Of the many inspiring insights from Steve Jobs, this might be my favorite. Speaking in 1994, Jobs reflects on the realization that life isn’t just something to navigate but something to transform. He says, “maybe the most important thing is to shake off this erroneous notion that life is…there and you're just going to live in it versus embrace it, change it, improve it, make your mark upon it.” 

It’s a beautiful distillation of what it means to live a proactive life — whether you’re an entrepreneur, activist, mentor, teacher, inventor, or anyone driven to make a difference. The systems, tools, and possibilities we see around us were all created by people no smarter than we are. Once you truly grasp this, it shifts your perspective: life is not just a passive experience; it’s a canvas waiting for your input. By poking at life—challenging assumptions, solving problems, and daring to dream—we discover our ability to push boundaries and watch new possibilities unfold.

As Jobs says, once you learn it, you'll never be the same again.