The story about Breakout says so much more about Woz than about Jobs. It's a dark human desire to ponder people's vices, but without excusing Jobs one bit, I prefer to ignore Jobs outright and delight in Woz's existence. While I'm getting maudlin, I want to thank Paul Graham for bringing Woz to the first Startup School. It was an honor to see him and to hear him speak.
Back to Breakout. Satisfaction will get you through times of no money better than money will get you through times of no satisfaction.
I don't think its dark. I think its something people should think about more often and understand better.
Perhaps the things people are often celebrated for are actually chance outcomes of generally negative behaviors.
To know whether that is the case requires people to be more critical of people's positive aspects and spend more time thinking about their negative aspects.
I'm not convinced. Jobs was incredible despite his flaws, not because of them. There are plenty of asshole liars that go nowhere, but Jobs' passion and vision was so strong people are willing to look past it
I still think you make an interesting point, and I find it compelling to look at idols when they were young and nobody cared.
Bringing such idols back to earth can help one realize that we are all in fact human, and as such all have tremendous challenges, flaws, and potential
That statement is true, but not enlightening. Perhaps you could clarify; Are you suggesting that one cannot be happy without food and rent being paid? Are you suggesting that Maslow’s "Hierarchy of Needs" holds and one cannot be concerned with Self-Actualization if Shelter is uncertain? Or something else?
I get the feeling you are assuming something that seems obvious to you but may be worthy of further discussion.
Back to Breakout. Satisfaction will get you through times of no money better than money will get you through times of no satisfaction.