LESSONS FROM STEVE JOBS’S SPEECH AT

STANFORD UNIVERSITY (JUNE 12, 2005)

Speaking to Stanford University's graduating class, Apple's co-founder and then-CEO shared
three stories in which he combined the lessons he'd learned in his life with advice for the new
graduates. Eighteen years later, the 15-minute speech at Stanford University on June 12, 2005
still resonates and offers useful advice about life and work for people of all ages. Some of Steve
Jobs' most famous quotes come from this inaugural speech.

Jobs's first story, “Connecting the dots”, which was also the first lesson, "Trust that things will
somehow work out in your future," explained why he decided to drop out of college. After six
months of school, Jobs said he didn't know what he wanted to do with his life and he couldn't
imagine what role college would play in that. Instead of spending his parents' money, he dropped
out. “I decided to get out and trust that everything will be okay,” Jobs said in the speech. Instead,
he started looking for courses that interested him, Jobs said. “Much of what I discovered by
following my curiosity and intuition later proved invaluable,” Jobs said. This included a course
on calligraphy, in which Jobs learned about fonts and design that would later play a role in the
construction of the Mac personal computer. “If I had never dropped out, I would never have
taken the calligraphy class, and personal computers might not have the wonderful typography
they provide,” Jobs said. At the time of his dropout, Jobs could see no connection between a
calligraphy course and the design of the Mac. “You have to trust that the dots will somehow fit
together in the future,” Jobs said. “You have to trust in something – your gut, your fate, your life,
your karma, whatever.”

Jobs's second story, “Love and Loss”, which was the second lesson, "Find What You Love," was
about the time he was fired from Apple. Jobs and Apple co-founder Steve Wozniak grew from a
garage operation to a $2 billion company in 10 years, Jobs said in the speech. But at 30, Jobs was
forced out of the company. "I didn't see it at the time, but it turned out that being fired from
Apple was the best thing that could ever have happened to me," Jobs said. Jobs said in the speech
that this led to a creative period in his life where he founded two companies and fell in love.
Apple later bought one of the companies and Jobs returned to Apple. “Sometimes life hits you
over the head with a brick. Don’t lose faith,” Jobs said. “I am convinced that the only thing that
kept me going was that I loved what I did. You have to find what you love. And that goes for
both your work and your lovers." If you haven't yet found what you love, Jobs said, "Don't
settle." "As with all matters of the heart, you'll know it when you find it.

Jobs's final story, “Death”, which was the last lesson, “Death is the destination we all share”,
revealed what he went through when he learned of his pancreatic cancer diagnosis. Jobs died of
complications from cancer in 2011. Jobs said that since his youth he used the motivation to live
every day as if it were his last to make important decisions. “Remembering that you are going to
die is the best way I know to avoid the trap of thinking you have something to lose,” Jobs said.
“You’re already naked. There is no reason not to follow your heart." When Jobs was diagnosed
with pancreatic cancer in 2004, he was initially told that the cancer was incurable and that he
only had a few months to live. Later that day, he said, a biopsy revealed that the cancer could be
treated with surgery. “I had surgery and fortunately I'm fine now.” But the near-death encounter
gave him certainty about what he wanted to say to the graduates. "Death is the destination we all
share," Jobs said. "No one has ever escaped it. And that is as it should be, because death is very
likely the single best invention of life.".That's why it's important that you stay true to yourself.
"Your time is limited, so don't waste it doing that to save another's life.”To live," Jobs said, in
addition, "Don't let the noise of other people's opinions drown out your own inner voice, and the
most important, have the courage to follow your heart and intuition.”

After his three stories, Jobs left Stanford's 2005 graduating class with parting words he learned
from the final issue of a 1970s publication: "Stay Hungry. Stay Foolish." To be "hungry" is to
always be wanting more. To always continue challenging yourself and to never be satisfied with
the work you have done in the past. If you become comfortable with where you are in life, you
will fall behind to a world that is always moving. A "fool" is someone that takes unnecessary
risks and lacks a good sense of judgement. Jobs uses this in a way to encourage people to push
the boundaries of society. To be willing to do things that people say cannot be done. To do things
that people might think your a "fool" for even trying. To make a difference in the world it means
you must go against the grain. Nobody changes the world by doing only what they're told. Its
taking risks and stepping outside your comfort zone that makes a real and lasting difference. "It
takes the strongest fish to go against the current, even a dead one can go with". Never be
satisfied, and always be willing to learn.