乔布斯英语演讲稿

小乔布斯thomassuarez英语演讲稿tedhelloeveryone，mynameisthomassuarez.i'vealwayshadafascinationforputersandtechnology,andimadeafewappsfortheiphone,ipodtouchandipad.i’dliketoshareacouplewithyoutoday;myfirststepwasauniquefortuneterrorcalledearthfortune,thatexplaindifferentcodesofearthdependingonwhatyourfortunewas,myfavoriteandmostsuccessfulappisbustinjieber,whichisthejustinbieberwacmore,icreateditbecausealotofpeopleatschooldislikejustinbieberalittlebit,soidecidedtomaketheapp,soiwenttoworkprogrammingitandireallysuggestforholidaysin2014.

大家好，我叫托马斯·斯沃斯，我一直以来对计算机技术着迷。我就给iphone、ipodtouch、ipad做了一些应用程序，今天我就来给大家展示几个。第一个应用叫做地球算命，它根据你的运势来改变地球的颜色。我最有名、最成功的应用程序是比斯汀.贾伯，它是一个恶搞贾斯汀·比伯程序。这是因为在我的学校里，许多人有点不喜欢贾斯汀·比伯。所以我就开始做了这个应用了，开始编程，并在2014年的暑假推出了我的作品。

alotofpeopleaskedme:howdidimakethis,alotoftimejustbecausethepersonyouaskaquestionwantstomakeanappalso,alotofkidsthesedaysliketoplaygames,butnowtheywanttomakethemandit’sdifficult.becausenotmanykidsknowwheretogotofindouthowtomakeaprogram.imeanforsocceryoucouldgotoasoccerteam,forviolinyoucouldgetlessonsforviolin,butwhatifyouwanttomakeanappandkid’sparentsmighthavedonethesethingswhentheywereyoung,butnotmanyparentsmadeapps.wherewouldyougotofindouthowtomakeanapp,whilethisishowiapproached,thisiswhatidid.

许多人问我，我是怎么做出这些东西来的？大多数情况下，问我这个问题的人也想做一个应用程序试试。现在有许多孩子曾喜欢玩游戏，现在他们可以自己创作游戏了，这很难，因为大多数孩子不知道去哪里学编程。我是说，如果你想学足球，你可以加入一个足球队，如果学拉小提琴，你可以去兴趣班。如果想做应用程序，你该怎么办呢？父母一般叫孩子们做一些事，但是有多少父母会编程呢？你去哪里可以学到编程呢？以下就是我怎么做到的，这就是我做的。

firstofall,i’vebeenprogramminginmultipleotherprogramsjustgetthebasicsdown,suchaspython,c,javaetc.andthenapplereleasedtheiphoneandwiththeiphonesoftdeveloping,andsoftwaredevelopmentkitisaswifttoolforcreatingandprogramminganiphoneapp.thisopenedupawholenewworldpossibilitiesforme,andafterplayingwiththesoftdevelopingalittlebitimadeacoupleappsandmadesometestapps,oneofthemhappentobeearthfortunewasreadytoputfortuneontheappstore,andsoipersuadedmyparentstopaythe99-dollar-feetobeabletoputmyappontheappstock.theyagreedandnowmyappsareontheappstore.

首先，我先学了另外的编程，作为基础，比如python、c语言、java编程。不久苹果公司推出了iphone和iphone软件开发工具包。iphone软件开发工具包是一个给iphone编写应用程序的很好的工具。这给我带来了发现新世界一般的可能性，我在小小地玩了一下iphone软件开发工具包之后，我就做了几个应用，并作了测试，其中之一就是地球算命。我很想把我的地球算命放上苹果的应用商店，我就说服我父母去支付进入苹果应用超市所需的99美元。结果他们同意了，我的应用上线了。

i’vegotalotinterestingencouragementformyfamilyfriendsteachersandevenpeopleoftheappstore,that’sbeenahugechapforme,i’vegotalotofinspirationfromstevejobs,asstartedtheappclubattheschoolandateachermyschooliskindlysponsoringmyappclub,anystudentsonmyschoolcaneanddesign,learnhowtodesignanapp.thisisallicansharemyexperiencewithothers.

