How Steve Jobs Became My Mentor!
Image of book “Steve Jobs by Walter Isaacson” — Clicked by Author

How Steve Jobs Became My Mentor!

In 2016, I heard about a peculiar incident (perhaps a rumour) involving Steve Jobs firing someone while talking to them in an elevator.

I found this story so fascinating that I decided to try something similar: firing someone while in conversation with them in an elevator.

There are people with whom you feel a deep connection. One such person in my life was Steve Jobs.

I regularly consume content about Jobs, including Walter Isaacson’s biography and all the online material available about him.

I consider myself fortunate to live in an era where I can choose a deceased individual as my mentor.

Jobs is renowned not only for shaping Apple into what it is today but also for imparting valuable life lessons through his quotes.

Here are 10 such quotes that have helped me at different stages of my life.

Let’s dive in!

My last YouTube video Thumbnail — Made by Author on Canva.

Finding My Passion

I am a late bloomer. It wasn’t until 2021, at the age of 33, that I began to realise the 9-to-5 grind wasn’t for me and that I was on the wrong path.

I embarked on the journey of a side hustle, hoping that if it took off, I could bid farewell to my 9-to-5 job.

After struggling for over a year, I came to the realisation that the concept of a side hustle was vague, and wasn’t suitable for me.

In 2022, I made the bold decision to quit my 9-to-5 job without a concrete plan, fearing I would regret not pursuing my true passion later in life.

I initially tried my hand at YouTube, dabbling in lifestyle vlogging and tech-related content. However, neither channel gained traction.

Despite the setbacks, I discovered my love for writing. Whether it was drafting a Google Doc at work or scripting videos for YouTube, I found joy in writing.

In December 2023, I finally mustered the courage to pursue what I had always loved: writing.

It wasn’t an easy journey, considering I became a father in 2022, quit my job shortly after his birth, and faced financial challenges as a middle-class Indian.

The most challenging aspect was not knowing what I truly wanted to do. However, four quotes always guided me:

“Your work is going to fill a large part of your life, and the only way to be truly satisfied is to do what you believe is great work. And the only way to do great work is to love what you do. If you haven’t found it yet, keep looking. Don’t settle. As with all matters of the heart, you’ll know when you find it.”
“Your time is limited, so don’t waste it living someone else’s life.”
“Remembering that you are going to die is the best way I know to avoid the trap of thinking you have something to lose. You are already naked. There is no reason not to follow your heart.”
“Don’t let the noise of others’ opinions drown out your own inner voice.”

Pursuing Passion (toughest phase)

Finding my passion was challenging, but pursuing it proved even tougher.

It may seem counterintuitive; after all, passion is something you love to do. However, the reality is that even doing what you love can become monotonous and challenging over time.

I experienced this firsthand when I began writing online in December 2023. Despite working harder than in my previous job, I faced burnout within two months.

Unlike a 9-to-5 job, where income flows steadily, building something from scratch requires patience. This lack of immediate results contributed to my burnout.

By February 2024, I contemplated giving up as doubts crept in, and my bank account remained stagnant. However, four quotes pulled me through:

“Sometimes life is going to hit you in the head with a brick. Don’t lose faith.”
“You can’t connect the dots looking forward; you can only connect them looking backward. So you have to trust that the dots will somehow connect in your future.”
“The people who are crazy enough to think they can change the world are the ones who do.”
“Stay hungry, stay foolish.”
My writing table — Clicked by Author

Defining Success

Success is subjective and differs for each of us.

During my 9-to-5 days, success meant reaching a CxO position and earning a six-digit monthly salary (INR).

However, these goals were outcome-based and beyond my control.

Two quotes reshaped my perspective:

“Creativity is just connecting things. When you ask creative people how they did something, they feel a little guilty because they didn’t really do it, they just saw something. It seemed obvious to them after a while.”
“Simple can be harder than complex: You have to work hard to get your thinking clean to make it simple.”

For me, success in writing lies in:

  1. Writing naturally.
  2. Simplifying complex ideas.

While I’m far from achieving these goals, having a clear vision of success is empowering.

To Sum It Up

Living without pursuing your passion is akin to being a body in motion but feeling lifeless inside.

There’s no excuse for not doing what you love. No circumstance should deter you from pursuing your passion.

Stop merely existing; start living.

Discover yourself.

Find your mentor.



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