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08-24-2011 , 07:21 PM

HyperionMark

adept

Join Date: Jul 2005 Posts: 1,017

How do you see it impacting Apple? What about AT&T? Verizon? Sprint?

Is the company too big at this point to be affected much by one man stepping down or is a visionary leader extremely important to a company even the size of Apple?

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08-24-2011 , 07:29 PM

BoredSocial

Pooh-Bah

Join Date: Mar 2009 Posts: 5,018

I just bought apple stock for the first time ever. Jobs was a great leader-and I'm confident the culture he created will keep churning out things that change the world.

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08-24-2011 , 07:30 PM

bills217

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Quote:

Originally Posted by HyperionMark

Apple is different than a company like Exxon or Coca-Cola in that it has to constantly be innovating to win each product cycle, and the cycles are shorter now than they've ever been. In my opinion, visionary leadership is disproportionately important to a company like AAPL. Of course it's impossible to quantify the effect that Steve Jobs has had individually on the company, but suffice it to say him leaving is materially negative, probably moreso than any one person leaving any other large-cap company, that I can think of, and I even include Buffett in that.

Last edited by bills217; 08-24-2011 at 07:36 PM.

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08-24-2011 , 07:34 PM

bills217

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This is totally off-topic, but there was a hilarious anecdote about Jobs in the new ESPN book.

George Bodenheimer bumps into Jobs at a Disney board meeting right after they bought Pixar. ESPN had just released the ESPN phone, so Bodenheimer thought it would be appropriate to introduce himself. He says to Jobs, "Hi, I'm George Bodenheimer, president of ESPN," and extends his hand. Jobs doesn't shake his hand, says, "Your phone is the dumbest ****ing idea I have ever heard," and walks away.

Needless to say, the ESPN phone was a huge flop.

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08-24-2011 , 07:36 PM

JasonInDallas

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Didn't Apple go straight in the dump last time he left after doing well for years? Then he came back and *poof* they come up with the ipod then itunes then the iphone?

I have no idea really, but I like to believe Jobs stood over the product designers with a cattle prod and insisted on near perfection all around. And I'm a guy who loves to hate Apple.

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08-24-2011 , 07:38 PM

JasonInDallas

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Obv time to buy GOOG

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08-24-2011 , 07:43 PM

Scottyy

veteran

Join Date: Mar 2006 Posts: 3,466

Quote:

Originally Posted by bills217

Another example is Dell, Michael left and the company went downhill fast

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08-24-2011 , 08:16 PM

cres

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Jobs was the driver, the maniac who inspired/forced his subordinates to be "insanely great". Without another of that same............ ego-maniacal attitude, they're just another electronics company.

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08-24-2011 , 08:20 PM

CharlieDontSurf

Blessed by Pope

Join Date: Apr 2006 Posts: 14,811

has anything changed between yesterday and tomorrow other than Jobs has a different title?

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08-24-2011 , 08:28 PM

#10

bills217

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Quote:

Originally Posted by CharlieDontSurf

has anything changed between yesterday and tomorrow other than Jobs has a different title?

If nothing was changing, why would they change his title?

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08-24-2011 , 08:32 PM

#11

CharlieDontSurf

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Join Date: Apr 2006 Posts: 14,811

Quote:

Originally Posted by bills217

If nothing was changing, why would they change his title?

hasn't the board been asking for it to happen for last like 6-8 months

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08-24-2011 , 08:47 PM

#12

pig4bill

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Quote:

Originally Posted by bills217

They could always change their business model, which is to invent something they can't patent and then ridiculously overcharge for it so that competition floods in.

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08-24-2011 , 09:00 PM

#13

We Major

journeyman

Join Date: Jan 2007 Posts: 389

The thing about Jobs is he had a strong strategic long term vision and he drove people to execute and innovate.

He's still on the board, so he can still drive that long-term vision, at least for the next few years. The culture that he instilled still theoretically exists.

I don't think it changes very much.

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08-24-2011 , 09:01 PM

#14

SlowHabit

See my coaching listing

Join Date: Apr 2006 Posts: 4,394

It's like Gates leaving MSFT.

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08-24-2011 , 09:54 PM

#15

rleidle

grinder

Join Date: Nov 2005 Posts: 544

Much worse than Gates leaving MSFT imo. He was already halfway out the door and much of the responsibility was handled by Ballmer. Plus Microsoft wasn't/isn't known for great design or innovation.

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08-24-2011 , 10:23 PM

#16

hobokes

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Simple Question: Would you buy AAPL at the open tomorrow for $355 with the intention of holding for 3+ Years?

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08-24-2011 , 10:29 PM

#17

tastychicken

old hand

Join Date: Sep 2008 Posts: 1,775

Quote:

Originally Posted by HyperionMark

Visionary leaders could arguably be even more important at large companies.

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08-24-2011 , 10:41 PM

#18

bills217

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Quote:

Originally Posted by hobokes

Simple Question: Would you buy AAPL at the open tomorrow for $355 with the intention of holding for 3+ Years?

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08-25-2011 , 01:32 AM

#19

BoredSocial

Pooh-Bah

Join Date: Mar 2009 Posts: 5,018

Quote:

Originally Posted by hobokes

Simple Question: Would you buy AAPL at the open tomorrow for $355 with the intention of holding for 3+ Years?

Yes. And I've done it. You people are nuts. Jobs has had serious health issues since 2004. Also modern apple is NOT the company he left before. Modern Apple is Steve Jobs vision institutionalized.

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08-25-2011 , 01:43 AM

#20

We Major

journeyman

Join Date: Jan 2007 Posts: 389

Quote:

Originally Posted by BoredSocial

Yes. And I've done it. You people are nuts. Jobs has had serious health issues since 2004. Also modern apple is NOT the company he left before. Modern Apple is Steve Jobs vision institutionalized.

This.

The market has had Steve Jobs eventually leaving as CEO factored into Apple's price for the last few years anyways.

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08-25-2011 , 04:24 AM

#21

Ankimo

old hand

Join Date: Dec 2010 Posts: 1,996

Quote:

Originally Posted by We Major

This.

The market has had Steve Jobs eventually leaving as CEO factored into Apple's price for the last few years anyways.

Proof?

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08-25-2011 , 05:54 AM

#22

Brons

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Quote:

Originally Posted by rleidle

Much worse than Gates leaving MSFT imo. He was already halfway out the door and much of the responsibility was handled by Ballmer. Plus Microsoft wasn't/isn't known for great design or innovation.

Jobs has been taking long periods (months) off on a regular basis for years now.

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08-25-2011 , 07:50 AM

#23

Hielko

old hand

Join Date: Nov 2005 Posts: 1,798

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ankimo

Proof?

AAPL being down just a few percent right now.

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08-25-2011 , 09:30 AM

#24

DeadCellKid

grinder

Join Date: Dec 2007 Posts: 691

I wonder if it will be a small reaction, perhaps 5-7% drop for a small amount of time ( quantified, for arguments sake, as 3mo's), and then when the iPhone 5 drops, followed by a new iMac, followed by a new TV (Who knows, etc etc)... that the shares will again ascend higher than imagined possible...