Steve Jobs' 2005 Stanford Commencement Address

The speaker shares personal experiences, starting with his unconventional educational journey. He dropped out of Reed College after six months but lingered for another 18 months as a visitor. His adoption story reveals that he was initially meant to be adopted by a couple who changed their minds at the last moment, leading him to be raised by parents who were not college graduates.

After discovering that his biological parents had not graduated from school, he was adopted with the promise of attending college. However, after six months at an expensive institution without a clear direction for his future, he decided to drop out despite fears about the decision. This choice allowed him to explore subjects that genuinely interested him rather than sticking to required courses. One significant experience was taking a calligraphy class which later influenced the design of Apple's Macintosh computer by introducing beautiful typography—something that would have been missed if he hadn't followed his curiosity and intuition.

At 20, I founded Apple in my parents' garage and grew it into a billion-dollar company. After releasing the Macintosh, I was unexpectedly fired at 30 due to diverging visions with a hired executive. This public failure left me devastated but sparked an important realization: my passion for what I did remained unchanged. Embracing this setback led to new beginnings; I started NeXT and Pixar, which created Toy Story and revolutionized animation. Ultimately, returning to Apple after its acquisition of NeXT marked the start of a renaissance for both myself and the company.

At 17, a quote about living each day as if it were your last profoundly impacted my life. For over three decades, I’ve asked myself daily whether I would want to do what I'm planning if today was my final one. This reflection has guided me in making significant life choices by stripping away external fears and expectations, revealing what truly matters. A year ago, after being diagnosed with an incurable pancreatic cancer that turned out to be operable and curable, I faced death closely but emerged healthy. This experience reinforced the idea that while no one wants to die—death is life's greatest catalyst for change; it reminds us not to waste time living someone else's dreams or opinions.

The Whole Earth Catalog, created by Stuart Brand in the late 60s, was a groundbreaking publication that served as an essential resource for its generation. Produced without modern technology, it resembled a pre-internet Google filled with innovative tools and ideas. After several issues, the final edition featured an evocative image of a country road accompanied by the farewell message "stay hungry stay foolish." This phrase encapsulated their idealistic spirit and has become a personal mantra to inspire continuous curiosity and boldness.