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anigoTonight's blog is related to Steve Job's Standford address
I can't say I like or dislike Steve Jobs. He's one of those "cool things" that everybody loves, which automatically makes me not like him so much. Still, he's an engaging speaker and he has a great message. Sort of.
The Kid, as some people know, will be graduating this spring and going to University in the fall. I've been having this debate with myself quite a bit over the past three years or so. The debate goes something like this. (Feel free to read it with a "get off my lawn" tone of voice. Sometimes I feel that way myself.) I'm 46 years old. And I feel like I am the last of the breed that says "Work Hard, Get a Job, Get Married, Get a House, Have a Family, Retire, Die" In theory, somewhere in there you try to eek out a life. Not eek out a living, but try to enjoy life while you're following the prescription of life. The generation that is smashed up against mine looks for the living part of life. I know so many people who range in age from only slightly younger than I am to recent graduates who have decided that life is short - live while you can. Careers aren't that important. My nephew finished high school about 5 years ago and is now a landscaper (read: mows lawns and plants flowers) in BC. When he's not working he's snowboarding. Wow. My brother is 28, has a masters degree and is working contract work in Belgium. He doesn't own a car. He doesn't own a house. But on weekends he goes to Germany or Austria, just for the fun of it. And Steve Jobs is suggesting that dropping out of college was the best thing that happened to him. He's suggesting hat you should take risks! Live life until you die! And I'm scared to death that The Kid is going to get this notion into her head. That she'll decide that investing in her future isn't that important, as any one of us could be hit by a bus tomorrow. Then what??
And it's true. Any one of us COULD be hit by a bus tomorrow. Look at Steve Jobs. He shuffled off this mortal coil. But to be crystal clear. He did so after he worked his backside off (he doesn't speak to that much, just focuses on staying hungry and foolish) made a boat load of cash, and when he left, his family was well taken care of. It's pretty easy to talk about staying foolish when you have money oozing out of the cracks in your mattress. Where would he be if he hadn't had the luck and the smarts to get him where he was? Still, I'll give him credit - the risks he took put him in the position to get where he was. But dropping out of university does not automatically make you Steve Jobs!
Pretty sure my snowboarding nephew would agree with me there. Or maybe not. He's probably too busy to think about it.
PS. I have a house. And a career. And a husband. I also have RRSPs. I dare any one of you to tell me I'm boring though. Two years ago I raced a sailboat to France. See my user pic up there? Thats me - 4 years ago with my first motorcycle. Last year I went to Guatemala for a long weekend. Why? Because I could. Sure, somebody on this earth is going to get hit by a bus tomorrow, but there's also a better chance you're going to outlive most buses. If you play your cards right you can have a pretty darn decent, and yes, exciting, life, and some RRSPs too. Right up until about 24 hours before they throw dirt on your coffin.
I just hope The Kid is able to do what she needs to do to put herself in a position to live her life the way she wants to live it for a long, long time.
I can't say I like or dislike Steve Jobs. He's one of those "cool things" that everybody loves, which automatically makes me not like him so much. Still, he's an engaging speaker and he has a great message. Sort of.
The Kid, as some people know, will be graduating this spring and going to University in the fall. I've been having this debate with myself quite a bit over the past three years or so. The debate goes something like this. (Feel free to read it with a "get off my lawn" tone of voice. Sometimes I feel that way myself.) I'm 46 years old. And I feel like I am the last of the breed that says "Work Hard, Get a Job, Get Married, Get a House, Have a Family, Retire, Die" In theory, somewhere in there you try to eek out a life. Not eek out a living, but try to enjoy life while you're following the prescription of life. The generation that is smashed up against mine looks for the living part of life. I know so many people who range in age from only slightly younger than I am to recent graduates who have decided that life is short - live while you can. Careers aren't that important. My nephew finished high school about 5 years ago and is now a landscaper (read: mows lawns and plants flowers) in BC. When he's not working he's snowboarding. Wow. My brother is 28, has a masters degree and is working contract work in Belgium. He doesn't own a car. He doesn't own a house. But on weekends he goes to Germany or Austria, just for the fun of it. And Steve Jobs is suggesting that dropping out of college was the best thing that happened to him. He's suggesting hat you should take risks! Live life until you die! And I'm scared to death that The Kid is going to get this notion into her head. That she'll decide that investing in her future isn't that important, as any one of us could be hit by a bus tomorrow. Then what??
And it's true. Any one of us COULD be hit by a bus tomorrow. Look at Steve Jobs. He shuffled off this mortal coil. But to be crystal clear. He did so after he worked his backside off (he doesn't speak to that much, just focuses on staying hungry and foolish) made a boat load of cash, and when he left, his family was well taken care of. It's pretty easy to talk about staying foolish when you have money oozing out of the cracks in your mattress. Where would he be if he hadn't had the luck and the smarts to get him where he was? Still, I'll give him credit - the risks he took put him in the position to get where he was. But dropping out of university does not automatically make you Steve Jobs!
Pretty sure my snowboarding nephew would agree with me there. Or maybe not. He's probably too busy to think about it.
PS. I have a house. And a career. And a husband. I also have RRSPs. I dare any one of you to tell me I'm boring though. Two years ago I raced a sailboat to France. See my user pic up there? Thats me - 4 years ago with my first motorcycle. Last year I went to Guatemala for a long weekend. Why? Because I could. Sure, somebody on this earth is going to get hit by a bus tomorrow, but there's also a better chance you're going to outlive most buses. If you play your cards right you can have a pretty darn decent, and yes, exciting, life, and some RRSPs too. Right up until about 24 hours before they throw dirt on your coffin.
I just hope The Kid is able to do what she needs to do to put herself in a position to live her life the way she wants to live it for a long, long time.
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no subject
Date: 2015-02-13 06:24 am (UTC)I have a career. I have several university degrees. I earn above average wage for my region. I have a pretty great job. BUT... that's now. I also backpacked the world for six years in the middle there somewhere, earning just enough to keep on travelling.
And in two weeks I'm going skiing in Japan. Because I want to. And because I can. I'm definitely one of those people who works to live (eta: that didn't come across the way I wanted it to... hmmm, I turn up to work everyday because it ensures I earn enough money to do the things that are highest on my priorities list, travel and buy nice things! Luckily for me, I do actually like my job, which probably makes this easier).
I don't own a house, I'm not in a committed relationship. I do NOT want children. I do own a car though.
And I think I'd like to meet your nephew ;)
no subject
Date: 2015-02-13 06:43 am (UTC)But it was also frequently hell. It took me a long time to realize that The Big Enchiladas expected loyalty and "team playing" from the inmates while not having to return the favor. Many of them were cutthroat and that is how they got to be Big Enchiladas.
The days of mutual loyalty between an employer and employee are long gone - if in fact they ever really existed.
My nephew works fall through spring, then takes off to do some adventure. Sometimes he is a roadie for grunge bands on the Van Tour. One year he hiked the Pacific Crest Trail. I think this summer he is bicycling through Europe.
The world needs landscapers, people who pick up garbage on construction sites, pickle sellers, goat cheese makers, and organic farmers. They may not be "careers" but someone has to do it, and those jobs are great for those who are not as fearful as I was.
no subject
Date: 2015-02-13 08:50 am (UTC)Maybe there will be a few blips and bruises along the way, but your Kid is too marinated in the common sense, love, street smarts, and work ethic that is YOU. She really cannot escape it. Just don't tell her. Let her think it is all her idea. Makes them feel better that way, you see.
xoxo
no subject
Date: 2015-02-14 02:19 pm (UTC)So, what he spoke about wasn't a very good reflection of his life as a boss...