我得到了来自我的家庭、朋友、老师，甚至是苹果应用超市的工作人员的鼓励，他们对我有了很大的影响。我从乔布斯身上得到了许多灵感，我在学校里组建了苹果俱乐部。老师对我的俱乐部做出了积极地响应。在我的学校里，每个人都可以来我的俱乐部里学习如何编写应用程序。这就是我与他人分享经验的方式。

therearetheseprogramscalledtheipadpallidprogram,andsomedistrictshavethem.i’mfortunatetobepartofone;abigchallengeishowshouldtheipadbeusedonwhatappsshallweputontheipads.sowe’regettingfeedbackfromteachersatthisschooltoseewhatkindofappstheylikewhenwedesigntheappandwesellit,itwouldbefreetolocaldistrictsandotherdistrictswesellto.allthemoneyfromthatgoestolocalfoundations,thesedaysstudentsusuallyknowalittle

bitmorethanteacherswiththetechnology,so,sorry,thisistheresourceoftheteachersandeducatorsshouldrecognizethisresourceandmakegooduseofit.

有一种叫ipad平板电脑编程的组织，有些区里有这类的组织，我有幸成为他们当中的一员。我最大的挑战是怎么利用ipad，我们应该给ipad做什么样的程序。我们在学校里向老师做了反馈信息调查，看看他们喜欢什么样的应用程序。在我们设计好后，我们出售那些应用。本地区的用户可以免费获得，别的地区的用户收费。从中的利润会投入到当地基金会中。现在，学生们，在技术方面，通常会比老师们懂得多。如此看来...对不起，这是老师们的资源，教育工作者应该好好认识并利用它。

i’dliketofinishupbysayingwhatiliketodointhefuture.firstofalli’dliketocreatemoreapps,moregames.i’mworkingwithathirdpartypanytomakeanapp.i’dliketogetintoandroidprogramminganddevelopment,andi’dliketocontinuemyappclubandfindotherwaysforstudentstoshareknowledgewithothers.thankyou.

ted演讲是由ted从每年1000人的俱乐部变成了一个每天10万人流量的社区。为了继续扩大网站的影响力，ted还加入了社交网络的功能，以连接一切“有志改变世界的人”。从2014年起，ted演讲的视频被上传到网上。截至2014年4月，ted官方网站上收录的ted演讲视频已达650个，有逾五千万的网民观看了ted演讲的视频。

ted是一下三个英文单词的首字母大写

【t】technology技术【e】entertainment娱乐【d】design设计它是美国的一家私有非盈利机构，该机构以它组织的ted大会著称。thethemeoftheted：ideasworthspreading.

ambulance救护车——俺不能死；ponderous肥胖的——胖的要死；pest害虫——拍死它；ambition雄心——俺必胜；admire羡慕——额的妈呀

从乔布斯演讲看如何写作英语演讲稿

无论在学习还是工作中，我们都会接触或用到各类英语演讲，小到课堂作业和工作汇报，大到会议发言和职位竞选。那么如何才能打造一篇精彩的英语演讲稿呢？下面苏州英语培训的沃尔得小编就以乔布斯2014年斯坦福大学毕业演讲稿为范本来具体剖析一下英语演讲稿的写作要点，帮助大家了解其基本写作要领。

结构清楚，逻辑清晰

由于公共演讲的听众一般有数十人甚至数百、数千人，再加上演讲环境的不确定性（比如观众的欢呼或者抱怨），演讲者最好在进入主题之后马上给出所讲内容的框架结构，使听众能跟随演讲者的思路，更好地预判整个演讲内容，以达到良好的演讲效果。比如，乔布斯在2014年斯坦福大学毕业典礼上的演讲中，开篇稍微寒暄之后就进入正题：“todayiwanttotellyouthreestoriesfrommylife.that’sit.nobigdeal.justthreestories.”听众马上能对演讲内容做出预判——今天会听到乔布斯谈三点，然后他们会关注具体是哪三点。这种演讲就具备了“以观众为中心”的特质。乔布斯在随后的演讲中分别提到，“thefirststoryisaboutconnectingthedots.”“mysecondstoryisaboutloveandloss.”“mythirdstoryisaboutdeath.”由于演讲思路非常明晰，听众在听完之后也会记忆犹新。

