Apple’s Steve Jobs Addiction
So Apple announced the conclusion of their internal investigation, restated some past earnings, and exonterated Steve Jobs of any wrong doing.
Of course, one reason why many Apple fans were watching this situation so carefully is because if Steve Jobs were ever to leave Apple (either forcibly or on his own volition), the company would be screwed. His strength as possibly the most visible CEO is also a huge weakness. So much of the computer maker’s recent success seems based on Jobs’ personal vision, his quest for perfection in design and technology, and the magical way he controls the press and builds hype through his keynotes and other product announcements.
So Apple really ought to start grooming a successor to the iCeo. Steve Jobs should begin sharing the spotlight a bit to demonstrate that Apple isn’t just a one-man operation. The long-term future of Apple depends on preparing for a time when Steve Jobs isn’t there. Ultimately, a truly stable company doesn’t depend solely on one executive to remain relevant. And that’s a real worry underpinning the stock options situation: an Apple without Steve Jobs at the helm.