Filed under: Apple Corporate, Steve Jobs
Steve, get well soon!
As we are all probably aware by now, Apple's fearless leader Steve Jobs is a bit further under the weather than we previously believed. However, we will not let this change our regard for Apple, nor its founder and first-ever iCEO. We want to take this time to offer up some words of well-wishing for Steve's health, as well as for Tim Cook (and the rest of the executive staff) as he takes on additional responsibilities during this time of recuperation.Apple has been an extremely solid performer since Steve took the reigns in 1996. There is no doubt that the success of the Mac, iPod, and iPhone are all in part the results of his direction and unrelenting push for quality. As we have seen from the recent press event surrounding the MacBook refresh as well as from the keynote at Macworld, there are many important players on Steve's team that are extremely talented and capable individuals. During this time of leave it would not be surprising to see Apple pull out some very interesting cards from its sleeves.
Because we love Steve and Apple so much we are already working on compiling a get-well card to Steve with your voice messages, pictures, blog posts, etc., but we here at the HQ wanted to take a minute to lend some of our own thoughts at this time of trepidation. Read on as we wax sentimental over Steve, his health, and what it means to us.
Mike Rose
I have to believe that the lack of a public succession plan for Apple is yet another facet of the company's legendary secrecy, and that the expanded role of Tim Cook and the rest of the executive team at the laptop introduction last year was the opening step in downplaying the cult of personality around SJ -- there is a plan, although perhaps it was not intended to go into 'speed mode' quite so soon. Having suffered through the Steve-less interregnum with Apple in the 1990s along with all other Mac users, I'm far more optimistic this time that the company will thrive even without the full-time efforts of Jobs at the wheel.
That said, I hope that this six-month hiatus from work allows for a full and complete healing of body, mind and spirit for Steve and his family; I look forward to seeing him back in front of the curtain come WWDC this summer.
Chris Ullrich
Steve Jobs and those running Apple are not stupid. They have a plan. Jobs' health issues have not been a secret and as such, the company has had a plan of succession in place for quite some time -- they just don't talk about it. It is Apple, after all, a company not exactly known for its high degree of transparency.
I, like my colleagues here at TUAW, hope that Jobs' stepping away from Apple is temporary. I sincerely wish that in six months he will return better than ever and lead Apple to even greater success. However, as much as I love Apple and its great products, the most important thing to remember is that we are talking about someone's health and their life.
In the end, a person's health and life are far more important than what happens to a company -- even if that company is Apple. Get well soon Mr. Jobs.
Christina Warren
I won't speculate about Steve's health other than to say I wish him the best and hope to see him on stage in June for WWDC (or even just via iChat video). He can't be replaced. He shouldn't be replaced. But when the time comes for Steve to retire (and we all hope that this hiatus is just that, a hiatus), the company he has fostered will continue. Take care of yourself Steve!
Robert Palmer
In America, we hold our corporations in the highest regard. It could be said that industry is at once our greatest triumph -- and our greatest failure. The leaders of those corporations are peerless, held to the highest standards reserved for heads of state and clergy.
In so doing, we turn corporate leaders into celebrities, and indeed celebrities into less than people. Instead, they're just the largest sprocket in a machine full of sprockets. Could the sprocket be replaced? Sure. Could it be replaced with several smaller sprockets? Of course, if done right.
But Steve Jobs -- nor any person -- is only a sprocket. He's a person, and like all people, deserves his time to heal.
For those who demand answers, have patience. For those who feel wronged or hurt, relax for a second. We're talking about a human life here. If I were concerned about stock price or market capitalization right now, I'd have to seriously look at reorganizing my priorities.
So, to Steve: Rest. Have faith. Spend time with those you care most about. You'll recover. When you feel well enough, consider coming back to work, if it's what you want to do.
Apple will still be here, ready for you.
Dave Caolo
I've got to agree with what Robert said. Consider Steve's performance at the last few public events. He has routinely handed the stage over to various members of the Apple team, and for greater amounts of time. Some might say that was because he wasn't up to running the whole show himself.
