Tag Archives: Steve Jobs

Reflecting on 2011

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As we prepare to close the ‘book’ on 2011, I thought it would be a good time to reflect on some of the top news stories / events of the year.  Whether your year was fantastic or not so great, in a couple of days, 2011 will become a mere memory.  While memories are often great to have, we must keep in mind that there is nothing we can do to change them.  As a result, I urge you to ‘brush your shoulders off’ and look forward.

Although we should all make a conscious effort to live in the present, reflection is important and there are some valuable lessons that can be learned from past experiences.  Included below are some of the year’s top stories that not only affected Americans, but also had a huge impact from a global perspective.

Use of Social Media to Change the World – The first time we all had to take notice that social media was more than a mere way to connect family members and long lost friends was during the 2008 presidential campaign.  More recently, protesters in Egypt utilized Facebook and Twitter to spread the word about organized protests.  In an article published by fastcompany.com, the author communicated that social media played a role in three main dynamics:

  • Organizing protests and gathering supporters
  • Shaping the narrative and ensuring that the government could not shift the global dialogue
  • Putting pressure on Washington to take a stance.  Because of the amount of information that was being released through social media channels, Washington lost its ability to maintain its distance from the controversy

Because social media has become a major and acceptable method of communicating, we must all ensure that we’re aware of the ‘dos and don’ts’.  For more information on the effective use of social media, please review my post, Social Media:  The Rules of Engagement.

Death of Osama bin Laden – On a Sunday night in early May, President Obama announced to the American people, “Justice has been done.”  Almost ten years after the September 11 terrorist attacks, the mastermind behind them was killed by US Navy Seals and CIA paramilitary forces.  This was indeed a pivotal moment for our Country.  Although the death of bin Laden won’t bring back loved ones that lost their lives during the attacks, it does send a clear message that the American people won’t give up the fight for freedom and justice.  The war on terror reminds me of the story we all heard as children, The Tortoise and the Hare; slow and steady wins the race.  In our own lives, if we commit to a mission or goal and stay laser-focused, we will be victorious.

Death of Steve Jobs – In October, the world lost a brilliant mind.  For those that aren’t aware, Steve Jobs was Co-founder and CEO of Apple, Inc.  What I found most intriguing about his story was that he wasn’t born with a ‘silver spoon in his mouth,’ and he succeeded in spite of the odds.  In my post, Dream It, Achieve It, I highlight his commencement speech at Stanford University, and how we can apply some of his life’s lessons to our own lives.

Decrease in National Unemployment Rate – Earlier this month, the Bureau of Labor Statistics announced that the jobless rate fell by .4% between October and November to 8.6%, which is down from 9.8% in November 2010.  While the shift in the economy is happening a lot slower than we’d like, I believe that we all experienced a brief sigh of relief when hearing this news.  Although things are slowly improving for our Country, African Americans are still unemployed at higher rates than any other ethnicity group.  Historically speaking, this is the norm, but given the state of the economy and the housing market, this is a major drain on wealth creation in our community.  If you or someone you know is struggling to find work, my Aim to Win in this Economy series has some useful tips that may help you ‘get back in the ring’ and ready to fight again.

Many of the events of 2011 will definitely be written in tomorrow’s history books.  As we prepare to shift into a new year, my question to you is how will you leverage the experiences of the past year to live your best life in 2012?

 

Dream It, Achieve It!

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I’m sure that by now you’ve heard of the passing of Steve Jobs, Co-founder and CEO of Apple, Inc.  If you haven’t become familiar with his story, I urge you to “Google” him to learn more about his life’s journey.  Recently, a close friend mentioned the commencement speech he gave at Stanford University in 2005.  In his speech, he outlines things that he attributed to his success.  When you get an opportunity, listen to his speech; it’s time well spent.

You might be wondering what Steve Jobs has to do with bridging the wealth gap in the African American community.  While he was an extremely wealthy man, my intent is not to discuss the wealth he accumulated through his business ventures, but more so to discuss his will to achieve against the odds.  Unless you’re familiar with his story, most people would not assume that a first year college drop-out would be as accomplished as he was.

Often times, we have dreams or ideas that we’d like to pursue, but somehow life gets in the way.  Many of us may not have the liberty to pursue our entrepreneurial dream without working a full time job as well.  So how can you keep your “mojo” while navigating life’s twists and turns?  Please note that I am not professing to have all the answers, but I will offer up some lessons that I’ve learned from others that have achieved success in this area.  These are also the characteristics that I am embracing along my own journey.  The following are three key traits that will place you on the path to success:

1.       Be clear on what you want; get laser focused – There will always be competing priorities.  In the spirit of transparency, this is an area I’ve struggled in the most.  As soon as you think you’re set on a path, life will throw you a curve ball that can divert your focus.  People who are successful in pursuing their dreams are somewhat dogmatic when it comes to being laser focused in spite of life’s interruptions.  T. Harv Eker, author of Secrets of the Millionaire Mind, says it best, “The number one reason most people don’t get what they want is that they don’t know what they want.”

2.     Don’t underestimate life’s lessons – Your life will speak to you if you choose to listen.  We are often quick to observe and value someone else’s life lessons, but choose to devalue or minimize our own.  Steve Jobs referred to this as “connecting the dots.”  Take a moment and spend some time recalling your own journey – the successes and failures.  I guarantee you that in the midst of your track down memory lane, a common thread will exist and link you back to your purpose or that dream that once was a flame but may now resemble a flicker of light.  Make no mistake, there’s a lot that we can learn from observing others, but don’t stop there.  Your own life will speak the loudest if you listen.

3.     Simplify your life – Many times we stay stuck in the “rat race” because we are so busy trying to ‘keep up with the Joneses.’  If you really want to pursue your dream, you will be forced to make tough choices.  You may have to wait on the material possessions that you see others acquiring.  Don’t compare yourself to others.  A key to wealth accumulation is maintaining a high credit score, minimizing debt, and investing in assets.  It takes money to pursue most business endeavors, and in the beginning, you may have to invest in yourself before others will invest in your venture.  If you are overextended, you may not be able to see your vision come to fruition.  

Success is often accomplished by travelling the road less travelled.  It requires a confidence in self and a willingness to take risks.  Many of us work very hard in our chosen careers, but can become lukewarm when it comes to pursuing our own personal endeavors.  I have decided that I will no longer stand on the sidelines of life and admire others and their success; I will give my all to my own.  Won’t you join me?