喬布斯成功的原則和聖經
By:Robert J. Tamasy
喬布斯 (STEVE JOBS – 或譯賈伯斯) 2011年去世之後，他留下的傳奇故事戲劇性的改變了我們的生活方式。身為蘋果電腦的創辦者之一，他是整個個人電腦史革命的核心人物。1980年代蘋果電腦的麥金塔系統改變了我們對使用電腦的想法，喬布斯也創立了皮克斯動畫工作室，給電腦動畫界投下一個震撼彈。在他死前，蘋果電腦的iPad 、iphone 、ipods 使得個人通訊和娛樂展開一個前所未見的全新的視野。他的生活和工作也感動了幾乎每個商界和專業領域的人士。
喬布斯是獨一無二有遠見的創新者，但是從他成功的原則我們都能受益。最近 Entrepreneur.com 出版了喬布斯的『七個成功的原則』，雖然喬布斯不被認為是親基督教的，但是他的成功原則符合了幾千年前出版的聖經原則，我們一起來看看：
1.做你愛做的事
賈伯斯說；「有熱誠的人可以把世界變得更好。」在我們的日常生活中追求一個熱情和目標就像在聖經中歌羅西書3章說到的:『無論做甚麼，都要從心裏做，像是給主做的，不是給人做的，因你們知道從主那裏必得著基業為賞賜；你們所事奉的乃是主基督。』(歌羅西書3章23-24節)
2.活著就為了改變世界
賈伯斯問一個大型飲料公司的執行長說:「你想要花你的下半生賣糖水，或是你想要改變這個世界？」他宣告一個強烈的願景，箴言29章18節也有類似的看法：『沒有異象（或譯：默示），民就放肆；惟遵守律法的，便為有福。』(箴言29章18節)
3. 建立連結
賈伯斯的想法是使用各領域的豐富經驗並且結合它們。這樣的想法也被羅馬書8章28節所支持：『我們曉得萬事都互相效力，叫愛 神的人得益處，就是按他旨意被召的人。』(羅馬書8章28節)
4. 對1000件事情說不
對蘋果電腦來說，專注定睛在一件事上面是很重要的。賈伯斯就是如此將他的公司帶離開對公司有害的產品。如同舊約的箴言4章27節所說的:『不可偏向左右；要使你的腳離開邪惡。』(箴言4章27節)
5.創造極為不同的經驗
在發展蘋果電腦的零售商店時，賈伯斯希望每一個顧客都能有深刻豐富的印象。耶穌也持類似的看法，那就是將他人放在第一位。『你們願意人怎樣待你們，你們也要怎樣待人。』(路加福音6章31節)
6.掌握訊息
賈伯斯知道，再好的主意，沒有有效率地溝通，也沒什麼價值。同樣的，使徒保羅寫道：『你們要愛惜光陰，用智慧與外人交往。你們的言語要常常帶著和氣，好像用鹽調和，就可知道該怎樣回答各人。』(歌羅西書4章5-6節)
7.賣一個夢想而不是產品
賈伯斯很了解，吸引人們夢想、希望和野心的重要性。耶穌也給他的門徒類似的動機。『所以，你們要去，使萬民作我的門徒，奉父、子、聖靈的名給他們施洗（或譯：給他們施洗，歸於父、子、聖靈的名）。凡我所吩咐你們的，都教訓他們遵守，我就常與你們同在，直到世界的末了。』(馬太福音28章19-20節)
Robert J. Tamasy是亞特蘭大「領袖遺產」 (一個非營利性機構) 通訊部的副總裁。他是一個有39年經驗的資深記者，也是多本著作的作者，包括Tufting Legacies; Business At Its Best: Timeless Wisdom from Proverbs for Today”s Workplace (River City Press);也與David A. Stoddard合著The Heart of Mentoring (NavPress)。欲知更多詳情可上www.leaderslegacy.com網站或是他的部落格 www.bobtamasy.blogspot.com、www.bobtamasy.blogspot.com 、www.bobtamasy.wordpress.com
思想與問題討論
蘋果電腦所發起的電腦革命和產品，對你的生活是否有直接或間接的影響? 在你的生活中、工作中是否也有這樣對你影響深遠的人? 像喬布斯這樣的人是很少有的，但是他的成功原則，哪一項對你的專業和事業很有幫助? 俗話說，所有的真理來自神。換句話說，無論人們認不認識這位神，生命的真理一直存在著，因為神是如此創造的。你是否同意這樣的說法?備註:如果你手上有聖經，想要知道更多與這個主題相關的經節，請參考下面的經節：
箴言1章7節，20-33節，11章30節，13章20節，14章23節，16章26節;傳道書9章10節;約翰福音18章5節，37-38節;羅馬書12章11節
STEVE JOBS, RULES OF SUCCESS, AND THE BIBLE
By Robert J. Tamasy
When Steve Jobs died in 2011, he left a legacy of achievements that dramatically changed our way of life. As co-founder of Apple, Inc., he was a central figure in the personal computer revolution. Apple”s Macintosh, introduced in the early 1980s, transformed how we thought about and used computers. Jobs also co-founded Pixar Animation Studios, which blazed new trails for computerized film animation. Before his death, Apple”s iPads, iPhones and iPods helped open unimagined communication and entertainment horizons. Jobs” life and work touched virtually every business and professional person.