To me, he was demonstrating that he alone is not Apple, nor is Apple simply an extension of Steve Jobs. The company is the collected talent, ideas, drive and passion of all its employees. The market won't recognize this right away, but that will change.
Take care of yourself, Steve. We're all pulling for you!
Todd Ritter
Dear Mr. Jobs,
You're one of the few CEO's that non-business minded people can name and attach to a company. While your mystique and demanding nature rub some people the wrong way (who hasn't heard stories of you firing employees in elevators at Apple HQ because you thought their jobs were insignificant), I think you have helped Apple make technology cool, stable, and reliable while keeping other manufacturers on their collective toes.
Every Apple employee I have ever talked to loves working for Apple, and I'm sure you love it too. Get well soon!
Aron Trimble
There are two things to me that are undeniably certain. They are that 1) Apple is a strong company and that it is in a better position than it has ever been; and 2) Steve Jobs is a strong man, if there is any one man that can overcome such adversity as this, it's him.
I also have to agree with Dave and Robert on the point that Apple and Steve Jobs are not one in the same. If Steve's health were what it is now in 2001, the story would be completely different than it is right now. However, Apple has three extremely strong legs on which to stand, those being Mac, iPod, and iPhone. As we have seen in recent months Apple has been less about Steve's presentation on stage and more about the innovative products and intelligent people behind them. There is no doubt in my mind that Apple will continue on in excellence as it has done for the past decade.
Steve, the only thing I can say to you is to get well and be happy (even if that means not returning to work). You're a legend in your own right and the Apple community would not exist as it does today without you.
Mike Schramm
My best wishes and get-well vibes to Mr. Jobs. I hope to see him back to health and back to work as soon as possible.
Steve Sande
Mr. Jobs. You've meant a lot to us over the years. You were the driving force behind most of Apple's most successful products (Macintosh, iPod, iPhone), you pushed the Mac OS into the 21st century with OS X, and most of all, you kept the faith in Apple even during the years that you weren't at the helm.
I remember those years. Sure, John Sculley, Gil Amelio, and the rest weren't as charismatic as you, but they managed to come out with some pretty fascinating (perhaps not succesful) products during those years. I'm sure that you realize that you're not going to live forever, and that you've chosen successors who have your same zeal for perfection and the same insight into the future.
While I hope that you have many more years creating our future in your position at Apple, I also realize that eventually you're going to leave the company. And I'm OK with that -- after all, you just provided the vision and drive for the company, not the engineering expertise that created such amazing products. Here's wishing you many more years enjoying your family, and best of luck to all of those at Apple who will follow the path that you have made visible to them.
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
Mauro Moroni said 5:23PM on 1-15-2009
I write from Italy. I'm the CEO of one of the very few italian engineering firms where Macintosh are the sole operating computers, running everything smootly, friendly, easily and successfully. I am a Mac users since 1985 and I remained a Mac user even during the awful decade before Steve Jobs came back in 1996.
Steve is a genius, one of those genius, like Einstein, that come 1 per century. And geniuses have some more resources than all of us. So I'm sure that Steve will fully recover and we will have him back for other extraordinary decades. Up with Steve Jobs!
Mauro
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mentalsticks said 6:23PM on 1-15-2009
@ksmith: finally, the voice of reason. thanks. everybody's going mad.
Christoph said 12:15AM on 1-19-2009
Folks - it is time for a hard reality check! Steve is not coming back. He's spending time doing the important things in life... Folks, step back and let the Jobs family deal with the inevitable. You don't know Steve and you certainly don't own even a piece of the guy - let him finish out his last days in dignity!
Everyone should take a step back and let him finish out his days in peace! No cards, no tributes, no harassment. Damn, if I was in his shoes - I would dread the faithful! Who wants to be smothered by praise for the job you did when you are trying to bring your sputtering life in for a smooth landing?
Bottom line - leave the guy COMPLETELY alone. Just leave him alone.
balls said 5:31PM on 1-15-2009
You can point to three very distinct points:
Making the ipod PC compatible.
Moving the Mac to Intel architecture (conceding defeat).
