365 Inspirations—230: A iPad mini from a Vending Machine

"Change is inevitable—except from a vending machine."—Robert C. Gallagher

I've bought gum, soda, chocolate and even a coffee or tea from a vending machine, but a computer?

 Never.

Until TODAY! Actually my husband bought it. He wanted an iPad mini, but wanted to buy it at Macy's on his card. They don't really have an Electronics Department, but they have an Electronics Vending Machine!

We must be on an Apple kick, because just yesterday we saw the movie Jobs (see post here) and today my husband bought a new Apple Computer.

It was the weirdest thing to watch. He swipped his card and selected his purchase on the vending machine and just like a package of gum or candy bar, a mechanical arm or lever moved his iPad over and it slid down where he could retrieve it from a door flap and just like that he had a new computer.

No sales person, so hassle, no lines, no nothing.

Just insert money, get computer, receipt and go.

I'm not sure how often these things get used. Probably not as much as a candy or soda machine. After all, how often do people really need to stop by the vending machine on the way to the bathroom to pick up an iPad?

But you just never know? Maybe this is the new wave of the future!

What would you like to see in vending machines?

365 Inspirations—229: Steve Jobs Movie

"Your time is limited, so don't waste it living someone else's life. Don't be trapped by dogma—which is living with the results of other people's thinking. Don't let the noise of others' opinions drown out your own inner voice. And most important, have the courage to follow your heart and intuition."—Steve Jobs 

When I heard that Ashton Kutcher was playing Steve Jobs in the movie Jobs, it was hard for me to picture it. Kutcher has played, for the most part, in comedy roles and this wasn't really a comedy. However, I have to give the guy some credit, he did a good job as Jobs.

He got the voice, mannerisms, stare and even the walk (though a bit exaggerated at times) down.

So I ended up liking Kutcher as Jobs and it did make the movie enjoyable for me. After all, the movie is about Job's life and if you don't like the main character, then the movie is not going to be good either.

I found this movie to be inspirational. There were many things I did not know about Steve Jobs before the movie. I did not realize how determined and focused he was to succeed and how unwilling he was to sacrifice any of what he believed in for any amount of money. He was against following the status quo and believed, according to the movie, that each person must follow their own passions, no matter what those look like to anyone else.

He was fired from the very company he created and was later hired back as the CEO after the company floundered without him.

What I took away from this movie was that to make a difference in this world, it's important to stay focused on your passion, otherwise it is easy to just simply be living or existing. We all have gifts to offer, but very few people are fully offering their gifts to the world.

The movie made me want to keep on writing and creating. And yes, I am writing and creating on my MacBook Pro, created by Apple Computers. Apple was Job's vision and dream that he started in his parent's garage with some friends. He perfected it and continued to shape it and it was his gift to the world. It was his passion.

What gifts are you offering to the world? Have you found your passion(s) and are you living your dream(s)?