Wednesday, August 24, 2011
My immediate, gut reaction to the news about Steve Jobs
As posted on Google+:
I'm really sad about Steve Jobs. Sad because of what I assume it means. Sad for him and his family. Sad for the rest of us, almost all of whom have benefitted from his genius, even if you aren't a Macolyte like me. (I converted pretty late myself, at the age of 39.)
Sad because, while I believe Apple will survive and continue to thrive, Jobs is an inspirational and iconic figure in the Valley...a symbol of the great come-back, the wronged entrepreneur who proved the others wrong, a symbol of rewarding risk-taking and genius, not only bottom-line thinking. Is everything he symbolizes accurately describe or define everything he is? Well, most of us can never know.
But symbols are about meaning, not pure facts. Sigh.
I also want to share this post from TechCrunch: The End of an Era.
As I said on Twitter, it's not often that TC features beautiful writing. And I don't think I ever remember it making me cry. That post does.
We're also collecting reactions over at BlogHer.
And finally, Anil Dash posted a provocative post about Jobs, his background and his business acumen last week. It's relevant, perhaps surprising, and a good homage.
I'm hoping for the best for Jobs and his family. What else can we do?
I'm really sad about Steve Jobs. Sad because of what I assume it means. Sad for him and his family. Sad for the rest of us, almost all of whom have benefitted from his genius, even if you aren't a Macolyte like me. (I converted pretty late myself, at the age of 39.)
Sad because, while I believe Apple will survive and continue to thrive, Jobs is an inspirational and iconic figure in the Valley...a symbol of the great come-back, the wronged entrepreneur who proved the others wrong, a symbol of rewarding risk-taking and genius, not only bottom-line thinking. Is everything he symbolizes accurately describe or define everything he is? Well, most of us can never know.
But symbols are about meaning, not pure facts. Sigh.
I also want to share this post from TechCrunch: The End of an Era.
As I said on Twitter, it's not often that TC features beautiful writing. And I don't think I ever remember it making me cry. That post does.
We're also collecting reactions over at BlogHer.
And finally, Anil Dash posted a provocative post about Jobs, his background and his business acumen last week. It's relevant, perhaps surprising, and a good homage.
I'm hoping for the best for Jobs and his family. What else can we do?
Labels: Anil Dash, Apple, Steve Jobs, TechCrunch
Monday, August 22, 2011
Tory Johnson's got it right!
In her latest newsletter Tory Johnson, business and media diva, talks about her vacation, and about not 100% unplugging. And she describes it like this:
That's me. That's exactly how I feel. Do I always balance it exactly right? Probably not. But I'd rather stay in touch than totally unplug too.
Of course I wrote about this on BlogHer last year, with me taking the "stay in touch" side and partner Lisa Stone talking about her radical form of unplugging. (Radical to me, that is.)
I just wanted to share that somebody out there sees my side, and doesn't think it's just a sign of rampant workaholism.
What do you think?
Many of you emailed to tell me to stop working. But the truth is, I'd rather cut back than cut off. Not being connected and in touch is more stressful than reducing my work and doing what's needed from a distance.
That's me. That's exactly how I feel. Do I always balance it exactly right? Probably not. But I'd rather stay in touch than totally unplug too.
Of course I wrote about this on BlogHer last year, with me taking the "stay in touch" side and partner Lisa Stone talking about her radical form of unplugging. (Radical to me, that is.)
I just wanted to share that somebody out there sees my side, and doesn't think it's just a sign of rampant workaholism.
What do you think?
Labels: bloghercon, Email, Lisa Stone, Tory Johnson
