Founder of Apple, Steve Jobs Dies Today

I just read that Steve Jobs, the Founder of Apple, just died today.

He was truly an innovator with vision and a knack for marketing intriguing products that have changed the way we use computers.

Here are some  excerpts from the article I read:

Jobs dropped out of Oregon's Reed College after one semester, although he returned to audit a class in calligraphy, which he says influenced Apple's graceful, minimalist aesthetic. He quit one of his first jobs, designing video games for Atari, to backpack across India and take psychedelic drugs. Those experiences, Jobs said later, shaped his creative vision.

"You can't connect the dots looking forward; you can only connect them looking backwards. So you have to trust that the dots will somehow connect in your future," he told Stanford University graduates during a commencement speech in 2005. "You have to trust in something: your gut, destiny, life, karma, whatever. This approach has never let me down, and it has made all the difference in my life."


"Your work is going to fill a large part of your life, and the only way to be truly satisfied is to do what you believe is great work. And the only way to do great work is to love what you do," he told the Stanford grads in 2005.

"If you haven't found it yet, keep looking. Don't settle. As with all matters of the heart, you'll know when you find it. And, like any great relationship, it just gets better and better as the years roll on."

Here is the entire article:
http://www.cnn.com/2011/10/05/us/obit-steve-jobs/index.html?hpt=hp_t1

It's interesting to find out that he was adopted as a baby, just as I was along with my fraternal twin sister.  Psychedelics also helped shape his future and the creative vision.  I also COMPLETELY agree with finding your passion or passions in life...and Follow Your Bliss.  Master your talents...or get real close.

I have enjoyed working on MACS for graphic design and music, but I also like the flexibility of the PC.  Both computer platforms have their pluses and minuses.  I can appreciate BOTH operating systems equally.

I love playing the time travel game where you look back in your own life and then look ahead at all of the experiences you will have with your future self.

If you are living your life correctly, you will notice how everything connects in a way that you can't perceive as it is happening.  Even in the last six months, I have seen extraordinary situations present themselves that are setting up the future connections that, only in hindsight, will be completely appreciated as part of the BIG picture.

Follow Your Bliss Synchronicity

In the Fall of 2005, I quit my job as an Art Director for a Real Estate Brokerage company in Dallas.  I had worked there for over 9 years, the longest position I had ever had in my history of working.  It was killing me creatively, spiritually and on many other levels,  and I was filled with a general feeling of unhappiness.

I had nothing else lined up and really didn't know what I was going to do.  I just knew one thing, whatever it was, I wanted to draw, create and make music.  I had decided to (to quote the Visionary Genius of Joseph Campbell) "Follow My Bliss" and create my own dream instead of helping to facilitate someone else's dream.

That Friday, I went to my favorite music store and told them of my new adventure.  I told them I was "Following My Bliss".

Everyone was really happy for me regardless of where I would end up.  The manager of the music store then asked me if I was interested in creating a band poster for a mutual friend's band.  He loved my pen and ink work and said I could create anything that I wanted.  He trusted that whatever it was, It would be amazing.  He gave me $100!  I was stoked.  My first freelance assignment with total creative control.

I called my friend in Kauai, Hawaii, who had been telling me for quite a while that I needed to get out of that work environment because he sensed my unhappiness and frustration.  I told him I finally was "Following My Bliss".  The next day, I received a voice mail and all he said was: "Follow Your Bliss, Kistler!"  
I laughed.  What a great message - he knew that I had finally made the break into the great unknown.

That Monday morning, I woke up on my first day of freedom, casually walked downstairs and made some coffee.  I flipped on the TV to some public access cable station out of Florida.  The host was announcing that his next guest was going to be Jack Horkheimer, The Star Hustler.  I thought, cool.  I had grown up watching his show on PBS.  He was the guy in the Members Only jacket waking out out on the rings of Saturn and would inform you of what to pay attention in the night's sky for that week.  Well, I thought the interview could be enlightening at the very least.

The host came back after the commercial break and was sitting there with Dr. Jack Horkheimer and he introduced his guest to the TV audience.

Right then, Jack faced the camera (looking out into TV land directly at me) and said the following:  "I have three words for everyone out there...and that is Follow Your Bliss.  You need to find that thing or things in life that you are so passionate about that you can find a way to turn them into a career."

He then turned back to the host and explained how he has always loved science and astronomy ever since he was a child.  He knew that he wanted a career in the field so did everything that he could to make that a reality.

I couldn't believe what had just happened!  The hair was standing up on my arms.  I had realized that it was a message to inform me that I was on the right path.  The timing was too perfect.  Had it been 20 minutes earlier, I would have missed it.  If it was 20 minutes later, I would have missed it to.  I didn't even have to turn the TV on or it could have been on a different station.

I set the intention on Friday, received a freelance project immediately, received a message from my best friend repeating my intention to me and the deal was sealed after watching the interview explaining the intention I had set.  It completely blew me away.

I created my own company called Kistler Creative and started doing Digital Photo Restoration (another Synchronicity) and Band Posters.

In the end, I realized that timing is everything.  The messages are out there, the signposts appear and then guide you on the right path.

But, be aware that the timing isn't necessarily when you want it.  But, in the end, it is perfect timing when it DOES  happen and you are ready to effortlessly move into a new adventure in this strange thing we call "life".


Note - I just read that Jack Horkheimer passed away on August 20, 2010 at the age of 72.  I am so glad that I was able to catch that interview with him.