Computer, India’ with the six color Apple logo still gives me as much joy & pride as it did back then. Thanks for giving me a job.

I still treasure the?beautiful black book?titled ‘Think Different’ I received on my 1st day at Apple. The?black & white images and powerful messages from all your heroes, from Gandhi to Einstein, continue to guide me. Thanks for the inspiration.

I was extremely proud of heading a regional office for Apple. It didn’t even strike me that my kingdom was a mere 5x5 cubicle?in a business centre and I was the only employee in it.?Such is the power?of?the Apple brand. Thanks for teaching me that one's worth is not measured by the size of one's office.

The small office meant that my house became an Apple stocking centre. My wife and I had no hesitation in devoting one room of our two bedroom apartment to stock the iMacs and iBooks – they were gorgeous. I would choose them anytime over?pieces of furniture.?Thanks for showing us computers can be works of art.

The video ‘Here’s to the crazy ones’ used to give me goose bumps back then and even now. Nothing epitomizes your life than the last line in the video, “People who are crazy enough to think they can change the world, are the ones who do”. Thanks for giving us the power to believe.

One of my most exciting moments at Apple was when I was nominated to?attend your MacWorld Keynote. The?US visa didn’t come through as the rules were tightetened after 9/11 and it turned into one of my biggest regrets.?Nevertheless we followed all your keynotes staying up late at night to witness the latest magical marvel being unveiled. We would?subsequently attempt the same presentations at events in back home and ended up imitating your style.?Thanks for teaching us how to tell a story.

I received the first iPod that landed in India – small privileges of being the Marketing Manager. You introduced?the concept of iTunes playlists back then. I still treasure that iPod (though it doesn't work any more) and I still run to the same ‘workout’ playlist I created back then. Thanks for putting music in our lives and pockets.

I was crazy about setting up Apple retail centers. Due to lack of budgets for the Retail initiative my wife and I used to spend our weekends doing up Apple shops on our own. Looking back, those attempts seem almost laughable compared to the ultra cool Apple Stores now. Thanks for showing us what a true retail experience should be.

Over a decade ago you predicted,?“We are entering an era of digital lifestyle and the Mac will be at the heart of it.” Though this became part of my sales pitch I honestly never quite bought into it. Now we know what you meant, you were just ahead of your time. Thanks for transforming our lives

I was hugely disappointed when I secured a front page interview of yours with India’s leading business daily and the request was turned down by your office. I was told there are only 4 publications you appear in. I couldn’t quite appreciate it when I was told ‘we need to be focused and not over expose Steve’. You said somewhere in the context of Apple’s minimalist design, ‘Focus is being able to say no’.?So true. Thanks for showing the power of?staying focused.

When Apple changed the logo from?6-color to solid I wondered why don’t we talk more publicly about the change. Your guidance was, “A logo represents the sum total of what?a company does. Talking about the logo?is meaningless from our consumers perspective”. Again, it took me a while to understand this. Thank you for showing how to create the world’s most powerful brand.

I still try to follow the advise you gave in your commencement speech at Stanford, ‘What would you be doing if this was the last day of your life?’.?One of the most inspiring?speeches ever. Thanks for being a guide and mentor to millions.?

I had mentioned in my farewell note at Apple – ‘No matter where I work, Apple will stay close to my heart and I will continue to follow?developments at Apple’. The passing years made me?less star struck?but I stayed true to my promise. I still use your products and so does my son.? Thanks for a legacy that will last?for generations. Goodbye Steve.

Parminder

Apple employee (1999-2003), Steve Jobs fan for life