June 12th, 2025 marks the 20th anniversary of Steve Jobs’ iconic commencement speech at Stanford—a day to remember a visionary who gifted the world with his creativity and innovative thinking. His life and words continue to inspire us to think outside the box and pursue our passions. As we reflect on his legacy, it’s essential for the new generation to recognize the value of his message.
In fact, we all have a bit of Steve Jobs within us—a touch of asceticism, a spirit of adventure, and some wild dreams. Yet, the vast majority of us tend to stay in our lanes, rarely breaking out with the courage to pursue our true passions. Through his words and deeds, Steve Jobs challenged our younger generation to break free from the molded straitjacket we call our careers and lives. He told us to embrace our uniqueness and take bold steps outside the lane toward realizing our dreams.
If you haven't listened to his speech in a while, take a moment to do so (see link below).
In this spirit, I want to share in this note, thanks to Sahil Bloom (see below), seven timeless lessons from that legendary address, which have the power to resonate in our lives today:
1. Question the defaults
Jobs emphasized the importance of challenging societal "truths" that have been widely accepted without question. Courageously questioning these defaults can lead to discovering what truly matters to you. Although Steve spoke of the questioning of the defaults, equally important is the first principles thinking which involves breaking down a problem to its most fundamental truths. Both approaches are crucial in problem-solving and innovation.
2. Let your curiosity guide you
He urged us to follow our curiosity, as interests that may seem unrelated can often lead to invaluable experiences and connections in the future. Simply put, curiosity is king—a principle he embraced wholeheartedly, even taking a long sojourn in India to soak in the richness of its vast mosaic of cultures.
3. Have faith in the dots
Jobs reminded us that while we can’t see how our experiences connect looking forward, they often reveal a meaningful pattern when viewed from the past. Trust that your journey is shaping your future. Keep collecting dots—successes, failures, random conversations, off-the-beaten-path experiences, creative thoughts, and dreams.
4. Fall in love with the starting line
He celebrated the beauty of being a beginner, free from expectations. Embracing starting over can lead to new and creative opportunities. He himself experienced this when he was fired from Apple, yet he approached that setback with resilience, starting anew without an ounce of surrender and eventually creating remarkable innovations.
5. Never settle for less than you deserve
Jobs encouraged us to find what we love and not to settle until we do. The pursuit of great work must be fueled by passion and belief in one’s self-worth. He also emphasized the importance of following your gut and intuition, unburdened by the opinions of others. This mindset empowers us to pursue our true passions and create work that resonates with our authentic selves.
6. Remember your own mortality
Jobs shared that recognizing the finite nature of life can help clarify what truly matters. This awareness drives us to prioritize what is important and to follow our hearts. Perhaps his views were influenced by his Zen practices, which embrace the concept of death as an integral part of life, reminding us that our time is limited. The Buddhist core tenet of impermanence teaches us that all things are transient, further emphasizing the need to make the most of our time. Steve Jobs clearly took this core teaching of his spiritual practice to heart.
7. Stay hungry, stay foolish
Steve Jobs truly embodied Socrates’ wisdom: “The only true wisdom is in knowing you know nothing.”
He offered this invaluable concluding advice: “Your time is limited, so don’t waste it living someone else’s life. Don’t be trapped by dogma—living with the results of other people’s thinking. Don’t let the noise of others’ opinions drown out your own inner voice. Most important, have the courage to follow your heart and intuition; they somehow already know what you truly want to become. Every
As we honor Steve Jobs today, let his words serve as powerful reminders for the new generation. May they inspire you to break boundaries, explore new horizons, and create the future you envision. Daring to dream and embracing your unique journey can lead to remarkable outcomes, just as Jobs demonstrated throughout his life. So, stay hungry and stay foolish.
These seven lessons from the speech were inspired by Sahil Bloom, the author of the New York Times best-selling book, The Five Types of Wealth.