当然，演讲稿在结构方面的逻辑顺序有许多种，乔布斯的这篇演讲是按照话题顺序和时间顺序来安排的。除此之外，还有空间顺序，“提出问题——分析问题——解决问题”的顺序等。大家可以根据不同演讲内容的需要来安排自己演讲稿的逻辑顺序和整体结构。

开篇出彩，吸引听众

演讲稿的开篇往往需要花费大量的功夫去设计。在写作开篇时，演讲者需要结合听众特点、演讲场合和演讲主题等因素，争取在一开始就紧紧抓住听众的注意力和兴趣。下面苏州英语培训的沃尔得就介绍一下基本的演讲开篇模式，供大家以后写作演讲稿参考。

演讲稿开篇的目的是吸引听众。乔布斯在他的演讲稿开篇使用的是“关联话题与听众”的方式。这是一种比较有效的方法，因为人们一般对自己的事情都很关注，和自己相关的事情也会格外留意。乔布斯在演讲开篇说道：“iamhonoredtobewithyoutodayforyourmencementfromoneofthefinestuniversitiesintheworld.truthbetold,inevergraduatedfromcollege.andthisistheclosesti’veevergottentoa

collegegraduation.”高度赞美斯坦福大学——这就是在与听众发生关联。乔布斯就是通过这种方式让听众一开始就对自己产生好感或对自己的演讲内容产生兴趣。当然，乔布斯还用了适当的幽默，更好地融洽了与听众的关系。

除了乔布斯的这种开篇方式外，我们还需要了解和掌握其他一些开篇方式：①指出演讲话题的重要性。比如要做一场关于“英语演讲的艺术”的演讲，演讲者在一开始就可以指出该演讲对于听众今后的学习、工作将会有很大帮助，甚至可以给出一些数据和实例，让听众明白不听这个演讲将会是一个损失，这样听众就会乐于认真听演讲了。②使听众感到震惊。例如要做一场关于“生活方式与疾病”的演讲，开篇就可以给出一组极具冲击力的数据，让听众看到生活方式不健康将会产生多么可怕的后果，这样的震惊能够使听众快速调整状态，投入到听演讲中去。③引起听众的好奇心。演讲者可以在开篇指出一种特别的现象，听众出于好奇就会认真听演讲，想知道演讲者如何分析或解释。④向观众提问。演讲者可以在开篇提出一个问题，这样可以引发听众的思考，也会引导他们去听演讲者如何解答问题。此外，也可以在开篇引用一段

名言，或是讲述一个故事等，这些基本的开篇方式被无数的演讲证明是实用而且有效的。

观点明确，支撑有效

毫无疑问，在演讲稿中，主体段的信息量最大，写作量也最大。如何清晰地阐释演讲者的观点或演讲要点，如何用相关事实有效地支撑演讲者的各个论点或要点，是演讲稿主体段写作时应该把握的关键。乔布斯在斯坦福大学的毕业演讲中明确给出了三个要点：①thefirststoryisaboutconnectingthedots.②mysecondstoryisaboutloveandloss.③mythirdstoryisaboutdeath.为了清晰、有效地阐述自己想要表达的这三个要点，他运用了以下三种手段：首先是举例子。乔布斯在演讲中用了大量的事例来说明他怎么对待学习、工作和死亡。比如他说自己读书时旁听有意思的书法课程，这些课在当时对他没什么实质帮助，但是十年后在当他设计第一款macintosh电脑的时候，这些东西全派上了用场，这个例子充分说明了他演讲的第一个要点——串起生命中的点滴。另一个手段是引用。乔布斯在演讲中引用了一些名言警句来阐述自己的观点。比如在讲到死亡时，他引用了一句格言：“ifyouliveeachdayasifitwasyourlast,somedayyou’llmostcertainlyberight.”这句话表明了他对于生命和死亡的看法，使听众印象深刻。第三个手段是数据支持。在讲第二个故事——关于爱和失去时，乔布斯用了一系列数据来支撑自己的观点。他说自己是幸运的，因为“wozandistartedappleinmyparents’garagewheniwas20.weworkedhard,andin10yearsapplehadgrownfromjustthetwoofusinagarageintoa$2billionpanywithover4000employees.we’djustreleasedourfinestcreation—the

