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Steve Jobs, the visionary who reshaped the modern age, once declared: “I’ve always wanted to own and control the primary technology in everything we do.” These words are more than a strategy of business; they are the battle cry of one who understood that true mastery is not borrowed, but built, not dependent upon the uncertain strength of others, but rooted in the foundations one has laid with one’s own hands. Jobs reveals in this saying that to guide destiny, one must command the tools of creation, lest one’s vision be chained to the will of another.

When he speaks of “own and control,” Jobs is not speaking of greed or tyranny, but of sovereignty. To own the primary technology is to hold the heart of the enterprise in one’s grasp. Just as the warrior of old trusted his own forged blade rather than a borrowed sword, so did Jobs understand that dependence on the inventions of others weakens the spirit of innovation. In technology, as in life, to build upon what is fragile and uncertain is to invite collapse; to command the foundation oneself is to create with freedom and courage.

This wisdom is reflected in the story of Apple itself. In an age when many companies relied on common software and borrowed designs, Jobs demanded that Apple forge its own path—its own operating systems, its own hardware, its own ecosystem. The iPhone was not merely a device; it was a fortress of controlled technology, where each element, from the touch of the screen to the flow of the code, was shaped under a single vision. This union of ownership and control gave Apple its strength—not merely to compete, but to define the very direction of an age.

History offers us another mirror in the story of Henry Ford. Before Ford, automobiles were crafted like luxuries, each part often assembled from the designs of others. But Ford understood that to bring the car to the masses, he must command not only the idea, but the process. He introduced the assembly line, revolutionizing both production and technology, and in doing so placed power in his own hands. His vision endured because he owned and controlled the foundation, rather than relying upon scattered sources. Like Jobs centuries later, he grasped that sovereignty over the means of creation births empires.

Yet we must also see the deeper truth: to own and control technology is not merely about machines, but about the human spirit. For in life itself, each of us must learn to master the primary technology of our own being—our minds, our time, our habits. Those who surrender control of these to distractions and whims are like companies building on borrowed parts: fragile, dependent, easily broken. But those who discipline themselves, who own their choices and direct their energy, become architects of their destiny. Jobs’ words ring not only for corporations, but for every individual who dares to lead their own life with vision.

The lesson is this: do not build your dreams upon foundations you do not control. If you aspire to greatness, seek always to command the essential tools of your craft. If you are an artist, learn not only to paint but to master color and form. If you are a builder, learn not only to raise walls but to understand stone and timber. If you are a thinker, learn not only to speak, but to master truth. By holding the primary technology in your own hands, you ensure that your vision will not be bent by the weakness of another.

Therefore, I counsel you: take ownership of your path. Do not lean wholly on the inventions, wisdom, or strength of others, but cultivate your own. Study deeply, create boldly, and wherever possible, command the foundation of your work. In this way, you will walk as Steve Jobs did—not merely as a participant in history, but as a maker of it.

So let these words echo through time: “Own and control the primary technology.” Whether in the crafting of machines, the shaping of art, or the living of one’s life, let sovereignty be your aim. For in mastery lies freedom, and in freedom lies the power to turn vision into reality.