In a recent interview, Scott Forstall, a former Apple iOS chief, provided new insights to Steve Jobs’ pursuit of excellence. He stated, “The iPhone had a very circuitous route. We’d been working on a tablet project. It began because Steve hated this guy at Microsoft. Any time Steve had any interaction with the guy, he’d come back pissed off.” The article spotlighting Forstall’s insights noted, “After being badgered by the Microsoft executive over dinner for the 10th time, being told how Microsoft was going to change the world with its tablet PC software and stylus and that Apple should just license it, Jobs lost his patience and, as recounted in Walter Isaacson’s Jobs biography, said: ‘[Forget] this, let’s show him what a tablet can really be.’”
I’ve never been an iPhone lover but I do own an iPad. Is it possible that what Mr. Jobs hated drove him to create something that almost everyone loves? Regardless of whether this story is true in totality, it does unlock an important truth in discovering your purpose. Usually whatever frustrates you is what you were born to solve. What issue can’t you let go? What keeps you awake at night? What pain do you have the desire or the know how to alleviate? Many people allow frustration to ruin their day. But what if you could use that same frustration to bring us all into a brighter tomorrow?
I HATE IT
I hate listening to boring speakers! Maybe that’s why I work so hard not to be one. If you’ve ever heard me speak – I hope you concur. To hate means to dislike intensely or passionately or to feel an extreme aversion for or extreme hostility toward. This description may sound harsh and you may be saying that these feelings couldn’t possibly lead me to my purpose. If that is your viewpoint I encourage you to think about this concept differently. If no one had ever hated uncomfortable shoes, comfortable shoes would never have been created. If no one ever hated hand-washing clothes, the washing machine would never have been invented. If no one ever hated watching commercials, DVRs would never have been invented. Your mother was correct in telling you not to say you hate anyone or anything but this hatred is about being observant about things that are contrary to your nature. In understanding why you hate certain things a certain purpose will be revealed.
I LOVE IT
I love impacting people through writing and speaking. I love knowing that God has blessed me to be a blessing. I love seeing someone’s life changed because of something God graced me to write or say. Many people love to help others but how I love to help others is what is important here. How do you love to help others? What talents and abilities have you been given that when expressed bless others or help them to gain strength to live a better life? I know personal trainers who love to help people get in shape and to feel better about their physique. I like to see people be healthy but it doesn’t drive me on a daily basis to facilitate that process. When it comes to your purpose, your proclivities, and your ability will guide you towards your destiny. In order to maximize our productivity in this life we need to find the passion that God put in us and mobilize that passion for the duration of our lifetimes. I’d rather fail loving what I do than succeed doing what I hate.
I FIXED IT
Hate can drive you away or it can cause you to focus your energy to solve a problem. Love can be a distraction or it can be a guiding force in producing something magnificent. Love drives me to reach out to those I can help and see if they will allow me to be helpful. Yes, I’ve been rejected and yes it hurts sometimes. However, giving up is not an option because I hate what would happen if people live without knowing their purpose or the God that gave it to them. Often I sit and think about the state of the world and I’ve realized that the solutions are present but they are trapped in people who have given in to hating what they see and not fixing what they see. You were born to be the solution to a problem. The next time you watch the news and say to yourself, “I hate how that is,” think to yourself what a blessing you could be if you loved solving the problem.
“You can only become truly accomplished at something you love. Don’t make money your goal. Instead pursue the things you love doing and then do them so well that people can’t take their eyes off of you.” – Maya Angelou
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