macintosh—ayearearlier,andi’djustturned30.”数据很直观，能让听众更直接地认识和理解演讲内容。

结尾有“道”，画龙点睛

演讲的结尾往往需要起到“画龙点睛”的作用，要尽量做到意味深长、启发思考。开篇和正文再好，如果结尾过于平淡，整个演讲的精彩程度也会大打折扣。那么如何做到结尾有“道”呢？首先我们来看看乔布斯的这篇演讲稿，他的结尾比开篇更加出彩，采用的是“引文结尾”的方式，达到了引人深思的效果。他在结尾说道：“stewartandhisteamputoutseveralissuesofthewholeearthcatalog,andthenwhenithadrunitscourse,theyputoutafinalissue.itwasthemid-1970s,andiwasyourage.onthebackcoveroftheirfinalissuewasaphotographofanearlymorningcountryroad,thekindyoumightfindyourselfhitchhikingonifyouweresoadventurous.beneathitwerethewords‘stayhungry.stayfoolish.’itwastheirfarewellmessageastheysignedoff.stayhungry.stayfoolish.andihavealwayswishedthatformyself.andnow,asyougraduatetobeginanew,iwishthatforyou.stayhungry.stayfoolish.”乔布斯不仅在演讲结尾引用了这句“stayhungry.stayfoolish”（求知若渴，虚怀若谷），而且重复三遍，强化了听众的印象。这句话后来也被广泛传播，被誉为该篇演讲的精髓。

除了乔布斯这种“引文结尾”的方式，常见的演讲结尾方式还有如下几种：①总结演讲。对演讲中的各个论点或要点进行简单总结和梳理，加深听众的印象。②强有力的陈述。这种方式不同于引用他人之言，往往是演讲者自己的总结和心声。一个非常经典的例子是patrick

henry的演讲“libertyordeath”。他在结尾时说道：“islifesodear,orpeacesosweet,astobepurchasedatthepriceofchainsandslavery?forbidit,almightygod!iknownotwhatcourseothersmaytake;butasforme,givemeliberty,orgivemedeath!”③首尾呼应。在演讲结尾对开篇提到的主题和重点进行重新阐述，这是体现演讲内在统一性的经典形式，值得借鉴。

为了更加有效地掌握文中讲到的写作演讲稿的要点，作为苏州商务英语培训的沃尔得建议大家做到以下三点：①多看。多看一些演讲素材，比如名人演讲、演讲比赛优秀选手的演讲等，积累大量的一手素材；也有必要阅读一些关于英语公共演讲的书籍，笔者在此推荐

stephene.lucas的《演讲的艺术》（theartofpublicspeaking）一书。②多想。学会分析这些演讲之所以精彩的原因，可以从笔者上面讲的几点入手分析。③多练。在有了一定的积累之后，要大量练习写作演讲稿，话题可以从日常学习和工作中选取，这样练习起来会更有兴趣和成就感。

小乔布斯thomassuarez英语演讲稿ted

helloeveryone，mynameisthomassuarez.iafascinationforputersandtechnology,andimadeafewappsfortheiphone,ipadtouchandipad.i’dliketoshareacouplewithyoutoday;myfirststepwasauniquefortuneterrorcalledearthfortune,thatexplaindifferentcodesofearthdependingonwhatyourfortunewas,myfavoriteandmostsuccessfulappisbustinjieber,whichisthejustinbieberwacmore,icreateditbecausealotofpeopleatschooldislikejustinbieberalittlebit,soidecidedtomaketheapp,soiwenttoworkprogrammingitandireallysuggestforholidaysin2014.

