“I didn’t see it then, but it turned out that getting fired from Apple was the best thing that could have ever happened to me. The heaviness of being successful was replaced by the lightness of being a beginner again, less sure about everything. It freed me to enter one of the most creative periods of my life.”
- February 24, 1955 – October 5, 2011
- American
- Entrepreneur, businessman, industrial designer
- He brought to the world revolutionary products that combined technology and design at a high level, such as the personal computer Macintosh, iPhone, and iPad, and also revolutionized the music industry with the iPod, iTunes, and iTunes Store.
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Quote
“I didn’t see it then, but it turned out that getting fired from Apple was the best thing that could have ever happened to me. The heaviness of being successful was replaced by the lightness of being a beginner again, less sure about everything. It freed me to enter one of the most creative periods of my life.”
Explanation
In this quote, Steve Jobs reflects on the unexpected benefits of being fired from Apple in 1985, a pivotal moment in his life. At the time, losing his position at the company he co-founded was a devastating blow, but Jobs later recognized it as a turning point that allowed him to rediscover his creativity. The heaviness of success—the pressure and expectations that came with being at the helm of a successful company—was replaced by the freedom of being a beginner once again. Jobs describes how this shift in perspective allowed him to approach challenges with a fresh outlook, less burdened by the weight of prior achievements.
This period of uncertainty and restarting led to one of the most creatively productive phases of Jobs’ life, which included founding NeXT and acquiring Pixar. These ventures not only played a significant role in his later return to Apple but also allowed him to refine his vision for future innovations like the iPhone and MacBook. Jobs’ experience shows that moments of failure or setbacks can provide opportunities for reinvention and personal growth, allowing individuals to break free from constraints and approach problems with a new perspective.
Today, this quote is a reminder that failure or unexpected challenges are not necessarily negative. They can be transformative, offering the chance to reset, relearn, and create in ways that might not have been possible within the confines of previous success. Jobs’ journey underscores the value of embracing change, and how stepping back can lead to greater innovation and creativity.
