The first time I heard of Steve Jobs was when I was in high school. I borrowed the biography of John Scully- the guy who got Steve fired from Apple. Impressed by how Steve challenged Scully to join Apple from Pepsi, I decided that I needed to read Steve’s bio as well.

I was fascinated by Steve’s  burning desire to create great products and experiences! His attention to the smallest of details and his ability to get the best out of his people was phenomenal!

However, Steve Jobs wasn’t just one of the greatest technology wizards of his time but also one of the greatest storytellers ever! His keynote presentations drew hundreds of fans and not just for his latest tech announcements but people came from afar to watch a master storyteller unveil his latest offerings!  His trademark on stage gear- black turtleneck, blue jeans and white sneakers were a familiar and reassuring sight that Apple was in good hands as long as Steve was there.

Steve understood the power of storytelling. The Apple 1984 advertisement is all about the power of a story. The story of empowerment, the story of breaking through!

His speech at Stanford University in 2005, based on three life stories, already has 12 million hits on Youtube. If you haven’t seen it you should and reference it as one of the best examples of the power of stories in public speaking.

Saluting one of the greatest storytellers- who has enchanted us with the captivating story of a great Company!

Stay hungry. Stay Foolish.