Steve Jobs, along with Steve Wozniak, co-founded Apple Computer and became a multi-millionaire before the age of 30. His electronics teacher at Homestead High School, John McCollum, described him as "something of a loner" who "always had a different way of looking at things."
Starting
work in his family's garage, Steve Jobs innovated the concept of the personal
computer, thereby revolutionizing the computer hardware and software
industries. At the age of 21, he and his friend Wozniak created the personal
computer known as the Apple. Apple transformed the public perception of
computers—shifting the image from massive boxes used only by large corporations
and governments to compact units accessible to ordinary people. No company
democratized computing for the average user quite like Apple did.
Furthermore,
regarding software, Jobs spearheaded the development of the Macintosh, which
introduced the window-based interface and mouse technology that became the
standard for all applications. These innovations made it easier for people to
interact with computers; the mouse allowed users to click on objects displayed
on the screen to execute specific commands.
Another
notable story involves Aristotle Onassis, once the richest man in the world. He
was born into a poor family that constantly struggled to make ends meet; his
father was a door-to-door peddler of homemade goods, and his mother worked as a
domestic helper. He emigrated to the United States at the age of 17 with only
$450 in his pocket.
His
success stemmed from a combination of creativity and persistence. One anecdote
illustrates Onassis's business acumen during his youth. One day, a fire broke
out in a school storage room. Onassis bought a batch of pencils that had
survived the fire at a bargain price, along with two pencil sharpeners.
Together with a friend, he cleaned off the charred sections of the pencils and
then sold them to his schoolmates. As an adult, he repaired damaged ships to
make them seaworthy, subsequently selling them at a much higher price.
To
market his high-quality Greek tobacco—after facing repeated rejections from
numerous factories—he sought out Juan Gaona, the head of one of Argentina's
largest tobacco firms. For fifteen consecutive days, Onassis stood leaning
against the wall of the Gaona building, observing the boss's comings and
goings. Eventually, intrigued by the young man's persistence, Gaona invited
Onassis into his office.
We
find a similar example in the life of Haji Masagung. The enduring presence of
the Gunung Agung store is a testament to the business maneuvers of a former
street kid, Tjio Wie Tay—better known as Haji Masagung. In the book *Bapak Saya
Pejuang Buku* (My Father, a Champion of Books), written by his son Ketut
Masagung, he is described as having grown up as a fearless child. He once
worked as a "rubber man" in acrobatic and gymnastics shows and also
as an itinerant cigarette vendor.
Wie
Tay—described as a child plagued by scalp sores and leg ulcers—boldly
approached Lie Tay San, a major cigarette merchant of the time. With a capital
of just 50 cents, he began selling cigarettes on the move in the Senen and
Glodok areas. At the same time, they began to get serious about the book
business. They opened a shop measuring 3 by 3 meters, which was later expanded
to 6 by 9 meters. It was this book business that ultimately enabled his
enterprise to expand.
Islam
teaches that hard work is not merely about expending effort and time; rather,
it entails working creatively, intelligently, persistently, and responsibly to
produce something better and beneficial. Creativity enables individuals to
discover new methods, improve upon existing ones, and overcome difficulties
through knowledge and clear thinking, while persistence ensures they do not
easily give up in the face of failure, limitations, or challenges.
Allah
(SWT) states in Surah Ar-Ra'd (13:11) that He will not change the condition
of a people until they change what is within themselves. This message
underscores the importance of proactive effort and a willingness to bring about
improvement. In Islam, hard work must also be grounded in good intentions,
honesty, and the awareness that every endeavor is part of the trust (amanah)
of life. Consequently, an exemplary Muslim is not simply one who works longer
or harder, but one who works creatively, engages in continuous learning,
pursues goals with persistence, and generates ever-greater benefits for
themselves, society, and humanity.
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