For Steve Jobs' thirtieth birthday, his then Apple coworkers made a video the celebrate his life to that point. The video, dug up by Harry McCracken at Technologizer, is set to My Back Pages by Bob Dylan, one of Jobs' favorite musicians and inspirations, is filled with images from Jobs' first 30 years. The video starts with these words:

To Steven Jobs
on his thirtieth birthday.

For the first thirty years of your life,
you make your habits.

For the last thirty years of your life,
your habits make you.

Old Hindu Proverb.

Tragically, Jobs didn't live to see his second thirty years, something that none of them could have foreseen when the video was made.


For Harry's thoughts and a description of many of the images in the video, visit Technologizer. McCracken offers thanks to "Craig Elliott–Apple employee 8128, who worked there from 1985-1996–for sharing this gem, and to his fellow Apple veteran Tom Hughes for telling me about it."

Top Rated Comments

adcx64 Avatar
183 months ago
This is touching. It's such a shame Steve didn't get to see the next 30 years. The world needs more Steve Jobs.
Score: 11 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Bez Avatar
183 months ago
I'm 30, and I just compared myself to Steve Jobs at 30 and became super depressed... I graduated college and dental school and now I work in peoples mouths all day... hip hip hooray!!! jk, peoples mouths kinda suck after 3 years. What a stud Steve Jobs was! I miss that guy, and was always so excited to hear him talk or read his tweets... Huuuuuuuge loss for us all...

Michael
If we all start comparing ourselves to Steve and trying relive his live, there will be a lot of very frustrated people - and not enough dentists.

I don't believe the philosophy that drove Steve was one of craving success - it was to be the best "Steve Jobs" he could be, whoever and whatever that turned out to be. If his destiny was to be a dentist, and he fulfilled that destiny to its full potential, I think he would have died equally fulfilled. Just less famous.

Some lives are like the big, shiny, visible parts in a complex machine; some are small and less visible parts. In a society that values fame, money and visible success, it's too easy for those of us whose lives represent the less obvious parts to forget that our function is in fact equally vital. Just be the part you are supposed to be - to the best of your ability, and don't waste energy trying to reshape yourself into a part that you think others will value more. Have faith that your role is to be the best Michael you can be.

"Unknown 56 year old Californian dies. He would have done great work, but his painful teeth stopped him from concentrating. He never found a dentist who could help - they all seemed distracted, as if they were daydreaming about being someone else."
Score: 8 Votes (Like | Disagree)
wizzerandchips Avatar
183 months ago
I'm 46 , and I'm crying! Very moving, and still can't believe he's gone, it's like I've lost a member of my family, I need to get a life !
Score: 6 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Watabou Avatar
183 months ago
Damn. Just damn. Every time I hear about Steve passing away, I get a horrible sinking feeling in my heart. I'm trying to forget he even died. So far, I am failing miserably. I just cannot get it out of my head.

I can't believe I miss him so much even though I haven't even seen him in person. :(
Score: 6 Votes (Like | Disagree)
anomie Avatar
183 months ago
I'm 30, and I just compared myself to Steve Jobs at 30 and became super depressed... I graduated college and dental school and now I work in peoples mouths all day... hip hip hooray!!! jk, peoples mouths kinda suck after 3 years. What a stud Steve Jobs was! I miss that guy, and was always so excited to hear him talk or read his tweets... Huuuuuuuge loss for us all...

Michael

I dont know.. No doubt he did many world-changing things, but there is no way EVERY human beeing can live his life.
We need dentists too, and construction workers and many other not-supercreatives.

RIP.
Score: 4 Votes (Like | Disagree)
highdough Avatar
183 months ago
I wish I was 30 again. Knowing what I know now. Hell, I'd love to be 30 knowing what he knew then.
Score: 4 Votes (Like | Disagree)

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