Up and running…
Here’s where you’ll find from time to time our market insights, recruitment trends and other biits that might be useful, but more often than not quotes that have inspired us along the way - who we are, why we’re here, the way we do business and how we got here.
We hope they inspire you too.
Our first inspirational quote has had a profound affect on many and certainly us at Kingham Law…
“You can't connect the dots looking forward; you can only connect them looking backwards. You have to trust in something - your gut, destiny, life, karma, whatever. This approach has never let me down, and it has made all the difference in my life”
Steve Jobs Commencement Address, Stanford University, June 12, 2005
Taken from undoubtedly one of the most inspirational speeches of all time from Steve Jobs to the new graduates at Stanford University. A powerful speech sharing three personal stories from his life, each designed to encourage us all to pursue our aspirations and face challenges with courage.
Connecting the Dots: Jobs discusses his early life, his decision to drop out of Reed College, and how it led to unexpected opportunities. He explains that dropping out allowed him to drop in on courses that interested him, such as calligraphy. Though seemingly irrelevant at the time, this knowledge later became crucial in the design of the Macintosh computer. Jobs emphasises that it is impossible to see how experiences will connect in the future, but looking back, the connections will become clear.
Love and Loss: Jobs recounts his career at Apple, how he loved what he did, was fired from Apple when he was 30, and how this setback turned into a blessing. During this period, he founded NeXT and Pixar, and met his future wife. His love for what he did enabled him to persevere and eventually return to Apple. His story highlights the importance of finding work you love and persevering through difficult times.
Death: Jobs talks about his diagnosis with pancreatic cancer and how facing death made him realise the importance of living without fear of failure, as death is life's best invention to clear out the old and make way for the new. He urges the graduates to live each day as if it were their last, and make the most out of their lives.
He finishes with :
"Stay Hungry. Stay Foolish."
Jobs speech is a profound observation about the unpredictability of life and career paths. It doesn't just apply to graduates. It applies to us all. Each day brings a new dawn and with it a new opportunity. For some, the career path will be neatly mapped out but not all of us will have a straightforward trajectory. As lawyers you'll be at different stages of your careers and may take unexpected paths or roles that seem peripheral at the time but later become pivotal to your success. Embracing the unknown can lead to rewarding career development and personal growth. Your experience will bring a unique contribution to the firm’s you become part of. Have a long term perspective when considering career moves and opportunities. Think about how each role or job can contribute to your own career goals and remember that each step, whether planned or unexpected, is contributing to a larger picture.
Steve Jobs’ perspective on connecting the dots backwards is a powerful reminder of the beauty in uncertainty and the importance of faith in one's journey.
Basically, Trust the Process.
If you have not seen it already, prepare to be inspired here.