follow your bliss.

"i am convinced that the only thing that kept me going was that i loved what i did. you've got to find what you love. and that is as true for work, as it is for your lovers." - Steve Jobs

Unless you live under a rock, you'd probably know that Steve Jobs, the brilliant mind behind apple's many innovations, has recently resigned as its CEO, mostly due to his present health conditions. As most probably have said, it feels, quite frankly, like an end of an era. And while i'm not undermining the capabilities of his successor, Tim Cook, (i actually believe he is brilliant in his own right.) i feel that, growing up and being inspired by the man that is Steve Jobs, it really feels like i've lost a father to look up to somehow.

a hero.

But believe it or not, there was a time when I don't even know who he was. I remember when we were at this creative juice seminar, we were divided into groups and drew lots as to who or what we should get inspiration from. i was picked by the group to get it and got "steve jobs". i had to ask the organizer who he was and he said, "you don't know him? he is the head of apple."

of course, it still didn't click in my head. apple? the far competitor of Microsoft? (yes, i was "a PC" before) during that exercise, i don't think we maximized what we had, mostly because I didn't know that man as much i as i do now.

But i was glad because after that i started to read about him. instantly, i was converted. (and it was also a big help that they launched their very colorful laptops with incidentals in SATC, you know how i love that show) since then i followed him, drawing inspiration from what he's so good at doing.

its a shame that we won't be seeing much more of his brilliance now that he's taken the back seat. but im still excited about this new change. besides, the damage has been done. I've taken his words and works into heart. he's what i aspire to be, maybe not the genius part, but definitely the doing what you love part. actually finding it and going for it.

its hard when what you want is a step away from what the people around you see as "right".

of course they will tell you, "you can't" and that its "a stupid move"

but doing what i can't and being stupid worked out great for me so far. so yes. i'm taking the road less traveled, at least the one that's only traveled by the brave. i'm throwing my cautions to the wind and am taking that leap.

its now or never. Thanks Mr. Steve Jobs for giving me that much more reason to follow my bliss.