Reading time – 67 seconds . . .
I’m nearly through Walter Isaacson’s biography of Steve Jobs and have a noggin full of takeaways. Jobs was a mercurial fellow, obsessive about detail and adamant in his views to the point that compromise was virtually impossible for him. A more than substantial driver of that was his ability to envision a different world. “Think Different” was, in fact, the Apple slogan after Jobs returned to run the company in 1997. That, of course, is what Apple did and what it encouraged others to do. Think Different.
That didn’t and it doesn’t mean to think differently. It means to think and see that things can be different, that there are possibilities just awaiting your invention, your particular genius. it means that things don’t have to be as they are and that it is possible to create something that is not just evolutionarily better, but revolutionarily better. That kind of thing doesn’t happen if we are apathetic or give just enough of ourselves to get by. It requires our passion, our mindfulness and, more than anything, our belief that Different is possible.
Jobs recorded his own eulogy and it was from a promotional piece in 1997. As you read it, imagine that this might apply to you.
“Here’s to the crazy ones. The misfits. The rebels. The troublemakers. The round pegs in square holes. The ones who see things differently. They’re not fond of rules. And they have no respect for the status quo. You can quote them, disagree with them, glorify or vilify them. About the only thing you can’t do is ignore them. They push the human race forward.
“While some may see them as the crazy ones, we see genius. Because the people who are crazy enough to think they can change the world are the ones who do.”
I’m crazy enough to believe that I can change the world. One blog at a time. One presentation of Money, Politics & Democracy: You Aren’t Getting What You Want at a time. One conversation at a time. One vote at a time. One meeting at a time. One idea at a time. One spark at a time. One declaration that, “We won’t have it any more!” at a time. One look into my grand-children’s future at a time.
Are you that crazy? Are you nutty enough to believe and to see that things can be better, that we don’t have to “respect the status quo,” that we can shake the stuffing out of it and unmask it for the fraud that it is and make the quantum leap to the Different that is so much better and is just waiting for us?
The place to start is to believe.
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Ed. note: There is much in America that needs fixing and we are on a path to continually fail to make things better. It is my goal to make a difference – perhaps to be a catalyst for things to get better. That is the reason for these posts. To accomplish the goal requires reaching many thousands of people and a robust dialogue. Please help by offering your comments, as well as by passing this along and encouraging others to subscribe and do the same. Thanks. JA
Copyright 2024 by Jack Altschuler
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4 Responses to Crazy
Don Zwiers October 8, 2014
What happens IF?
What happens if a federal tax reform proposal is enacted, that will reduce the size of government and allow the free market to work throughout the new world economy? “The only source of revenue each of our governments has is an adjustable consumption sales tax on all products and services created for profit.” This leaves only the Federal, state, county and local governments; eliminating all special district governments.
President Obama has to ask Congress “Why Not?” and if we can, draw up the legislation and put it into law. (U. S. Constitution, Article 1, section 8: Congress shall have the power to lay and collect taxes and to pay debts for the common defense and welfare of the United States and shall be uniform throughout the United States.)
Our local tax is our responsibility and we also know what the other governments are giving us. They have the same responsibilities and their adjustable tax is there to make sure.
The adjustable tax allows every government to prepare a balanced budget each year and if there are things taxpayers can’t afford, don’t put it in. If taxpayers have a choice where to spend their money they will usually choose their local tax. From there forward, taxpayers will pay the taxes, where they happen to be.
Just think: everyone can make as much money they want and pay no tax until they spend it. Why should our manufacturers leave America and pay taxes? Are we smart enough to make sure our President knows this and asks Congress, Why Not?
JaxPolitix September 29, 2014
Take heart, as Gen-Ys are stepping up. Have a look at this post – https://jaxpolitix.com/the-heavy-lifting/ – and click through to the http://www.NewEraColorado.org site to see what these people are doing. In addition, I’m doing my first higher education presentation on October 6 to students at the College of Lake County.
These people are the future – ready or not, here it comes. And some of them get it and they are getting ready.
Frank Levy September 29, 2014
Thank you for reminding me to pick up the ball and carry it over the goal line. To win we must, at some point, no matter how tired, or out of date I feel sometimes.
I am always glad to see Jim’s comments to your blog, but where are the young people to whom we will be required to hand off the ball, at some point?
Jim Altschuler September 28, 2014
Here’s to your belief and to your carry-through (and carrying on) with that belief. Hopefully it has been and will continue to be infectious.
BLOG READERS: Don’t just read the blog; it puts the ball squarely in our court, each of us individually and collectively, to “rage at the machine’ to make the changes that each of us knows needs to be changed.
And here’s to all of the blog readers who DO pick up the ball, who do help to “infect” others with the desire to help, who do help make the changes.
HOORAY FOR ALL OF YOU !!!