Change the Status Quo: A Legacy

[Editor’s Note: Thanks to Bradley for contributing this piece. In the fraternity world, Bradley’s one of “the crazy ones. The misfits. The rebels. The troublemakers. The round pegs in the square holes.” Enjoy.]

by Bradley Charlesworth, Coordinator of New Media & Public Relations, Pi Kappa Phi Fraternity (Guest Blogger)

In the 8th grade I designed my own video game on a teal iMac at Baldwin Magnet Junior High School in Montgomery, Ala. That day I fell in love with Apple’s unique ability to allow it’s users to innovate and create. That was the legacy of Apple’s cofounder, Steve Jobs. Since 1976, Steve’s passion and Apple’s mission has been to bring innovative hardware, software and Internet offerings to the world. In his effort to bring innovation to the masses, he changed the roles computers, music and phones play in our everyday life. Though he has inspired many dynamic, enjoyable and downright magical products, I think his legacy will be his ability to innovate and change the status quo.

In fact, in Simon Sinek’s popular Ted Talk, he makes the argument that the reason Apple constantly outperforms its competitors is because of it’s why: to change the status quo. Though few of us have worked with Steve Jobs or even met him, each of us have undoubtedly written a paper on a MacBook, FaceTimed with a distant family member on an iPhone, watched a Pixar film or been moved by Job’s Stanford commencement speech. While we may not be personally affected by his untimely death, I think as members of organizations that’s very purpose is challenged by non-believers each and everyday, we can all learn from his legacy to change the status quo.

When you walk through your daily life as a fraternity man or woman, attempt to act out Jobs’ why and change the status quo. Change the way people see fraternities and our purpose by intentionally connecting with others, by engaging in meaningful conversation, by acting in a respectable manner and by living everyday with integrity as the best version of yourself.

Just as Steve Jobs made products that were beautifully designed, powerful to use and user friendly; maybe we can make fraternities beautifully designed, powerful to use and people friendly.