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I’ve generally had enough of the ubiquitous Steve Jobs worship over the past few weeks, but there was one quote of his that got my attention:

“A lot of people in our industry haven’t had very diverse experiences. They don’t have enough dots to connect, and they end up with very linear solutions, without a broad perspective on the problem. The broader one’s understanding of the human experience, the better designs we will have.” ~ Wired, February, 1996

I think the quote comes to life through another quote of his, in reference to Bill Gates:

“I wish him the best, I really do. I just think he and Microsoft are a bit narrow. He’d be a broader guy if he had dropped acid once or gone off to an ashram when he was younger.” ~ The New York Times, January 12, 1997

Upon reflection, I may be more Bill Gates-like than Steve Jobs-like (not a big surprise for those that know me). That doesn’t make my accomplishments any less worthwhile, but it can teach me something about myself. I’m a creature of habit, preferring familiar surroundings and circumstances to unfamiliar ones. As such, I probably tend to be less adventurous (and perhaps creative) than I otherwise might. And I’ve been okay with that, under the premise that I can have a perfectly happy and fulfilling existence and let my boundaries expand naturally on the margin.

Scottsdale, November 2009. Hiking Camelback Mountain was more impactful than sitting by the pool.

Lately, as I’ve become more aware of my own tendencies and confident in my own skin, I have attempted to push my boundaries a bit more aggressively. I’ve done this by taking on commitments that stretch my comfort zone, particularly in areas where I’d like to expand my skills and, well, comfort zone. Not by dropping acid or running off to an ashram, mind you, but trying new things related to my everyday life and raising the bar for myself.

Now, thanks to Jobs’ quote, I better understand the value in trying new things. It’s not in becoming something different, but in making the existing better. And that’s something I strive to do all the time.

Now, with greater awareness and purpose, I can make a conscious effort to add more dots to connect and broaden myself. Join me.