Steve Jobs: Let His Life Inspire YOUR Legacy

The world is still reeling from the news that Apple co-founder Steve Jobs has died. There's no denying the incredible impact this one man has had on the way we use and interact with technology -- especially when it comes to music and entertainment media in the digital age.

Here are a few rough numbers to consider:

• 300 million iPods sold
• 16 billions songs downloaded from iTunes
• 225 million iTunes Store customer accounts
• 100 million books downloaded from iBooks
• 25 million iPads sold
• 15 billion apps downloaded from the App Store

Those are impressive figures. The influence that Steve Jobs had on the digital devices we use (and how we discover and acquire music and media) will be felt for decades to come. He's being described as a modern day Thomas Edison, regarding the lasting impact he'll have on our culture.

Yes, we should honor his life and be saddened by his passing at such a young age. And moving forward, there will no doubt be plenty of people who will question how Apple operates without its iconic leader at the helm.

But what I encourage you to consider is this ...

What can we learn from Steve Jobs on the topic of leaving a legacy and making an impact on the world during our short time on this planet?

Luckily, he left us with a good bit of advice. Later this month, his authorized biography by Walter Isaacson will be published. It's already a bestseller on Amazon, based on preorders alone.

He also gave an inspiring commencement speech at Stanford University in 2005. The video has gone viral since his death. Here's just part of what he said that day:

"You're time is limited, so don't waste it living someone else's life. Don't be trapped by dogma, which is living with the results of other people's thinking. Don't let the noise of others' opinions drown out your own inner voice. And most important, have the courage to follow your heart and intuition. They somehow already know what you what you truly want to become. Everything else is secondary."

Watch the full video of his Stanford commencement speech, then I encourage you to leave a comment below. Give me any thoughts you have on Steve Jobs and his legacy. Then, more important, make a public statement about how you will live your life so your impact is felt long after you are gone.

Hint: You don't have to be a global figure or sell millions of "units" to accomplish this. You can leave a legacy on whatever scale you choose to work - small, medium or large. The main thing is to leave behind something of value for someone.

How are you doing that today?


-Bob

P.S. It just occurred to me that I wrote this post on my new iPad 2, which I bought a couple weeks ago and absolutely love. Thanks again, Steve, for the influence you’ve had on our lives!