I remember the place I was when a friend told me about Steve Jobs’ death. I felt sad but the feeling wasn’t so profound as it is today. Prolly because he or Apple never really resonated with me, up to that point in my life. I always felt they just sold expensive stuff. Despite having no connection with him or the company, the moment felt big and I felt I had to write something about it. So I started reading about him to learn what other people were saying. During my brief research, I came across his Stanford speech. Ten minutes in, I was crying listening to him talking about death.

Rest they say is history.

For the next few years I absorbed every book about him I could find. Even the cheap knockoffs you find on street book stalls. I watched every interview of him. Some of them more than a few times. I watched all his presentations, most of them more than once. I got into the habit of reading books for the first time in my life. I discovered Seth Godin who told me you can do great things wherever you are. I came across Tim Ferriss who told me I can get out of my 9-5 job I am not happy about. I tried and failed at a couple of startups and it felt great. I started using Twitter more than Facebook. I met remarkable people in my life because I was interested in startups and yes Twitter. Because of that I, for the first time in my life, started loving what I did for living. Perhaps most importantly, I started rethinking what life could be and not what is. And that has made all the difference.

I am about to turn 40 and yet I feel like I have this new life which has only been slightly more than a decade old. I feel younger and more motivated than I was 13 years ago. If not physically then mentally. I am pretty sure none of this would have happened if I haven’t watched that YouTube video 13 years ago.

It’s also kinda intimidating. At 40 I should be settling in and not starting anew. At least I should be in the middle of something, not at the starting line. And yet here I am.

Thank you, Steve.