[Swordmaker]

...Jobs ... Bill Gates... Michael Dell... there is no substitute for hard work...

Note that none of these work for someone else... they went to work for themselves. They didn't have to impress an employer with a sheepskin.

[mcg1969]

I don't even put Michael Dell into the same category as Steve Jobs. Michael Dell dropped out because his business was doing so well he didn't have the time. Steve Jobs? Well, he just dropped out and then made it work.

So Michael Dell is like a college b-ball player who gets an offer for the pros and drops out to take it. Steve Jobs is a college b-ball player with no proven skills (yet) who drops out of college and then starts trying out for pro teams. How many could actually do the latter and succeed? Damn few.

Steve Jobs got lucky. No doubt his drive played a big part, but not everyone can follow in his footsteps. And if I understand his speech correctly, he never claimed otherwise.

[avenir]

"Note that none of these work for someone else... they went to work for themselves. They didn't have to impress an employer with a sheepskin."

I know there is a lot of responsibility in doing it their way, but the freedom! I liked this part:

"... his bout with a rare form of pancreatic cancer reemphasized the need to live each day to the fullest. 'Your time is limited so don't let it be wasted living someone else's life,' Jobs said"