Earlier this year, we commented that Apple's CEO, Tim cook, would attend the graduation ceremony of Stanford Universityin California. The celebration took place yesterday (Sunday, 16/6) and the executive spoke, as expected, to the graduates of the 2019 class.
Cook's speech was even more important because Steve Jobs, co-founder of Apple, attended the California University graduation 14 years ago.
In addition to the relationship between Jobs and Stanford (who was a student of the institution but left), Cook highlighted some of his mentor's teachings, including how the loss of Jobs made him learn the "real and visceral difference between preparation and readiness."
The executive also recalled that Stanford and Silicon Valley are intertwined since much of the talent that graduated (or dropped out) at university uses technology to change society, but lately “the industry is becoming known to people who claim credit without claiming responsibility. ”
We see it every day now, with all the data breaches, all the privacy breaches, all blind eyes turned to hate speech, and fake news poisoning our national conversation.
Speaking of privacy, Cook emphasized the importance of not accepting that we must abandon privacy to take advantage of technological advances, arguing that there is much more at stake than just our data.
If we accept as normal and unavoidable that everything in our lives can be shared, sold or even leaked in the event of a hack, then we will lose much more than the data. We lose the freedom to be human.
Cook also encouraged undergraduates to build and recognize the fact that the "work of their life" will be a day bigger than they are. In this regard, the executive recalled the Stonewall Rebellion and stated that he was “incredibly grateful” for what those people had the courage to build almost 50 years ago.
Regardless of what you do with your life, be a builder. You don't have to start from scratch to build something monumental. And conversely, the best founders, whose creations last and whose reputation grows rather than shrink over time, spend most of their time building piece by piece. Builders are comfortable with the belief that one day the work of their life will be greater than they are. Bigger than anyone. They are aware that their effects will span generations. This is not an accident and, in a way, the main point.
In closing, Cook encouraged Stanford graduates to be different and to leave something worthy that one day they will have to pass on.
Undergraduates, the fact that when your time comes, and it comes, you will never be ready. But you shouldn't be. Find hope is not unexpected. Find the courage in the challenge. Find your vision on the lonely road. Do not be distracted (). Be different, leave something worthy and always remember that you can't take it with you. You will have to pass on.
Congratulations to the Stanford Class of 2019! It was an honor to celebrate with you today! 🎓 Be different. Leave something worthy. And always remember that you can't take it with you. Youre going to have to pass it on. # Stanford19 pic.twitter/GwW5UHslXD
– Tim Cook (@tim_cook) June 16, 2019
Congratulations 2019 Stanford class! It was an honor to celebrate with you today! Diferentes Be different. Leave something worthy. And always remember that you can't take it with you. You will have to pass it on. # Stanford19
To those interested, the Bloomberg published a video of Cook's full speech at Stanford:
via 9to5Mac