alotofpeopleaskedme:howdidimakethis,alotoftimejustbecausethepersonyouaskaquestionwantstomakeanappalso,alotofkidsthesedaysliketoplaygames,butnowtheywanttomakethemandit’sdifficult.becausenotmanykidsknowwheretogotofindouthowtomakeaprogram.imeanforsocceryoucouldgotoasoccerteam,forviolinyoucouldgetlessonsforviolin,butwhatifyouwanttomakeanappandkid’sparentsmighthavedonethesethingswhentheywereyoung,butnotmanyparentsmadeapps.

wherewouldyougotogotofindouthowtomakeanapp,whilethisishowiperched,thisiswhatidid,firstofall,i’vebeenprogramminginmultipleotherprogramsjustgetthebasicsdown,suchasthepiesoundseejobetc.andthenapplereleasedtheiphoneandwiththeiphonesoftdevelming,andisasweetoftoolsforcreatingandprogramminganiphoneapp.thisopenedupawholenewworldpossibilitiesforme,andafterplayingwiththesoftdivelmingalittlebitimadeacoupleappsandmadesometestapps,oneofthemhappentobeearthfortunewasreadytoputfortuneontheappsstore,andsoi

persuadedmyparentstopaythe99-dollar-feetobeabletoputmyappintotheappstock.theyagreedandnowiontheappstock.

i’vegotalotinterestingencouragementformyfamilyfriendsteachersandevenpeopleoftheappstore,that’sbeenahugechaptome,i’vegotalotofinspirationfromstevejobs,asstartedtheappclubatschoolandateachermyschooliskindlysponsarymyappclub,anystudentsonmyschoolcaneanddesign,learnhowtodesignanapp.thisisallicansharemyexperiencewithothers.

thereistheprogramcalledtheipadpallidprogram,andsomedistrictshavethem.i’mfortunatetobepartofone;abigchallengeishowshouldtheipadbeusedonwhatappsshallweputontheipads.sowe’regettingfeedbackfromteachersatthisschooltoseewhatkindofappstheylikewhenwedesigntheappandwesellit,itwouldbefreetolocaldistrictsandotherdistrictsthatweselltoorthemoneyfromthatlocalfoundations,these

daysstudentsusuallyknowalittlebitmorethanteacherswiththetechnology,so,sorry,thisistheresourceoftheteachersandeducatorsshouldrecognizetheseresourcesandmadegooduseofit.

i’dliketofinishupbysayingwhatiliketodointhefuture.firstofalli’dliketocreatemoreapps,moregames.i’mworkingwiththethirdpartypanytomakeanapp.i’dliketogetintoandroidprogramminganddevelopment,andi’dliketocontinuemyappclubandfindotherwaysforstudentstoshareknowledgewithothers.

thankyou

noonewantstodie.evenpeoplewhowanttogotoheavendon'twanttodietogetthere.andyetdeathisthedestinationweallshare.noonehaseverescapedit.andthatisasitshouldbe,becausedeathisverylikelythesinglebestinventionoflife.itislife'schangeagent.itclearsouttheoldtomakewayforthenew.rightnowthenewisyou,butsomedaynottoolongfromnow,youwillgraduallybeetheoldandbeclearedaway.sorrytobesodramatic,butitisquitetrue.没有人愿意死,即使人们想上天堂,人们也不会为了去那里而死。但是死亡是我们每个人共同的终点。从来没有人能够逃脱它。也应该如此。因为死亡就是生命中最好的一个发明。它将旧的清除以便给新的让路。你们现在是新的,但是从现在开始不久以后,你们将会逐渐的变成旧的然后被清除。我很抱歉这很戏剧性,但是这十分的真实。

yourtimeislimited,sodon'twasteitlivingsomeoneelse'slife.don'tbetrappedbydogma-whichislivingwiththeresultsofotherpeople'sthinking.don'tletthenoiseofother'sopinionsdrownoutyourowninnervoice.andmostimportant,havethecouragetofollowyourheartandintuition.theysomehowalreadyknowwhatyoutrulywanttobee.everythingelseissecondary.

