It is difficult to slot Steve Jobs. As Apple?s founder, we all know him as an innovator and visionary, but he was also someone who seemed to know all about life?s frailties. He was acutely aware of time and its limitations, and learnt at a very early age the importance of living each day as it was his last. Jobs was a showman who always believed in putting up a show for his audience, but he also had the creative genius to walk the talk. And boy, he could sell stuff.
Just look at what he has done for Apple and its shareholders. The market value of the company?s shares stands at $350 billion today, and just a decade ago it had not even touched $5 billion. That?s what someone of Jobs? calibre can do. Having an Apple stock, let alone having an iPad or iPhone, was equivalent to having joined a cult. Neither Bill Gates (for all his wealth) nor Jack Welch (for all his management talk) could command the respect of their peers like Jobs did. Being a non-conformist who always strove for excellence, Jobs was every man?s hero. If ever there was a technology superstar, it was him. He had girls lining up for autographs, a rare sight for a corporate leader. A college drop out, teenage visionary, technology geek, and a unique sense of style and speech, all combined to make Jobs a legend?not to mention the myriad setbacks he had to face.
But now he is gone. And the question is whether Apple can continue its success story even without its iconic founder? Apple is said to have plenty of similarly exciting products in the pipeline, but without Jobs, investors may start to worry about how they will all turn out. Jobs was a design champ, and knew exactly what a consumer would like, a trait that he possessed to a frightening extent. He was a master at knowing what would sell and constantly pushed the envelope to achieve that goal. It remains to be seen whether Tim Cook, the new CEO, can match that intensity. Cook?s first show on stage?the introduction of the iPhone 4S on Tuesday?did not exactly set the stage on fire.
Now, investors always knew about Jobs? deteriorating health, but they always stayed on course. Even when he was diagnosed with cancer, the stock did not plummet. Apple will have to ensure that the new products in the pipeline are equally exciting and are presented to the public with panache. That?s where Jobs will be missed sorely. People blindly believed what Jobs had to say?all the time. He was the ultimate technology evangelist, and consumers, largely youngsters, lapped up every word he had to offer. Every product presentation by Jobs was reminiscent of a rock concert where people jostled for best viewing positions!
It may be early days yet, but Tim Cook will have to show some of that spunk. Apple investors have been used to seeing Jobs? magic for years, and a sobered down act will be a big turn off for them. Cook also needs to show that he has the same stomach for a fight. Jobs had the tenacity to pick himself up after every fall. After John Sculley?a man whom Jobs himself picked for the CEO?s post?booted him out of Apple with the help of the company?s board of directors, many would not have given him a chance in life. But Jobs returned in 1997 when Apple was truly down and out, and then revived its fortunes like no one in history ever did. Cook has to deal with very powerful rivals like Google and Amazon, and he would do well to imbibe some of Jobs? steel.
Cook is said to be an easier man to deal with when compared to Jobs, who was known to sack employees in an elevator. The new CEO is reportedly a more patient man, who is prepared to give people a good hearing. He is also known to be able to accommodate various, differing view points. In a sense, Cook has the world?s toughest job. Having to succeed a man like Steve Jobs is probably an unenviable role, as falling short of the mark could become an ongoing feature. But what he has with him is a company that is most loved, revered and celebrated the world over. Can Cook stay hungry and foolish as Jobs did? Therein lies part of the answer to Apple?s future success.
dj.hector@expressindia.com