When Steve Jobs was 12 years old, he was working on a personal project: he wanted to build a frequency counter, an electronic device used to measure the frequency of electrical signals. However, he was missing a few parts. Most kids his age would probably have given up on the project, but Jobs, always curious and with an entrepreneurial spirit, decided to do something bold.
He looked up Bill Hewlett‘s number in the phone book (back then, phone numbers for famous people weren’t that hard to find). He picked up the phone and, confidently, called him. When Hewlett answered, Jobs, nervous but determined, explained that he was building a frequency counter and asked if he had any spare parts he could use.
Hewlett’s response was surprising. Not only did he offer him the parts, but he was also impressed by young Jobs’ enthusiasm. He offered him a summer job at Hewlett-Packard, specifically on the assembly line where they made frequency counters. For a 12-year-old, this was a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. Jobs spent the summer learning about technology, working alongside engineers, and immersing himself in the world of innovation.
This experience not only gave Jobs practical knowledge and early exposure to the world of engineering, but it also taught him a crucial lesson that would guide his life: NEVER BE AFRAID TO ASK. For Jobs, that phone call was an example of how, IF YOU DARE TO TAKE THE INITIATIVE, EVEN IN SITUATIONS THAT SEEM INTIMIDATING, YOU CAN GET UNEXPECTED AND BENEFICIAL RESULTS. That lesson became an essential part of his personal and professional philosophy.
Throughout his life, Jobs applied this mindset, both in the creation of Apple and in his approach to leadership. He always remained open to asking for help, to asking questions, and to taking risks to get what he needed, understanding that he already had the “no,” but that by asking he could always get a “yes.”
Think how many things you could get if you dared to ask. Being bold in doing so can have a very positive impact on your life (as it did in Steve Jobs’ life).
I’ll end with a quote from Barack Obama that perfectly sums up the idea I wanted to convey to you with this post:
“Don’t be afraid to ask questions. Don’t be afraid to ask for help when you need it. I do it every day. Asking for help is not a sign of weakness, it’s a strength. It shows that you have the courage to admit that you don’t know something and learn something new.”
