I am not a sentimentalist, and certainly it is not often that I am touched at the passing of someone famous. It has come as somewhat of a surprise, therefore, to feel so moved at the death of Steve Jobs. There will be numerous more eloquent eulogies than mine on the internet, and yet it would be wrong for me not to mention the impact that Steve Jobs and Apple have had on Khoo Systems Limited, and our deep regret that his creativity will no longer be enjoyed.

Our Director got his first Mac in 1985 and hasn't looked back. He is a true Apple advocate and although not obsessive has always enjoyed the beauty of Apple's products and their intuitive functionality.

When I joined Khoo Systems I had never used a Mac and wondered how on earth it worked! I have to admit that I was terrified! However, after all these years I am a convert - I even have an iPhone! I have grown to love the way that Apple has never shrunk away from the innovative and no matter how much they were slated by their critics they forged on with what they believed in, despite intense criticism and jealously.

Steve Jobs' speech at Stanford in 2005 has been exhaustively mentioned today, but it is an incredibly motivating speech, and one which I have already shared with my children. But I'd like to include a part of it, if I may:

“Remembering that I’ll be dead soon is the most important tool I’ve ever encountered to help me make the big choices in life. Because almost everything — all external expectations, all pride, all fear of embarrassment or failure - these things just fall away in the face of death, leaving only what is truly important. Remembering that you are going to die is the best way I know to avoid the trap of thinking you have something to lose. You are already naked. There is no reason not to follow your heart. … Stay hungry. Stay foolish.”

I think this partly reflects our philosophy here at Khoo Systems Limited. We have always tried to stay true to what we believe in, even when the so called "business consultants" have come in and been derisive about our old-fashioned approach to customer care. We will be a long time dead and we have always wanted to be a company that is remembered for exceptional customer care and daring to go against the tide and set a path where we feel the internet is going, even if we are trail blazers.

Steve Jobs innovative creativity will not be forgotten and we will always admire his striving for excellence and no-compromise approach. The world will be a sadder place from today, but it has been a pleasure to have been part of the generation that experienced the exciting changes that Steve Jobs introduced.