Oh Wow! Last Words
I used to watch The Good Wife.
I can still remember one episode when the partners at Stern, Lockhart and Gardner became concerned because so many of their top lawyers had suddenly started to behave very erratically.
Almost overnight, they had become more aggressive, more outspoken and more hostile to their fellow litigators.
An investigation was conducted and the reason for the sudden change in corporate culture was unearthed.
It turned out that nearly everyone in the Chicago law firm was reading Walter Isaacson’s biography of Steve Jobs, which was a global best-seller at the time.
Back then, I didn’t know that much about Steve Jobs. But that episode confirmed the stereotype.
Following Steve Jobs’ death in 2011, much was made of the fact that the maverick co-founder of Apple could be something of a tyrant. He was often depicted as verbally abusive, a ferocious task-master, and obsessive about every microscopic detail of design.
The main upshot of that episode of The Good Wife was that I reckoned it would be best for me and everyone around me if I didn’t read the biography of Steve Jobs.
And for 13 years I stuck to that decision until curiosity got the better of me.
I read his biography at Easter. I rammed through it in a few days. It is one of the best biographies I’ve ever read.
What emerged from the 656 pages was a much broader and fuller insight into a man who has essentially re-shaped modern culture.
While Steve Jobs was flawed, his depiction as some type of Raging Bull CEO is a gross over simplification.
He had his virtues too.
His final hours provide one of the most poignant and moving parts of the book.
Aged just 56, Steve Jobs was lying on his deathbed. Surrounded by his family, he looked across at his wife. For a long time, he fixed his gaze on each of his children.
Then, he looked above and beyond them. His attention had gone to another place when he said: “Oh wow! Oh wow! Oh wow!
Those were his last words.
He died the next day.
At the time of his death Steve Jobs was worth an estimated £9 billion.
A multi-millionaire since his mid-twenties, the accumulation of wealth had long since ceased to be his driving force.
And as he lived out his last days, Jobs had time to reflect on his 56 years.
Yes, he had turned Apple into the biggest company in the world.
And yes, the iphone alone has changed how we live today - but what did it all mean?
Jobs’s thoughts on life and death are worth reading. When you’ve finished reading the words below, you will realise he left us more than the iphone.
STEVE JOBS ON LIFE & DEATH
"At this moment, lying on the sick bed and recalling my whole life, I realise that all the recognition and wealth that I took so much pride in, have paled and become meaningless in the face of impending death.
You can employ someone to drive the car for you, make money for you but you cannot have someone to bear the sickness for you.
Material things lost can be found. But there is one thing that can never be found when it is lost – Life.
Whichever stage in life we are at right now, with time, we will face the day when the curtain comes down.
Treasure love for your family, love for your spouse, love for your friends... Treat yourself well. Cherish others.
As we grow older, and hence wiser, we slowly realise that:
wearing a $300 or $30 watch - they both tell the same time…
Whether we drive a $150,000 car or a $30,000 car, the road and distance is the same, and we get to the same destination.
Whether we drink a bottle of $300 or $10 wine - the hangover is the same;
Whether the house we live in is 300 or 3000 sq ft - loneliness is the same.
You will realise, your true inner happiness does not come from the material things of this world. Whether you fly first or economy class, if the plane goes down - you go down with it…
Therefore.. I hope you realise, when you have mates, buddies and old friends, brothers and sisters, who you chat with, laugh with, talk with, have sing-songs with, talk about north-south-east-west or heaven and earth, .... That is true happiness!
FIVE UNDENIABLE FACTS OF LIFE
Don’t educate your children to be rich. Educate them to be happy. So when they grow up they will know the value of things not the price.
Eat your food as your medicine. Otherwise you have to eat medicines as your food.
The One who loves you will never leave you for another because even if there are 100 reasons to give up he or she will find one reason to hold on.
There is a big difference between a human being and being human. Only a few really understand it.
You are loved when you are born. You will be loved when you die. In between, You have to manage!
Note: If you just want to Walk Fast, Walk Alone! But if you want to Walk Far, Walk Together!
SIX BEST DOCTORS IN THE WORLD
Sunlight
Rest
Exercise
Diet
Self Confidence
Friends
Maintain them in all stages of life and enjoy a healthy life.
LIVE BETTER ON THE SHRED
The Shred is a holistic training programme which is designed to help you live better.
Join The Shred for The Med and we’ll help you get leaner, fitter and stronger.
Starting on Monday 10th June, our final weigh-in will be on Friday 5th July - just before you pack that suitcase for your holiday.
If you struggle on your own, come and join us.
The only thing you’ve got to lose is weight.
You can register for The Shred for the Med now.
Just go to our website:
📅 4-week programme
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The Shred for The Med will run for four weeks: Monday 10th June to Saturday 6th July.
It costs £44.95.
Please read the information in the email which will confirm your payment.
If you want to join a WhatsApp Weight Loss Group, you must join The Shred Facebook Group before Friday 7th June.
The WhatsApp Groups are organised before The Shred for The Med officially begins.
A series of videos and posts on Sunday 9th of June will let you know what is involved so you will be ready to go when it officially starts the next day.
