Steve Jobs Secrets of Life
Why Hacker News recommends it
Quoted in threads on motivation, agency and regret as an encouraging reminder that the world can be changed.
What it is
A short excerpt from a 1994 interview of Steve Jobs in which he says everything around us was made up by people no smarter than you, and that you can change and shape the world.
Recommended by 6 HN commenters across 6 different months, 2012 to 2024.
What Hacker News said
Strong rec dmak · 2014-01 · on “Ask HN: Which books changed your life?”
Steve Job's book was very inspiring and motivational for me. The way he saw the world was very enlightening. Here's a video of what I thought was really profound for me: [this video]
Strong rec keiferski · 2020-12 · on “Things You're Allowed to Do”
This reminds me of an old video of Steve Jobs. His idea is simple, but it's really powerful. In short: the world is something you can change, not merely participate in. When you grow up, you tend to get told that the world is the way it is and your life is just to live your life inside the world, try not to bash into the walls too much, try to have a nice family life, have fun, save a little money. That’s a very limited life. Life can be much broader, once you discover one simple fact, and that is that everything around you that you call life was made up by people that were no smarter than you. And you can change it, you can influence it, you can build your own things that other people can u
Recommends denzil_correa · 2012-01 · on “Ask HN: “Stay Hungry. Stay Foolish.””
I think by foolish he implies that all of us in this world were born naked. None of us are omniscient or above the other. Here's a 1-minute interview which embodies the same message [this video]
Recommends thiagoperes · 2013-01 · on “Ask HN: How do you stop regretting?”
1st - Change your username. 2nd - I'm positive that If you don't change your mind, the thing you'll regret the most in the coming years will be the way you're thinking right now. There's still a lot that can be done. Lots of people succeeded after their 30's. Hugh Hefner started at 26: [LINK] 2 videos for you: - 8 characteristics every sucessfull person has (based on a study) [LINK] - Steve Jobs on Life [this video]
Recommends Revex · 2014-12 · on “The Programmer's Dream (A Ramble)”
This ramble made me think of an interview with Steve Jobs - [this video] Basically - Everything in life is made up of people who are no smarter than you. And you can help shape reality and improve it.
Recommends bsldld · 2020-06 · on “Ask HN: I implemented the life I designed: perfect but I feel lost. What now?”
The best thing according to me is to see smile on other people's faces. Atleast on those people's faces who have lost all hope. If I was in your position, I would concentrate on two things. Doing something to provide free(or atleast affordable) best quality - education to everyone, especially under priviledged kids e.g. from poor families and orphans. - healthcare to poor people. Atleast do these two things and the world will be a far better place. Take a break from your comfortable life and go travel to places like asia, africa and south america and you will find your calling. Here is some advice from a well know person: [this video] Edit: typo
Cites unstrafed · 2020-04 · on “Ask HN: How do I overcome mental laziness?”
I've lived with ADHD for about half of my life. You may or may not have ADHD, but what you're describing sounds pretty similar. Here're a few things I do. 0. Rexamine physical health. In the past two years, I have been diagnosed with sleep apnea and low testosterone (I'm a guy). Having those two treated has been almost miraculous. The ADHD is still very real, but I find I can fight the inattentiveness if I've had a good night's sleep. (And, I guess not coincidentally, a good night's sleep for me is between 6 and 7 hours on a CPAP. I can rarely make it to 8 hours. Again, the ADHD is real.) I've also been examining my diet, my weight, my activity level and other physical changes I can make. 1.
Cites exnor · 2021-10 · on “I just don’t want to be busy anymore”
As a serial entrepreneur, and therefore employer of many people, I'm pretty horrified to read this. My immediate thought is that it's a toxic attitude, but totally understandable in what is probably the rule rather than the exception, i.e. a 'regular' company. And that's sad. If you are really feeling as you do, I think it's time to reassess your employment and potentially your life. For instance, I think many startups are different to this, and not only because they are small. More meaning: the genuine opportunity to enact change, I think is the biggest differentiator, alongside better incentives and stock options that in some cases lead to life-changing financial outcomes. There is always