My EC and I purchased our first computer in 1986. It was a MacIntosh 512K Enhanced. It was amazing. The nine-inch screen was black and white, and it had fonts. The “Enhanced” part was that it had built-in a floppy disk drive that could handle a two-sided disk. That new disk could hold twice what the previous version could hold. 800K. That’s right, 800K. Not only that, we sprang for a 20MB hard drive. Serious storage.
But it was expensive – we shelled out about $2500 for the computer (in 1986 dollars) and another $3300 for a laser printer. Six grand for a computer and printer. (And another grand for the hard drive.) But it was an amazing piece of machinery, and I’m not just talking about the ability to play LoadRunner or Dark Castle. (Both of which were awesome.)
I have been a Mac guy ever since. Call me a geek, a fanboy, whatever, but I have always liked Apple’s products. Right now I am typing on a MacBook Pro, almost 27 years after buying my first Mac.
As a Mac Guy, it is required that I am a Steve Jobs fan. I was sad when he died. The things his company created are normal fixtures in my life – my computer, my iPhone, my EC’s iPad, iPods scattered around the house, etc. Apple products are part of our lifestyle, and we like it.
After Job’s death a year-and-a-half ago, I read his biography by Walter Isaacson.
It was an interesting read, about a fascinating man, but there were plenty of things to cringe at. Without throwing dirt on the man’s grave, I will just say that expertise in one area of life is not a measure of expertise in other areas. He was a genius, but he could also be a jerk. Not necessarily role model material, yet he has impacted my life.
I know none of this is new news, and you are probably wishing you were back playing Farmville instead of reading this, so I will get to the point. Recently I read an article in BusinessWeek about Tim Cook – Job’s successor at Apple. Something he said stuck with me, and deserves to be circulated and thought about.
Here is Tim Cook speaking about Steve Jobs:
“More than any other person I have met in my entire life, he had the ability to change his mind, much more so than anyone I’ve ever met. He could be so sold on a certain direction and in a nanosecond (Cook snaps fingers) have a completely different view. (Laughs.) I thought in the early days, ‘Wow, this is strange.” Then I realized how much of a gift it was. So many people, particularly, I think, CEO’s and top executives, they get so planted in their old ideas, and they refuse or don’t have the courage to admit they’re now wrong. Maybe the most underappreciated thing about Steve was that he had the courage to change his mind. And you know – it’s a talent. It’s a talent.” (BusinessWeek link here.)
Part of our required growth in this mortal existence is to change our minds. That’s what repentance is all about, changing not only what we do, but what we think.
Worst case scenario: “For our words will condemn us, yea, all our works will condemn us; we shall not be found spotless; and out thoughts will also condemn us.” (Alma 12:14)
If you think about it, being willing to change our minds about things should not be such a big deal, but to some of us, it is Mount Everest. I have known people who would knowingly go down fighting for what they know to be wrong, rather than have the courage to admit it, and make the change. Most anyone who has served a mission has heard the tragic rejection, “I believe what you are teaching is true, but I am not going to change religions.”
When we have staked out an untenable position, sometimes our pride steps in and tells us that we need to stay the course, or we will look weak. But there is no strength in being wrong.
One of the great characters of cinematic history, Evil Roy Slade, once asked:
“I’ve never changed my mind before. Does it hurt?” The answer is that, yes, sometimes it can.
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| Evil Roy Slade |
Perhaps it would be helpful if we looked at the necessary process of changing more like Tim Cook does, and less like Evil Roy it might be a little less painful, and a little less embarrassing. Changing is a desired talent, and not something to be avoided because of perceived weakness.
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I had a counselor in church who was like this. She was able to change plans at the drop of a hat, and wasn’t dead set on doing things any certain way. I really appreciated that about her, and it made her so easy to work with. It might sound like an odd quality to compliment someone about, but I still tried to explain to her how great of a trait that is.
