Breaking the chains of time
Lisa Brennan-Jobs’ curiosity about her father’s choice to forgo a watch arose during a period when her mother, Chrisann Brennan, was pursuing a bachelor’s degree at the California College of Arts and Crafts. In a heartfelt gesture, Jobs offered to take care of their daughter, and this decision led to an insightful exchange between father and child.
“Why don’t you wear a watch?” young Lisa asked her father one morning. “Fancy men wore watches.”
Jobs’ reply was a window into his unique perspective on time and life. “I don’t want to be bound by time,” he explained to his daughter.
For a man whose innovations often centered on technology that enhanced productivity and convenience, this stance may seem paradoxical. Many inventors and technocrats, including Jobs himself, sought to streamline their lives by minimizing daily decisions. However, Jobs’ choice to eschew wristwatches was not about avoiding inconvenience but rather a deeply philosophical viewpoint.
The wisdom behind the choice
Steve Jobs’ decision not to wear a watch was rooted in his desire to live in the moment, unburdened by the relentless march of time. For him, wearing a watch would have been a constant reminder of the ever-passing seconds, minutes, and hours—a reminder of life’s brevity.
In his quest to create a future where technology seamlessly integrated into human lives, Jobs seemed to view the watch as a symbol of constraint. His refusal to be “bound by time” was a testament to his commitment to freedom, creativity, and thinking beyond the constraints of the clock.
Apple’s paradox
Ironically, while Steve Jobs personally rejected the notion of wristwatches, the company he co-founded, Apple Inc., ventured into the world of smartwatches. In recent years, Apple introduced the Apple Watch, a device that combines cutting-edge technology with timekeeping. The latest iteration, Apple Watch Series 4, even includes features like fall detection and electrocardiogram (EKG) capabilities to monitor heart health.
In this intriguing paradox, we see the duality of Steve Jobs—the man who resisted the confines of time personally but contributed to innovations that reshaped the way we interact with it. His legacy endures not only through the devices he created but also in the philosophy he imparted—a philosophy that encourages us to seize the moment, unbound by the ticking clock.