Releasing the iPhone
Personally I think Steve Jobs is a genius. I'm not an Apple employee, so I don't know how much of the companies marketing and focus actually comes from him, but if he really did push these innovations, he really is a very business savvy individual.
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nilus said 5:43PM on 1-15-2009
i think all the media and stock holders are nuts. only panic .... let him recover and he will come back better then ever before. and if he one day is gone somebody else will come and make also a good job. mac is not a one people company and they have a lot of smart people. those times are different then the one like when he left the last time. good luck steve.
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Josh Horton said 5:42PM on 1-15-2009
GET WELL SOON:
http://www.stevejobslives.com/
*ALL PROFITS FROM THIS SHIRT ARE DONATED DIRECTLY TO
ST. JUDE CHILDREN’S RESEARCH HOSPITAL.
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ksmith said 5:55PM on 1-15-2009
This is asinine. I truly hope Steve's on the mend, but seeing these get well post clogging up the internet it absurd. It's starting to feel like a cult around here.
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David said 9:22PM on 1-15-2009
I agree. This odd attention to this very private matter is in very poor taste. Can we just leave the Jobs family alone?
Michael said 6:17PM on 1-15-2009
Not sure what, on a site focused towards the products made by the company Steve Jobs founded and heads, is "asinine" about "get well posts" when he's in (by some accounts, very) poor health. It's not like he has a cold or tennis elbow.
That said, one thing that's not widely mentioned is that Jobs' pancreatic cancer differs from the usually terminal variety suffered by, for example, Patrick Swayze.
In Jobs' case it is most definitely survivable if the tumor removal is successful. Even then there can be complications and side issues (such as Jobs' hormonal imbalance that the uninformed seem to laugh off as a "cover" - the pancreas is the source of several hormones), but we can be reasonably optimistic here.
Get well, Steve.
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Minerva said 6:26PM on 1-15-2009
Steve Jobs is a great man and a genius. He is not the only one. Steve Wozniak is another genius whom are seriously undervalued. He should come back to apple in this time of turmoil. To those who doubt his talents, I remind you Steve Jobs is not highly qualified, either.
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James said 6:52PM on 1-15-2009
The secrecy surrounding Jobs' health problems is the latest sign that he fails to grasp that his company belongs to its shareholders.
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Niki said 7:16PM on 1-15-2009
I'm sad to hear about Steves health problems. He is an amazing CEO and speaker. We should all Pray for Steve. http://prayforsteve.com
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mentalsticks said 8:32AM on 1-16-2009
that's just pathetic.
JoeUK said 7:32PM on 1-15-2009
Just wanted to say get well soon Steve.
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tc said 8:06PM on 1-15-2009
You know, I hope that guy gets better and all, but what I really hoped is that he is accumulating "points" for his use of sick time. Maybe then he might have some empathy for the 1000s of Apple Retail Employees who get screwed by Apple on a daily basis.
You see, even if you have available sick time - sick days that you have earned. If you have the audacity to actually use any of that sick time - you get "points". More than 6 minutes late? - points. Late coming back from lunch? - Ka-ching. Once you get enough points you get a warning. Once you get enough warnings you get terminated. (P.S. If are lucky enough to be retail full-time and actually have benefits - they end at midnight on the night you get canned.) Stock-plan contributer? Not any more. You get your contribution back sans any stock and they don't even take out taxes for you - one last present for all your hard work come tax-time.
Stay late. Work during lunch. Come in early. Cover shifts. Doesn't matter.
Sick = Points. >6 min late = Points. Doctor's note? Doesn't matter? Flat tire - you should have left earlier. No "employee parking" available at your mall during holidays? You should run sucka.
You see, this is how Apple keeps costs down. Since, the longer you are there, the more money you make (pennies). So they use this policy to eventual get their most experienced long-standing employees into a FIREABLE position. And believe you me, the ranks have been purged more than once. Managers are subject to this policy but exempt each other all the time.