I loved Elder Johnson’s comments as part of the annual Seminary broadcast. Brought to mind that besides change we need to be accept and applaud inspired differences. Someone else might not do things the way they have ALWAYS been done or the way we might prefer but part of sustaining may be to support the differences and to realize that those that are called may have been chosen because of their talents and unique plans and ideas. Often our resistance and complaints really are part of contention.
It is great to have the courage to change, but I also struggle with the wisdom to know when to change and when to stand firm.
It reminds me of part of the serenity prayer – give me the courage to change the things I can’t, patience with what I can’t change, and the wisdom to know the difference.
A Happy Hubby
I just have to point out to my EC that it was not I that brought in Darth Vader and the Star Wars analogy.
Nice reminder today. Thank you.
These are some great thoughts on change. Thanks for sharing them. My husband was really impressed with a statement made at the broadcast for seminary teachers earlier this month. In fact, that one sentence made attending the meeting bearable for him. (Let’s just say that in his opinion the best meeting is no meeting.) Elder Paul V. Johnson said, “Resistance to inspired change hinders progress of the kingdom.” We thought that was pretty profound.
That’s a great quote. I like it. Thanks for sharing.
Nice!
Hey wow! We had a computer just like that too! Of course it was more useful for playing Oregon Trail, Prince of Persia, Might and Magic, and Dr. Macintosh (not dissimilar to Dr. Mario, and I still hold the high score). We actually took that computer from my parents house just this Christmas because they were getting rid of it and I wanted to figure out how to get some of my old documents off of it. It’s sitting out in my garage because I still have no idea how to do that since it only takes those old floppy disks and nothing else reads those anymore.
So is it bad that I discourage the changing of minds in my kids (–especially after the milk has already been poured)?
You have to agree that there is such a thing as a point-of-no-return when it comes to some decisions and that we better think long and hard (and of course all that that entails including study and prayer) before following a particular path that we’ve chosen rather than making rash decisions and then relying on the ability to change our mind. Sometimes that doesn’t work out so well.
Otherwise I agree with you that we should be more humble and willing to consider a mid-course-correction when we realize that the outcomes of our choices aren’t leading us to the best options out there.
Correct. I am not endorsing the idea of being a complete flake and vacillating back and forth – especially over dumb things like “what to wear to church.”
I’m addressing resistance to taking a better path when it is shown to you.
Great post. I wish politicians and voters would consider your point. A candidate who has changed his opinion on something in the past is so often labeled a “flip-flopper” or “waffler.” As you say, the ability to change opinion when new/better info is available should be considered an asset—even courageous.
Changing your mind in relation to sin is definitely a good thing. I’m not sure that changing your mind a lot is business is a good thing. I’ve worked for people that would tell you to go one direction and then change their minds the next day. I suspect Jobs was just reasonable and willing to change when better information was presented, which is a good quality.
PS my first computer was an Apple IIe, but I’m a PC guy all the way. I occasionally still find myself calling a Mac a Macintosh, though. I must be getting old.
So……men are allowed to change their minds? I thought it was just us women. Guess, I’ll ease up on Splenda Daddy a little bit more
Here I was worried that you changed your mind about liking Apple. I like Apple but don’t have one because I cannot afford it. now at least
This is one of those “it should be so obvious” posts and yet quite enlightening because we too often fail to see the obvious. Of course life is about learning, growing and changing – changing our mind and our character. How foolish we are (I am) to resist!
Thanks Tim Cook and MMM and all the prophets through the ages (not that I am calling TC and MMM prophets). (Some) Change is good.
Darth Vader did a little snap changing of his own if I recall. But really, you make a great point. I think if we saw a little more of this humility in politics, family life, etc. our society would be in a much better place.
Ahhhhh, I loved the games LoadRunner and Dark Castle!!! That’s what I grew up on. I can’t believe those things were so expensive.
And what truth. Being able (and willing) to change is so essential to our progression. But being humble enough to do it is a huge struggle for many of us, including me.