Can you think of any one person in the past 30 years who has had as profound an impact on pop culture and how we consume it as Apple co-founder Steve Jobs? Before iTunes and the iPod, the concept of having portable access to our entire music collections was unimaginable. The Macbook and iMac changed the way we did just about everything--both for personal as well as professional computing--and the speed and simplicity with which we were able to do them. The iPhone completely altered and revolutionized the telephone, making it a powerful device that could do so much more than make and receive calls. The iPad allowed us to carry an entire library's worth of reading material onto a bus, an airplane or to the park. Simply put, Jobs has changed the way in which we live. He may very well be the Character Approved gold standard.

Yesterday, the innovator of our generation sadly lost his battle with pancreatic cancer at age 56.

On Twitter, Facebook, and in news reports, people are comparing him to other great inventors: Ford, Edison, Carrier, and Wright. One post even called him DaVinci in jeans. Some people are sharing his inspiring words from a Stanford commencement speech. Others are leaving flowers outside of Apple Stores nationwide. At a time when we needed a CEO to be proud of, someone to elicit optimism and encouragement and pride, Steve Jobs delivered. He redefined what it means to be a visionary. He was a creative genius, a pioneer, an influencer, a change agent.

Apple posted a perfect tribute to Jobs as well--a simple picture of their former leader, no words. None were needed.

[Image: Apple]