Steve Jobs Stanford Commencement Speech 2005

Thanks for asking (I too am interested to hear others') The Days Are Long but the Decades Are Short for simplification, balance and inspiration: link Orwell's Politics and the English Language on the importance of precise use of language: link Orwell's Why I Write on critical thinking and clear communication: link Steve Jobs' Stanford Commencement Address (a speech rather than an essay, but worthy of quarterly viewing): ▶ this video Oscar Wilde's A Sentimental Journey Through Literature - a disciplined but scathing repost to a critic who takes shots at Wilde's work without understanding nor appreciating it. Timeless, given how much media is poorly substantiated opinion at best, and outright emotional babble at worst: link

The single best motivator for me is remembering that I'm going to die one day. I think often about the commencement speech Steve Jobs made in 2005. If you haven't seen it, I highly recommend it. Here's a link: ▶ this video I still allow myself time to relax/slack off, but if I had intended to only watch a few episodes before getting down to working on something I'm passionate about, and then have the urge to just do the easy thing and keep watching instead of doing whatever I'd planned to do, I remember that my time is slowly running out and if I don't take steps to achieve my dreams now, then I will likely never achieve them before there's no time left. This applies to everything in life, not just work. Travel, falling in love, learning new things--you name it--everything is affected by how limited your time is. Time and your body (there's a direct relationship between them) are the most limited resources you have, and even if you strike it rich you can never rewind the clock. This is what motivates me more than anything else to get shit done. On a related note, once you realize just how limited your time is, you realize how pointless it is to live your life for other people or be constrained by dogma. Anyway, at this point I'm just rehashing the speech, and Jobs says all this much better than I do. If you haven't seen it yet, go watch it. If you have seen it, go watch it again and listen very carefully to what he says.

Following are some great technology and startups related resources that I have come across: ▶ this video (Steve Jobs Speech. Watch it again and again and again...) link (Latest News in the Tech/Startup Industry) link (YCombinator Startup Library) link (Business Basics for Engineers) link (Stanford CS Library) link (Tech Q & A) link (Startup Q & A) link (Paul Graham Essays) link (Ruby on Rails Tutorial Book) link (Python - Django Framework) link (Angel List) link (Join any channel, for example, #rubyonrails, #css, #jquery, #ubuntu, etc. for quick Q & A and chat) link (For open source code) link (Stanford E-Corner Popular Videos) I will keep the list updated. If you believe I am missing something, please mention it in the comments.

Jobs' speech is about 1.5 years old. It's probably a classic for this audience, but the few who've slipped through the cracks must not be denied this utterly inspiring speech. We should be so lucky to one day be able to give a speech that chronicles a life of amazing achievements. Don't focus so much on whether what he's saying is true, of if you think he's this or that. All that matters is that if you feel something deep within you move, listen to THAT. Also, here's the YouTube video of the speech - ▶ this video Do enjoy!

2 things 1) Steve Jobs' commencement speech at Stanford. ▶ this video 2) Reminding myself of my blessings in life. Most of us have many things to be thankful for, even in our worst moments Whatever you do, do not seek sympathy from others. It can be very comforting to vent your frustration to people and get their sympathy, but it does absolutely nothing for situation and only enforces your despair.

Came here to post this Larry Smith link :) Even though Jobs gets some hate on HN, these interviews/speeches have never failed to inspire me. If you don't ask, you don't get -link On a very formulaic life - link (I couldn't find one without the bad bg music) Stay hungry, stay foolish - ▶ this video I do realise, on some levels, he was not a good person, or atleast came off as an ass, but listening to these interviews and speeches, I feel I can relate to him and his struggles.