TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (WTXL) - At last month’s Tallahassee Chamber of Commerce event, officials announced that Apple co-founder and philanthropist Steve Wozniak would be speaking as part of the Power Forward Speaker series in November.
But before he hits the stage, WTXL ABC 27 tech reporter Morgan Moore got the chance to talk to him about how it all began - and what he hopes the future holds for those trying to follow in his footsteps.
It may be hard to believe, but it’s been nearly 40 years since Steve Wozniak and Steve Jobs joined forces, creating something that's a part of our everyday lives.
"Perfect partnership. You can't do everything yourself," said Wozniak.
That’s how Apple co-founder Steve Wozniak - still to this day - thinks of himself and Steve Jobs: The Dynamic Duo.
Thirty-eight years ago, the two created Apple Computer Inc., and started a revolution.
"We were young, we were in school, I was designing these great products... and every time I designed one, he found a way to sell it," Wozniak recalls.
After being turned down by Hewlett Packard, Wozniak says he and Jobs knew if they wanted to get their product out there, they’d just have to do it themselves.
Jobs’ drive for creating something to changed the world - and Wozniak’s ability to build it - set their company on a course that helped put computers in the homes of millions.
"He [Jobs] wanted to have a big successful company, to be something important in the world. He wanted to make strides that he would be remembered for and that was his goal when he was young… and I was the one who had the talent to build things," said Wozniak.
And it’s that same drive and determination that’s helped Wozniak continue to make an impact on the tech world decades later.
In 1985, President Ronald Reagan awarded Wozniak the National Medal of Technology. In 2000, he was inducted into the Inventors Hall of Fame.
But Wozniak says without the passion and drive from hundreds of others along the way, he wouldn't have been able to achieve his goals.
"It's incredible where it got to, I am so proud of it, I am so glad to have been a small little focal point. But I get so much attention and credit and called an icon because I was right there at the start at some critical steps, but it grew out of thousands of people, just as worthy as me, just as smart as me," he said.
It’s those people who have sparked this new phase of his career, mentoring, developing, and pushing the next generations to dream bigger and go further.
Steve Wozniak currently serves as chief scientist for Fusion-io and has released the New York Times best seller autobiography iWoz: From Computer Geek to Cult Icon.
Our series with Steve Wozniak continues on Tuesday, September 16 on WTXL News at 5:30. That’s when we’ll tell you all about how he’s sharing is knowledge with those who are looking to create something revolutionary.