你们的时间很有限,所以不要将他们浪费在重复其他人的生活上。不要被教条束缚,那意味着你和其他人思考的结果一起生活。不要被其他人喧嚣的观点掩盖你真正的内心的声音。还有最重要的是,你要有勇气去听从你直觉和心灵的指示——它们在某种程度上知道你想要成为什么样子，所有其他的事情都是次要的。

wheniwasyoung,therewasanamazingpublicationcalledthewholeearthcatalog,whichwasoneofthebiblesofmygeneration.itwascreatedbyafellownamedstewartbrandnotfarfromhereinmenlopark,andhebroughtittolifewithhispoetictouch.thiswasinthelate1960's,beforepersonalputersanddesktoppublishing,soitwasallmadewithtypewriters,scissors,andpolaroidcameras.itwassortoflikegoogleinpaperbackform,35yearsbeforegooglecamealong:itwasidealistic,andoverflowingwithneattoolsandgreatnotions.

当我年轻的时候,有一本叫做“整个地球的目录”振聋发聩的杂志，它是我们那一代人的圣经之一。它是一个叫stewartbrand的家伙在离这里不远的menlopark书写的,他象诗一般神奇地将这本书带到了这个世界。那是六十年代后期,在个人电脑出现之前,所以这本书全部是用打字机,、剪刀还有偏光镜制造的。有点像用软皮包装的google,在google出现三十五年之前：这是理想主义的，其中有许多灵巧的工具和伟大的想法。

stewartandhisteamputoutseveralissuesofthewholeearthcatalog,andthenwhenithadrunitscourse,theyputoutafinalissue.itwasthemid-1970s,andiwasyourage.onthebackcoveroftheirfinalissuewasaphotographofanearlymorningcountryroad,thekindyoumightfind

yourselfhitchhikingonifyouweresoadventurous.beneathitwerethewords:"stayhungry.stayfoolish."itwastheirfarewellmessageastheysignedoff.stayhungry.stayfoolish.andihavealwayswishedthatformyself.andnow,asyougraduatetobeginanew,iwishthatforyou.

stewart和他的伙伴出版了几期的“整个地球的目录”,当它完成了自己使命的时候,他们做出了最后一期的目录。那是在七十年代的中期,你们的时代。在最后一期的封底上是清晨乡村公路的照片（如果你有冒险精神的话，你可以自己找到这条路的），在照片之下有这样一段话：“保持饥饿,保持愚蠢。”这是他们停止了发刊的告别语。“保持饥饿,保持愚蠢。”我总是希望自己能够那样,现在,在你们即将毕业，开始新的旅程的时候,我也希望你们能这样：stayhungry.stayfoolish.

保持饥饿，保持愚蠢。

thankyouallverymuch.

非常感谢你们。

thisprogramisbroughttoyoubystanfordonitunesuatstanforduniversity,pleasevisitusat.

stevejobs

ceo,appleandpixaranimation

thankyou.

i’mhonoredtobewithyoutodayforyourmencementfromoneofthefinestuniversityintheworld.

truthtotold,inevergraduatedfromcollege,andthisistheclosesti’veevergottentoacollegegraduation.

today,iwanttotellyouthreestoriesfrommylife.that’sit.nobigdeal.justthreestories.

