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Wednesday, December 31, 2008
Rumor after rumor of Apple’s CEO, Steve Jobs, impoverished health seems to be bring down the Cupertino-based computer company’s stock price faster than the fall of crude oil and yet still, Jobs hides behind his ego and doesn’t put an end to it. While many critics of the Jobs Health Report cry foul and point out no other company is effected by the well being of its CEO, most of them are all forgetting that those companies don’t have Steve Jobs at the helm. Since day one, Jobs ego has carried, and hurt at times, Apple to great heights. Folklore of his direct hands on for everything from the iPod development to every iPhone application being OK’d by him first has proven that Jobs has his hands in everything. No other Big Honcho can make this claim. To many Chiefs, this would seem a ludicrous task but for Jobs, it’s a necessity. Truth is, this style of running the company has been a great asset to Apple and its stock holders, for the most part, but it is now becoming a liability.
Because Jobs has made it his priority to put all things through the Gates of Jobs (no pun intended), it has created this vacuum in the world of all things Apple. Once Jobs is removed, that vacuum will collapse upon itself. From uneasy stock holders to dismayed Apple fanboys, the companies finances could take a terrible hit by a Steve Jobs void. While it is silly to even care about someone’s health that runs a company — Jobs has surrounded himself with a fine group of lieutenants — again, Jobs has made this all happen because of the precedent HE created. HE has given all the keynotes at Macworld since his return as interim CEO in 1997. HE has been the one presenting the world with new products and services for all of 2008. HE has been the man on the cover of Macworld, Time, Newsweek, and other national magazines. HE was the one that made the monumental deal with AT&T for the iPhone without even showing then-Cingular a stinking sketch let alone a mock-up phone. HE has been the one to make hard-nosed and egotistical comments in the name of Apple since its inception. It’s always STEVE JOBS and no one else in the lime light and making the decisions. So, logic would say, if HE goes, so will HIS company.
If Apple, er, Steve Jobs wants to put an end to this madness, he needs to respond to the rumors. Again, it is asinine for such a thing to be done, but it is also foolhardy for the general to ride a chariot at the front of the line during war. Jobs has brought this upon himself with his swelling ego and now he must answer the very bloggers he hates. He must acknowledge their power as well as his miscalculation of monarchy company rule if he desires to see Apple continue its skyward journey. Otherwise, it’ll be difficult for the phoenix to rise out from the ashes for a second time.
December 31st, 2008 at 10:04
Nah, don’t think so. Apple has learned from its mistakes, and no ex-soft drink salesmen are likely to ever be made CEOs there again. I believe Steve will have picked a group of capable people to carry on with Apple for quite a while after he leaves. And remember, this obsessive desire by certain members of the media to make a big thing out of Apple’s long standing plans to bow out of Macworld, suspecting Jobs’ health is the REAL reason is only based on rumors.
December 31st, 2008 at 10:26
Nah, I don’t think so either. When Jobs was out being treated for his pancreatic cancer, the company functioned without a hiccup. When he was thrown out in 1985 and took some of Apple best engineers with him, Apple continued to operate without a hiccup for many years later until Microsoft caught up with Apple’s guy interface. By now, Apple has learned the big lesson on how to keep itself ahead of the curve: innovate and always make sure that the products stays elegant with the ease of use that is expected of an Apple product.
December 31st, 2008 at 12:12
I am incensed at writers like yourself that blog on about this issue without knowing the facts or even analyzed your own insipid solutions. Your are like the annoying child in the back seat who keeps asking “Are we there yet?”.
Apples first official response to the SJ health issue was completely satisfactory. They said, “Steve is fine and if he were ever to be unable to fulfill his duties as CEO, we will let you know.” It’s like you all never heard the second part of the statement. World of fools.
December 31st, 2008 at 13:48
Glenn, if you believe everything a company spokesman says, then you probably think the American auto industry is going to spend that bail out money just fine (look to Chrysler’s full page ad spread and the cost associated to it for a wake up call.) Apple only made that statement weeks and weeks after the self-destruct timer was ticking. Again, Glenn, read the article carefully and understand the problem I’m noting. Maybe then you’ll understand the kid in the backseat and his excitement to reach his destination a little better, too.
Jocca, 1985 is when Apple began is market-share loss and when Jobs was booted in ‘86, things didn’t get any rosier. Apple’s board begged him to come back ten years later.
Devon, I never stated Jobs’ health was the reason for his absence from Macworld. I think his ego is the reason. ‘Why bother with that lame show anymore?’ is most likely his thinking. Take a look at Jobs’ bodyguard shoving of iLounge’s reporter last year for proof of what Jobs thinks about fan-boys. I was simply pointing out *why* some may think health is an issue.
December 31st, 2008 at 14:13
Bloggers and so called journalist have made Jobs an issue. You insists on knowing everything about the company but does not believe anything the company provide. It is understandable that they are protective of their product roadmap, and completely justifiable on personal matters.
You even speculate as to how the company runs it’s internal business. Does it matter to you how MSFT runs its internal policies?
You created the madness and you want aapl to address it. Well it can’t. There is nothing that appl can say to satisfy everyone.
I am an investor but not what you call a fanboi. My kids do own ipods so do all their friends. This is why I invested in the stock. As an investor, this blog digusts me.
January 5th, 2009 at 9:28
Karla, Apple addressed the madness today. Steve is sick after all. Take a read here: http://is.gd/eAU0