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This is a guest post written by Andrea Cook. Gold maker, speaker, coach, writer, mentor, co-worker and branding and design consultant.

Never in history has the death of a CEO made such an impact in American lives. While the top broadcasting channels interrupted the evening’s regular scheduled programs, 90 seconds after Twitter friends broadcasted the passing Steve Jobs, I was driven to share a tribute to a man who lead the way for creatives like me giving us the opportunity to develop careers past generations could not comprehend. Apple, the leading company Jobs founded and grew into an epic juggernaut in technology, retail, manufacturing, media and music updated its homepage with a simple image that marked the life of Steve Jobs and an era of innovation that impacted the world.

MIT´s Whirlwind 1951As I am deeply saddened by the death of this important figure in my life, my emotions run deeper with encouragement. Steve’s leadership allowed for humanity to evolve starting with a mainframe that was once as large and distant to the common man as the moon or the tallest building in the world. He transformed the Goliath technologies into devices so intimate that I could hold the technology in my hand and form relationships with others across the globe. For this I am grateful.

A visionary who could transform technology into a new world of emerging industries from dropping out of college and tinkering in his garage has brought new careers to creative souls throughout the world. Starting from Apple II and the “Lemonade Stand” in grade school he started to make an impact on education as I learned about economics and entrepeurship while playing a computer game in the 1970s. Now that there are more than 10 million creative professionals currently employed in the United States, Steve leaves the creative class a legacy of leadership and innovation worthy of pursuit.

Steve’s ability to make an impact proved to be relentless. Who will now take the wheel and drive innovation forward? Innovation with passion, dedication, ethics and leadership like Steve Jobs is what it takes to make a difference that is necessary to change the economy, education and community.

Steve’s timeline was rich, resolved and represented his hunger for the next big thing. He wasn’t distracted by insecurity or greed to measure his success. A man so progressive, rather than whining over the competition stealing his ideas, he created new ideas and improved products some with the purpose to help protect the creative community.

Like most announcements Apple showcases on its homepage, including their iMacs, iPhones, iTunes, iPods, iPads, they cannot be described by any language known by man. The products must be experienced to be understood. The products are as mysterious as the their names and within days or weeks after they are announced, they enter into the homes and become part of our casual vernacular. Today’s image and message shown on Apple’s homepage is as powerful. The image is as elegant and simple as any of the products Apple has ever announced. That dash between the numbers? Those 56 years represent the richness of choices, goals, lessons and character of one person’s life. A creative genius who made impact and became an innovator and an all-American change agent. That dash inspires me to be more.

I want to be like Steve. I’m restless with a passion to not only be innovative and creative, but to make an impact on jobs, industries, community and my family. I want the line in between to represent something meaningful.

May we all aspire to live our purpose as we were uniquely designed. Long live Steve Jobs and his legacy to the creative class.

Andrea Cook has brands buzz on the brain and is a builder of brands-n-buzz through a mix of old-n-new marketing and social media. Gold maker, speaker, coach, writer, mentor, co-worker and branding and design consultant for hire. Learn more about.me/andreacook

Post filed under Advertising, Innovative, Tech and tagged innovation, leadership, Steve Jobs.