thefirststoryisaboutconnectingthedots.idroppedoutofreedcollegeafterthefirstsixmonths,butthenstayaroundasadrop-inforanothereighteenmonthsalsobeforeireallyquit.sowhydididropout?itstartedbeforeiwasborn.mybiologicalmotherwasayoungunwedgraduatestudentandshedecidedtoputmeupforadoption.shefeltverystronglythatishouldbeadoptedbycollegegraduates,soeverythingwasallsetformetobeadoptedatbirthbyalawyerandhiswife,exceptwhenipoppedouttheydecidedatthelastminutethattheyreallywantedagirl.somyparents,whowereonawaitinglistgotacallinthemiddleofthenightasking,“we’vegotanunexpectedbabyboy.doyouwanthim?”theysaid,“ofcourse.”mybiologicalmotherfoundoutlaterthatmymotherhadnevergraduatedfromcollegeandmyfatherhadnevergraduatedfromhighschool.sherefusedtosignthefinaladoptionpapers.sheonlyrelentedafewmonthslaterwhenmyparentspromisedthatiwouldgotocollege.thiswasthestartinmylife.andseventeenyearslater,ididgotocollege,butinaivelychoseacollegethatwasalmostasexpensiveasstanfordandallofmyworking-classparent’ssavingswerebeingspentonmycollegetuition.aftersixmonthsicouldn’tseethevalueinit.ihavenoideawhatiwanttodowithmylifeandnoideahowcollegewasgoingtohelpmefigureitout.andhereiwasspendingallofthemoneymyparentshadsavedtheirentirelife,soidecidedtodropoutandtrustthatitwouldallworkoutok.itwasprettyscaryatthetime,butlookingback,itwasoneofthebestdecisionsievermade.theminuteidroppedouticouldstoptakingtherequiredclassesthatdidn’tinterestmeandbegindroppinginontheonesthatlookedfarmoreinteresting.itwasn’tallromantic,ididn’thaveadormroom,soisleptonthefloorinfriends’rooms.ireturnedcokebottlesforthefive-centdepositstobuyfoodwithandiwouldworkthesevenmilesacrossthetowneverysundaynighttogetonegoodmealaweekattheharekrishnatemple.ilovedit.andmuchofwhatistumbledintobyfollowingmycuriosityandintuitionturnedouttobepricelesslateron.letmegiveyouoneexample.reedcollegeatthattimeofferedperhapsthebestcalligraphyinstructioninthecountry.throughoutthecampuseverypostereverylabeloneverydrawerwasbeautifulhandcalligraphed.becauseihavedroppedoutanddidn’thavetotakethenormalclasses.idecidedtotakeacalligraphyclasstolearnhowtodothis.ilearnedaboutserifandsan-seriftypefacesaboutvaryingtheamountofspacebetweendifferentletterbinations,aboutwhatmakesgreattypographygreat.itwasbeautiful,historical,artisticallysubtleinawaythatsciencecan’tcapture,andifounditfascinating.noneofthishadevenahopeofanypracticalapplicationinmylife.buttenyearslater,whenweweredesigningthefirstmacintoshputer,itallcamebacktome,andwedesigneditallintothemac.itwasthefirst

puterwithbeautifultypography.ifihadneverdroppedinonthatsinglecourseincollege,themacwouldhaveneverhadmultipletypefacesorproportionallyspacefonts,andsincewindowscopiedthemac,it’slikelythatnopersonalputerwouldhavethem.ifihadneverdroppedout,iwouldneverdroppedinonthatcalligraphyclassandpersonalsputermightnothavethewonderfultypographythattheydo.ofcourse,itwasimpossibletoconnectthedotslookingforwardwheniwasincollege,butitwasveryveryclearlookingbackwards10yearslater.again,youcan’tconnectthedotslookingforward,youcanonlyconnectthemlookingbackwards.soyouhavetotrustthatthedotswillsomehowconnectinyourfuture.youhavetotrustinsomething,yougut,destiny,life,karma,whatever,becausebelievingthatthedotswillconnectdowntheroad,willgiveyoutheconfidencetofollowyourheart,evenwhenitleadsyouoffthewellwornpath.andthatwouldmakeallthedifference.

