Zen Pencils by Gavin Aung Than for September 12, 2016

This was a great speech, one of the best graduation speeches I’ve ever heard. Every word on the money. When a man knows he’s in mortal condition, truth can come pouring out.

But… but… this strip is “other people’s thinking”.

I must confess, I find Steve’s real life, rather less inspiring. Screw over your friends, deny your family. Truly ‘Everything else is secondary’, and die a bully.

@says rjh-kk That is your very subjective interpretation. I took out a very different understanding after reading Isaachson’s excellent Jobs biography.

BUT, do NOT make the mistake of believing that you will thereby become rich and famous. You might just be a fool. There’s no way to know. So you have to be prepared to satisfied with fool.

Are rich and famous on the one side and a fool on the other side the only options? How about quietly content among other possibilities?

Steve Jobs was a marketing genius. That was his gift. He knew how to spin a product, and he knew how to market himself. The technical wizardry came from other people – but he was able to elevate it to seemingly miraculous proportions thanks to his salesmanship, which was helped along by the slavish devotions of millions of fanboys and his own remarkable cult of personality.

And the fact he was a terrible boss.

Well done, thank you.

I’m amazed at how many have attacked the man but not made reference to his words. If it’s just Steve you want to hate, what’s the purpose of quoting his wisdom? I knew Steve a little and Woz, too. Steve was driven, often rude but he, more than anyone, made Apple what it is and helped provide the world with great products. Those of you who are history buffs know that many “greats” were sad excuses for human beings. We take their gifts and then spit on them? Very Zen-like!

Nice repeat. The best things are always worth repeating.

A note to you Gavin. Would you ever put your amazing talents to work and do Rudyard Kipling’s IF? That would ne amazing.