Since Apple Retail opened its doors: The economy has tanked. Gas and inflation is up. Raises have not come close to even COLA adjustments. All bonuses except for managers have been eliminated. Starting pay for Mac Genii has been cut by ~40%. Apple Retail has grown to account for more and more of Apple's total revenue. The workload for Mac Genii has increased exponentially. Apple is making multi-billion dollar profits. And retail employees have gotten screwed every step of the way. Sell a million dollars in Macs in a Quarter? Awesome, you get an Apple Pen! (But no you don't get healthcare or any bonuses!)
A reckoning is coming. Dylan's Idiot Wind could've been penned for these greedy exploitative a-holes.
I hope dude gets better, but more than anything else I hope he tours Apple Retail nationally during his vacation so he can see how the Apple Miracle is being driven and created by these devoted disrespected exploited retail slaves. Who are ultimately tossed out like trash.
Is guilt making him sick? Will he get enough points for a warning? Will you people ever realize what a joke and charade Apple Retail is? Have you noticed how watered down the talent at your local Apple Store has become?
The odds are that some technophobe GAP-refugee is managing a group of the most miserable people you have ever met.
A cold will shall blow. Maybe it made him sick. Maybe it was the guilt.
Karma is a bitch. And it has its own "points".
-The Avenger.
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chrism70@mac.com said 8:29PM on 1-15-2009
TC,
I think your post is COMPLETELY misguided.
Yes, working in retail really sucks.
But to make it sound like the Apple Store is the only retail outlet that works with those kind of rules is just plain wrong. If anything, Apple gives its employees BETTER pay and better benefits than other stores.
You don't like Apple's terms? Try working at McDonald's or Wal-Mart!
Better yet, try moving to Indonesia and getting a job making Nike shoes!
The way corporations treat hourly workers in this country is terrible - that's a fact. But, to act like Steve Jobs is some evil lord that LOVES punishing people for fun is just stupid. He's worked hard and listened to people and created products that are superior. He's worked to make Apple a more environmentally-friendly company, and changed the world with the products he's made.
Unfortunately, to be competitive with other companies, he has to play by the rules of business, and those rules are ugly and unfair. If that upsets you, then you should stop whining that Jobs is mean, and complain to your congressperson. The politicians are the ones who have allowed the U.S. to be the only industrialized nation without universal healthcare. Politicians are the ones that allow the minimum wage to continue to be almost unlivable. And they are the ones who allow corporations to ship jobs and factories overseas. The filthy rich are just the ones profiting from the system.
Don't blame Jobs. He's not the one to blame.
DBReed said 8:58AM on 1-16-2009
All I can say is welcome to retail. It's like that everywhere you go.
adam said 10:51PM on 1-15-2009
Pray for Steve - http://www.prayforsteve.com
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mike said 12:44AM on 1-16-2009
"Robert Palmer
In America, we hold our corporations in the highest regard. It could be said that industry is at once our greatest triumph -- and our greatest failure. The leaders of those corporations are peerless, held to the highest standards reserved for heads of state and clergy."
Ironic since the US is heading into a depression of its own making and only really Apple, Microsoft, Hollywood and the Mining Industry are doing much interesting. Japan and Korea make all our cars, TV sets, Chinese make pretty much everything else, and from Europe we get, Virgin Galactic?
American companies are peerless hm?
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Steve said 1:02AM on 1-16-2009
Two things:
1. This post is really stupid, a little childish, and maybe even naive enough to think that any of this will reach Steve himself at some point.
2. Stop talking about Steve's health!! That goes for bloggers, shareholders, media, everyone. The man is entitled to his privacy. Those who say he owes it to the shareholders are just rationalizing the fact that they care more about whether their stock goes up or down $1 than they do about a man's life. You all seriously need to rethink your priorities.
If you don't like the fact that Steve wants to keep his life private, you can sell all your stock and go buy some other company's stock. Hey, maybe you can find a company whose CEO wears a heart monitor hooked up to an RSS feed so you can watch it all day long. Maybe they'll stream a video of his colonoscopy for you. Maybe you can vote on Digg whether his cholesterol is too high or not.
Do you all realize that all this media attention is making things extremely worse for Steve? Not only is he in dire need of rest right now, but all this crap being written about him is probably just stressing him out even more.
Everyone just give the man some peace and let it rest already.
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