The Search For The Next Steve Jobs

Of Gates, Shakespeare as usual says it best. Nothing in his life (as CEO) became him like the leaving of it. He ran Microsoft no less egotistically than Jobs. His success was the result of ruthlessly exterminating potential competitors (those he could not buy), engaging in illegal anticompetitive practices, shamelessly copying others' innovations, and forcing needless product upgrades by businesses and consumers alike. In the decade since Jobs returned to Apple, the company has prospered through the introduction of truly innovative products. The era of Steve Balmer has brought the deservedly maligned Zune and Vista, and a truly embarrassing performance at the recent CES show.(Search YouTube for other examples of his cringe worthy presentations.) Jobs is no saint, and not the benefactor that Gates has become, but there is no comparison between his leadership skills and those of Gates.

"Yet Gates managed to slide out of his company with virtually no disruption."

1. Vista was a bomb.
2. Microsoft, for the first time in its corporate history, plans for a large layoff.

"No disruption" according to NEWSWEEK's Daniel Lyons.

Now I remember why I don't read NEWSWEEK.


BR,

George Lien

"Gates, you'll recall, was every bit as synonymous with Microsoft as Jobs is with Apple. Yet Gates managed to slide out of his company with virtually no disruption."

Are you sure?

1. Vista was a bomb.
2. Microsoft, for the first time ever, plans to lay off its workers.

If these are not " disruption[s]", I don't know what are.


BR,

George Lien
georgelien@email.com

Chris, yoiu should be ashamed of yourself for writing this artiicle. What have you done in the tech business other then push keys on a computer brought to you by Xerox via Apple because of Steve Jobs?

With due respect, I must disagree with Mr. Lyons. As a stockholder and customer of Apple's, I have no complaints whatsoever about how Mr. Jobs is managing his health and his responsibilities at Apple. I can't imagine how he could possibly do a better job infusing his vision, his DNA as it were, into the culture at Apple. And while it looks quite likely that his health has already started to reduce his capacity to contribute, I'm certain the rewards from his forward-looking vision will go on for years after he's gone. I don't blame Jobs for the hysterical over-reaction of the stock market, either up or down. And I don't sympathize with journalists eager to cash in on little more than Jobs' celebrity status.

The next time Jobs leaves Apple will have essentially nothing in common with the first time. He was fired by putative adults who thought they knew better. Part of Jobs may have even believed that, but certainly that was the common wisdom. Apple had a ten year lead on its competitors when he left, and of course it took them ten years to invite him back. This time, everybody knows that Jobs is The Man; when he leaves it will be much different. The company is insanely well positioned, if you will.

And it seems absurd to compare Jobs' exit with Gates'. Microsoft looks like a has-been, certain to contract. Their stockholders will suffer as Microsoft becomes increasingly irrelevant. Do we blame that on Gates' hand-off to Balmer? I don't know. I don't think it matters, but it makes no sense at all to praise Gates for this hand-off.

Lastly, I, Steve Jobs and my wife were all born in the mid-1950's. She was diagnosed with terminal cancer in 1997 and perished in 2003. What did she do during those six years? She lived life to the fullest! It was the small-minded hysterics around her who constantly needed to know "When are you going to die?" Wall Street and the hacks may want to know exactly when Steve Jobs is going to die and exactly who's going to be in charge of Apple when that happens. I don't believe Jobs or his doctors know when he's going to die, but it's enough for me that he's alive today and making a contribution.

Chris Jones