Steve Jobs Commencement Speech Analysis

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Steve Jobs 2005 Stanford Commencement Speech Rhetorical Analysis

Steve Jobs continually reframes key concepts for emphasis in order to reinforce its importance for the audience. He talks about important lessons he learned in life such as never giving up, being passionate about what to do, and living each day with purpose. His powerful words have a lasting impact on the audience who could relate to his experiences. Jobs’ use of rhetoric allows him to effectively convey his message of following your dreams no matter how hard it seems.

Through this address, Steve Jobs has been able to leave a legacy that will continue to inspire generations of Stanford graduates for years to come.

In other words, he is encouraging us to live life for ourselves and not for anyone else. We should take the time to figure out who we are and what we want in life, rather than following someone else’s “rules.” By speaking about his own mortality, Jobs connects with the audience on a more personal level and shows that death should be taken seriously as it comes for everyone eventually.

He encourages them to make their lives meaningful and do what they believe in rather than following society’s rules. Overall, Steve Jobs uses pathos effectively in his commencement address at Stanford University by conveying strong emotions, making the audience feel connected through shared feelings of success and mortality, and inspiring them with words of motivation.

The second story Jobs shares is about how he co-founded Apple in 1976 with a “Woz” and how they created the first personal computer. He goes on to talk about his journey from working out of his parents’ garage to building one of the most successful businesses in history.

While discussing this, Jobs also mentions that there were times when their company was almost bankrupt but it still managed to survive.

Finally, for the third story, Jobs talks about getting diagnosed with cancer and how it changed him as a person. He believes that death forces us to make the most of our limited time on earth, and it is therefore a necessary part of life. He also suggests that perhaps “without death, we may never truly appreciate the beauty and joys in life” because we would take them for granted.

He emphasizes that the importance of life is not to think too highly of oneself, but instead find value in helping others and living a meaningful life. He reminds us that we must enjoy each moment and make the best out of our time here on earth because it can be gone in an instant.

It was his ability to think outside the box, even when it meant dropping out of college, that led him and his team to create revolutionary products. The use of humor at the end allows the audience to laugh and feel inspired by Jobs’ story. Apple’s success may never have happened had Jobs not taken that calligraphy class, and it serves as a reminder to seize any opportunity presented.

“If you haven’t found it yet, keep looking — and don’t settle.” The quote has become an inspiration to many people, as it highlights the importance of embracing change and taking risks to achieve success. It encourages us to stay humble and flexible, so that we can take on new challenges without fear. This speech is providing inspiration for those who may be feeling lost or discouraged, reminding them that with hard work and dedication anything can be achieved.

He then tells the second story about dropping out and starting a company, which he emphasizes by saying “drop out of school” multiple times. He shows his audience that he doesn’t value education as much as experience and curiosity.

Although Jobs was successful, he also faced a great deal of failure. He was fired from Apple and for the next five years, he lived life without direction and in what seemed to be an endless loop of disappointment.

After hitting rock bottom, Jobs “found that strength within himself” to come back and join Apple again. With his regained success at Apple came a renewed focus on innovation and technology that has made Apple the company it is today.

Jobs concludes this story with “love doesn’t always win over loss but sometimes things can turn out okay if you persevere.” The lesson being: no matter how bad things are or seem they may not stay that way forever if one continues striving towards their goals despite any obstacles they encounter along the way.

Jobs also gives a powerful message of believing in yourself and your dreams. He stresses the importance of not giving up on what one truly loves even when faced with failure or criticism.

Jobs shares, “stay hungry, stay foolish” as his advice to young people; this means that they should never stop learning and growing from each experience. People need to be brave enough to take risks and have faith in themselves since anything is possible if you are determined enough.

Jobs’s speeches are also inspiring because of his knowledge. He spoke with authority and could back up any claim he made. This helped to solidify Jobs as one of the greatest business minds in the world, and it allowed those who heard him speak to trust his words.

His unique style was what made his talks so successful—he was able to combine innovation, storytelling, and passion all into one presentation.

Even years after Job’s passing, people still hold onto these key elements that he used during presentations and strive for success just like him. His impact is felt around the world through startups that have been inspired by his legacy, making Jobs a true role model for generations past and future alike.

Jobs’ message of staying hungry and never settling for less than what you want is one that we can all use in our lives. It encourages us to stay ambitious, take risks, and strive to do our best at whatever endeavor we pursue.

We should learn from Jobs’ example and always look for ways to challenge ourselves and keep pushing forward towards the goals that are important to us. With his words of wisdom still ringing in our ears, let’s all try to stay hungry like Steve Jobs did throughout his entire life!