mysecondstoryisaboutloveandloss.iwaslucky,ifoundwhatilovedtodoearlyinlife,wozandistartedappleinmyparents’garagewheniwastwenty.weworkedhardandintenyears,applehadgrownfromjustthetwoofusinagarageintoa$2billionpanywithover4000employees.wejustreleasedourfinestcreation,hemacintosh,ayearearlier,andi’djustturnedthirty,andthenigotfired.howcanyougetfiredfromapanyyoustarted?well,asapplegrew,wehiredsomeonewhoithoughtwasverytalentedtorunthepanywithme,andforthefirstyearorso,thingswentwell.butwhenourvisionsofthefuturebegantodivergeandeventuallywehadafallingout.whenwedid,ourboardofdirectorssidedwithhim,andsoatthirty,iwasout,andverypubliclyout.whathadbeenthefocusofmyentireadultlifegone,anditwasdevastating.ireallydidn’tknowwhattodoforafewmonths,ifeltthatihadletthepreviousgenerationofentrepreneursdown,thatihaddroppedhebatonasitwasbeingpassedtome.imetwithdavidpackardandbobnoyce,andtriedtoapologizeforscrewingupsobadly.iwasaverypublicfailureandieventhoughtaboutrunningawaythevalley.butsomethingslowlybegantodawnonme,istilllovedwhatidid.theturnofeventsatapplehadnotchangedthatonebit,i’dbeenrejectedbutiwasstillinlove.andsoidecidedtostartover.ididn’tseethatthen,butitturnedoutthatgettingfiredfromapplewasthebestthingthatcouldhaveeverhappenedtome.thehappinessofbeingsuccessfulwasreplacedbythelightnessofbeingabeginneragain,lesssureabouteverything.itfreedmetoenteroneofthemostcreativeperiodsinmylife.duringthenextfiveyears,istartedapanynamednext,anotherpanynamedpixar,andfellinlovewithanamazingwomanwhowouldbecamemywife.pixarwentontocreatetheworld’sfirstputer-aninatedfeaturefilm“toystory”,andisnowthemostsuccessfulanimationstudiointheworld.inaremarkableturnofevents,appleboughtnext,andireturnedtoapple,andthetechnologywedevelopedatnextisattheheartofapple’scurrentrenaissance,andloreneandihaveawonderfulfamilytogether.iamprettysurenoneofthisworldhavehappenedifihadn’tbeenfiredfromapple.itwasawful-tastingmedicine,butiguessthepatientneededit.sometimelife’sgoingtohityouintheheadwithabrick,don’tlosefaith.i’convincedthattheonlythingthatkeptmegoingwasthatilovedwhatidid.you’vegottofindwhatyoulove,andthatisastrueforworkasitisforyourlovers.yourworkisgoingtofillalargepartofyourlife,andtheonlywaytobetrulysatisfiedistodowhatyoubelieveisgreatwork,andtheonlywaytodogreatworkistolovewhatyoudo.ifyouhaven’tfoundityet,keeplookinganddon’tsettle.aswithallmattersoftheheart,you’llknowwhenyoufindit,andlikeanygreatrelationshipitjustgetsbetterandbetterastheyearsrollon.sokeeplooking,don’tsettle.

mythirdstoryisaboutdeath.wheniwasseventeen,ireadaquotethatwentsomethinglike“if

youliveeachdayasifitwasyourlast,somedayyou’llmostcertainlyberight.”itmadeanimpressiononme,andsincethen,forthepast33years,ihavelookedinthemirroreverymorningandaskedmyself“iftodaywerethelastdayofmylife,wouldiwanttodowhatiamabouttodotoday?”andwhenevertheanswerhasbeen“no”fortoomanydaysinarow,iknowineedtochangesomething.rememberingthati’llbedeadsoonisthemostimportantthingi’veeverencounteredtohelpmemakethebigchoicesinlife.becausealmosteverything,allexternalexpectation,allpride,allfearofembarrassmentoffailure,thesethingsjustfallawayinthefaceofdeath,leavingonlywhatistrulyimportant.rememberingwhatyouaregoingtodieisthebestwayiknowtoavoidthetrapofthinkingyouhavesomethingtolose.youarealreadynaked.thereisnoreasonnottofollowyourheart.aboutayearago,iwasdiagnosedwithcancer,ihadascanat7:30inthemorning,anditclearlyshoweratumormypancreas,ididn’tevenknowwhatapancreaswas,thedoctorstoldmethiswasalmostcertainlyatypeofcancerthatisincurable,andthatishouldexpecttolivenolongerthanthreetosixmonths.mydoctoradvisedmetogohomeandgetmyaffairsinorder,whichisdoctors’codefor“preparetodie”.itmeanstotryandtellyourkidseverythingyouthoughtyou’dhavethenexttenyearstotelltheminjustafewmonths.itmeanstomakesurethateverythingisbuttonedup,sothatitwillbeaseasyaspossibleforyourfamily.itmeanstosayyourgoodbyes.ilivedwiththatdiagnosisallday.laterthateveningihadabiopsy,wheretheystuckonendoscopedownmythroat,throughmystomachintomyintestines,