Steve Jobs was the life of many, emulating the spirit of creativity that stood resilient against a doubting industry, never quite equipped for the pioneering nature of his vision.  He wore a look that seemed to say “I told ya so,” and he earned every inch of that smirk.  Now that Jobs is no longer with us, it’s just his vision that remains.

I don’t mean that Apple as a company will march on as if Jobs were still at the helm–that’s an impossible and unhealthy act.  The magic of Jobs’ “vision” wasn’t the end result, but the journey on which he took us.  Jobs’ ability to lend his creativity to any vision is what gave that vision power, and that’s become an inspiration to many in the tech industry and beyond.  The vision that remains, then, is everyone’s ability to think creatively.

Jobs was known for putting his spin on consumer products, his avenue to reach as many individuals as he did.  It’s a balancing act between product design, sales, software engineering, media distribution, international affairs and mass production.  For the tech industry in particular Jobs was a mentor from afar, provoking many entrepreneurs, CEOs, designers and thought leaders just through his actions.  It’s this impact the world remembers today, as the media churns out obituaries and remembrances and collections of Jobs’ quotes and parables.

The lesson I’ve learned from Jobs’ life is that creativity is underrated.  We often forget how adaptable creativity is, but it’s always ready and waiting to be applied anew.