Thoughts on email from Steve Jobs to himself
There is one common thread within top tech companies that have become behemoths in recent times which is rooted in their foundation. Let it be Amazon, Apple, Google, or Microsoft. It is the principles of being relentless, cultivating humility, and taking risks that are highlighted within the leadership of the initial years. We can have a look at this letter above written by Steve Jobs to himself acknowledging how trivial his existence could be and reflecting on the privileges that humanity takes for granted.
Steven Pinker, author of Enlightenment Now, in his first few chapters sets up the premise about how we are ignorant about the benefit that we reap from society. The socioeconomic structures, governance, tools & technology, have been iterated over the centuries and finally, they are at a stage of stability where we take them for granted.
Like Amazon’s (and later Blue Origin’s motto) “Gradatim Ferociter”, which means “Step by step, ferociously” highlighted in the shareholder letters when they were growing around 300% YoY shows humility on an exceptional level. It indicates that even though we could have achievements on a large scale, we are still yet to conquer the unimaginable.
I always try to live and define myself by the code of identity. I judge myself about my moral standing and question my consciousness in very decision-making I undertake within the hours that I work. Maintaining a repository of thoughts and lessons from geniuses, in terms of innovation, and execution, I find myself to be less messed up than I was yesterday. In the end, it’s all connected.