Steve Wozniak: When I die, these are the moments I want to remember—they don't involve co-founding Apple

Steve Wozniak won't measure his happiness by Apple's market cap or his net worth at the end of his life. Instead, he values the laughter and memories shared with loved ones. During a commencement speech at the University of Colorado Boulder, he urged graduates to prioritize joy over accomplishments.

Wozniak shared an anecdote about ex-Viacom CEO Sumner Redstone, highlighting the futility of wealth and power. He concluded, "I want to die remembering my pranks, fun, and jokes. Life is about happiness, not accomplishment."

He offered a simple happiness formula: "H equals S minus F" (happiness equals smiles minus frowns), noting his smiles come from family, music, and comedy. Despite being expelled from the same university in 1969 for hacking, Wozniak later co-founded Apple with Steve Jobs.

Wozniak advised finding joy in life by being aware of and pursuing what makes you happy. Harvard professor Arthur C. Brooks calls the pursuit of happiness the "arrival fallacy," emphasizing that happiness is a direction, not a destination.

Wozniak concluded by encouraging graduates to stay honest, keep smiling, and pay their successes forward.

For more information see Ashton Jackson "Steve Wozniak: When I die, these are the moments I want to remember—they don't involve co-founding Apple", CNBC, May 18, 2024. 

Special thanks to David S. Luber (Florida Probate Attorney) for bringing this article to my attention.