Jobs was one-of-a-kind as a visionary, pioneer and innovator, but we can all benefit from principles that guided his success. Recently Entrepreneur.com published an article describing Jobs” “seven rules of success.” Although Jobs was not known to be an adherent of Christianity, each of his rules of success aligns with biblical principles established thousands of years ago. Let”s look at them:
1. Do what you love. Jobs stated, “People with passion can change the world for the better.” The idea of having passion and purpose in our everyday pursuits is summarized in Colossians 3: 23-24: “Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for men, since you know that you will receive an inheritance from the Lord as a reward….”
2. Put a dent in the universe. Jobs once asked the CEO of a major beverage company, “Do you want to spend your life selling sugar water or do you want to change the world?” He advocated a strong, compelling vision. Proverbs 29:18 offers a similar idea: “Where there is no vision, the people perish.“
3. Make connections. Jobs” thought was to become rich in varied experiences and connect ideas from different fields. This idea of connections is supported in Romans 8:28, which states, “And we know that God works all things for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.“
4. Say no to 1,000 things. Keeping a well-defined focus was important for Apple, as Jobs steered away from promising products that could have undermined his company”s expertise and success. In the Bible”s Old Testament, Proverbs 4:27 states, “Don’t get sidetracked; keep your feet from following evil.“
5. Create insanely different experiences. In developing Apple”s retail stores, Jobs wanted customers to have a profound, enriching experience. Jesus espoused a similar, “others first” attitude when he taught, “Do to others as you would have them do to you” (Luke 6:31).
6. Master the message. Even the best ideas, if not communicated effectively, are of little value, Jobs realized. For a similar reason, the apostle Paul wrote, “Conduct yourselves with wisdom toward outsiders…. Let your speech always be with grace, as though seasoned with salt, so that you will know how to respond to each person” (Colossians 4:5-6).
7. Sell dreams, not products. Jobs understood the importance of appealing to people”s desires, hopes and ambitions. Jesus offered similar motivation to his followers: “Therefore go and make disciples of all nations…teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you” (Matthew 28:19-20).
Robert J. Tamasy is vice president of communications for Leaders Legacy, Inc., a non-profit corporation based in Atlanta, Georgia, U.S.A. A veteran journalist for 40 years, he is the author of Tufting Legacies (iUniverse); Business At Its Best: Timeless Wisdom from Proverbs for Today”s Workplace (River City Press); and has coauthored with David A. Stoddard, The Heart of Mentoring (NavPress). For more information, see www.leaderslegacy.com or his blogs, www.bobtamasy.blogspot.com and www.bobtamasy.wordpress.com.
Reflection/Discussion Questions
As you think of products and innovations that started with Apple Computers, and then were utilized by other technology companies, what has been the impact of entrepreneur, visionary and pioneer Steve Jobs on your life – directly or indirectly? What other individuals, in business or other life pursuits, have had similar impacts on everyday life and work, in your opinion? Unique individuals like Steve Jobs come along rarely, perhaps once in a lifetime. But which of his “rules of success” do you think could be helpful in your own professional endeavors? There is a saying: “All truth is God”s truth.” In other words, whether people acknowledge the source or not, truths and universal principles for life exist because God created them to be so. Do you agree? Why or why not? NOTE: If you have a Bible and would like to review additional passages that relate to this topic, consider the following verses: Proverbs 1:7,20-33, 11:30, 13:20, 14:23, 16:26; Ecclesiastes 9:10; John 18:37-38; Romans 12:11
