Larsen Post

In 2005 Steve Jobs spoke at Stanford University for the graduation commencement. He did an amazing job and gave an inspiring speech through the use of his own life experiences. He shared three stories of his life and with it he encouraged the graduating students to go forward with life day by day, work on things they love, and live each day as their last. A few of Larsen's cultural myths were incorporated into Steve Jobs speech to motivate and persuade the graduate students to live life to the fullest. The two persuasion myths I noticed the most throughout the speech are the wisdom of the rustic and the possibility of success.

The Wisdom of the Rustic:
In this speech Steve Jobs was the wisdom of the rustic. He used himself and his life experiences as a tactic to persuade and motivate the graduating students. Steve Jobs shared how he never graduated college, had lost his job at Apple even though he designed the company, and multiple other setbacks he had to face throughout his life. He came to an understanding, however, that with every set back there was something he learned that helped him become the person he wanted to be. He encouraged the graduating students to pursue their dreams although setbacks may stand in their way. Steve Jobs shared his own wisdom that he had acquired throughout his life and his journey to success.

The Possibility of Success:
Steve Jobs was extremely successful because of hard work. As he went through three stories of his life that brought him to where he was he emphasized the hard work he had to input, but with that hard work came success. He shared with the students that he took a typography class because he was interested in it but never knew that it would impact the way he designed computers. Through this experience he learned that following your heart is the most important thing and to trust that the dots will connect further down the road even if they do not make sense at first. Another piece of advice he gave the students is to find what you love and do it and through that will come success. Overall, his speech gave the graduating students hope for the future in that success is always a possibility.

Process Premise:
Steve Jobs speech had a basis of persuasion as he addressed the needs, emotions, attitudes, and consistency of the audience. Steve Jobs acknowledged that the audience he was speaking to was a class of college graduates and that they had a need to go out in the world and make something of themselves. By understanding this he was able to encourage them and give them hope through sharing his own experiences and wisdom to help them. Steve Jobs addressed the audiences emotions and attitudes by keeping his speech inspiring and positive. He was not there to give a lecture or to brag about his own accomplishments, he was there to be uplifting and give hope to the college graduates as they are starting out their lives in the professional world. Overall, Steve Jobs was an inspiring speaker not only because of his own accomplishments but because of how he related to the audience and gave hope and wisdom to all those who listened.