7 Life Lessons from Steve Jobs and His Stanford Commencement Speech
I just watched this speech for probably the 5th time over the years and forwarded it to my sons and my former assistant Marvin. I’ve experienced this in my own life with setbacks that became opportunities and adversities that turned into greater paths forward. I wish every young person, teacher, fresh entrepreneur, and anyone desiring to improve their lives would watch this powerful, inspiring speech.
I’m surprised how many haven’t seen it—Jobs reveals how challenges often became opportunities, where a door closes only for a larger one to open, leading to better paths and growth. In 2005, Steve Jobs delivered one of modern history’s most memorable commencement addresses at Stanford University, drawing from his extraordinary life—from adoption and college dropout days to building Apple, being fired from his own company, and facing mortality—to share profound insights that resonate today. Here are seven powerful lessons we can apply to our own lives.
1. Connect the Dots Looking Backward
Jobs famously dropped out of Reed College but continued taking classes that interested him, including a calligraphy course. At the time, this seemed impractical and disconnected from any career path. Years later, those lessons directly influenced the beautiful typography in the first Macintosh computer.
The lesson: You can’t connect the dots looking forward; you can only connect them looking backward. Trust that the experiences you’re gathering now—even those that seem irrelevant or random—will somehow connect in your future. This requires faith that your path will make sense eventually, even when it doesn’t make sense now.
2. Follow Your Curiosity and Intuition
Rather than forcing himself through required courses that didn’t interest him, Jobs followed his curiosity to classes that fascinated him. This decision to pursue genuine interest over obligation led to unexpected innovations that would change the world.
The lesson: Your curiosity is trying to tell you something. Don’t ignore your genuine interests in favor of what seems “practical” or “safe.” Often, following what truly fascinates you leads to more meaningful and impactful work than following conventional wisdom.
3. Sometimes Failure is a Blessing in Disguise
Being fired from Apple—the company he founded—was devastating for Jobs. He called it the best thing that could have happened to him. The weight of being successful was replaced by the lightness of being a beginner again, free to enter one of the most creative periods of his life. He started NeXT and Pixar, met his wife, and eventually returned to Apple to lead its greatest innovations.
The lesson: What looks like failure or setback today may be setting you up for something better tomorrow. The loss of security and success can free you to take creative risks and explore new directions you never would have considered otherwise. Don’t let rejection or failure define you; let it redirect you.
4. Keep Searching Until You Find What You Love
Jobs emphasized that the only way to do great work is to love what you do. He urged people to keep looking and not settle, just as he did throughout his career.
The lesson: If you haven’t found work that you love, keep searching. Don’t settle for mediocrity or convince yourself that work is supposed to be something you endure. Your heart will tell you when you’ve found it. This doesn’t mean every day will be perfect, but it means you’re engaged in something that feels meaningful and worth your energy.
5. Death is Life’s Greatest Invention
After being diagnosed with pancreatic cancer, Jobs gained a clarifying perspective on mortality. He noted that remembering you’re going to die is the best way to avoid the trap of thinking you have something to lose.
The lesson: Death strips away everything external and leaves only what’s truly important. Use the awareness of your mortality as a tool for making important choices in life. When facing difficult decisions, ask yourself: “If today were my last day, would I want to do what I’m about to do?” If the answer is no too many days in a row, something needs to change.
6. Don’t Let Others’ Opinions Drown Out Your Inner Voice
Jobs warned against the noise of others’ opinions drowning out your own inner voice. He emphasized having the courage to follow your heart and intuition, which somehow already know what you truly want to become.
The lesson: Other people’s expectations, criticisms, and advice—while sometimes valuable—shouldn’t overrule your deepest convictions about your own path. External validation is fleeting, but living authentically according to your own values creates lasting fulfillment. Have the courage to disappoint others if it means being true to yourself.
7. Stay Hungry, Stay Foolish
Jobs concluded his speech with this memorable phrase, borrowed from the final issue of The Whole Earth Catalog. It became his farewell message to the graduates and, ultimately, to all of us.
The lesson: Never lose your appetite for learning, growing, and challenging yourself. Maintain the beginner’s mind that’s willing to look foolish, ask questions, take risks, and try things that might not work. The moment you think you’ve figured it all out is the moment you stop growing. Hunger drives innovation; foolishness—the willingness to attempt what others call impossible—drives breakthroughs.
Applying These Lessons
Steve Jobs’ life wasn’t perfect, and he’d be the first to admit his flaws. But his journey demonstrates that conventional paths aren’t the only ones worth taking, that setbacks often redirect us toward our purpose, and that living authentically—even when it’s difficult—creates the most meaningful life.
The question isn’t whether you’ll face uncertainty, rejection, or difficult choices. The question is whether you’ll have the courage to trust your path, follow your heart, and live the life you’re meant to live rather than the one others expect of you.
As Jobs said, “Your time is limited, so don’t waste it living someone else’s life.” That might be the most important lesson of all.
