Seems like an overly long defensive article that’s completely unnecessary by its own central argument, so what’s the point? It’s like: “look away, nothing to see here”.
From my perspective and observations. people don’t like Tim Cook, not because his business acumen is bad or anything (it’s not) but if anything because it’s probably too good. He’s a dull, soulless logistics guy doing exactly what the shareholders want: maximising profit. Fair enough having someone like that in the company…but the leader?
There’s just something really off-putting (and sleep-inducing) about the way he speaks too. I haven’t been able to bring myself to watch a keynote in years because of it. Not the sort of qualities you want in a CEO I would’ve thought, but criticism of Apple definitely goes deeper than such superficial trivialities. Ultimately people find themselves getting squeezed amid a cost-of-living crisis.
Tim Cook is no Steve Jobs, but he doesn’t have to be. He just has to make the right decisions, set the right priorities and make a few course corrections going forward to continue Apple’s dominance in the years to come.
Seems like an overly long defensive article that’s completely unnecessary by its own central argument, so what’s the point? It’s like: “look away, nothing to see here”.
From my perspective and observations. people don’t like Tim Cook, not because his business acumen is bad or anything (it’s not) but if anything because it’s probably too good. He’s a dull, soulless logistics guy doing exactly what the shareholders want: maximising profit. Fair enough having someone like that in the company…but the leader?
There’s just something really off-putting (and sleep-inducing) about the way he speaks too. I haven’t been able to bring myself to watch a keynote in years because of it. Not the sort of qualities you want in a CEO I would’ve thought, but criticism of Apple definitely goes deeper than such superficial trivialities. Ultimately people find themselves getting squeezed amid a cost-of-living crisis.
Honestly, I had William help with this piece because I am so freaking tired of dealing with the baffling logical fallacy that is "Steve Jobs would never" here in the forums and elsewhere.
Now, instead of a manifesto, I can just paste a link.
I totally understand the sentiment and rationale behind the authors creating this article. For those who understand the bigger picture and the strategic and tactical decisions needed to sustain an organization of this size, scope, and global influence for such an extended period of growth and bottom line results the title may seem to state the obvious. It's like "Who is even thinking either of those is in the realm of possibility?" If anything, my thoughts at this time are more along the lines of how long he'll be at the helm and how the heck are they going to ever find someone to take his place. Thankfully, I think Tim Cook is the real deal and will cap his long tenure of success at Apple by taking a big part in finding a successor when the time is right for Apple and for Tim Cook.
I understand that some people are put off by Tim Cook's willingness to work with the current administration regardless of whether those in power share any of the same values that Tim Cook holds as an individual. Again, Tim Cook is playing the long game and isn't going to deviate from his commitment to Apple's huge number of stakeholders. He's not going to put his own self interests before the interests of those he serves. If you want to draw a massive contrast between Tim Cook as CEO of the world's most valuable company and the current president of the United States, you need only to look at who each man serves. Tim Cook serves all of those who entrusted him with his leadership and stewardship of a global leader in technology and life changing and enriching consumer products. The other guy serves only his own interests above all else, regardless of the massive damage that ensues.
So yeah, if there's one man we want to have in our corner at this time and for the foreseeable future, it's a guy who can put his own self interests aside and fight for us. That man is Tim Cook. We need him now more than ever to counter the forces that are lined up to destroy progress, discovery, innovation, and any sense of meaningful global connectedness.
Firing Scott still bothers me. But CEOs do what they want to. He's done a good job for Apple. Would others have been better, we'll never know. Unless a good Apple TV sci fi series comes out about it. 🤣
I worked for Apple for 11 years, and was forced out at the age of 59 because I was too old. Tim is 64 years old. It's going to be a challenge for Apple to retain its image as a "cool" company with a 70 year old CEO.
I don’t know a lot of people who are calling for Cook’s ouster. Then again, I’m not emotionally invested in it. I will say that Apple Intelligence is a massive failure so far. Siri has not kept up and it’s still frustrating to use to this day. But there’s no taking away the success Apple has had across the board. Tim obviously doesn’t have Steve Jobs’ charisma or salesmanship/reality distortion field. But he’s unquestionably a better CEO for most of the skills that are required for that job at this time. Steve Jobs was perfect to come back to the company in 1997 and rescue it from near bankruptcy. Over the next 14 years, he built it into a juggernaut. And now Tim Cook has made Apple essentially the most successful company in the history of the world. Obviously, he’s not going anywhere.
All we need recall is that Steve had Tim on board when he lifted Apple to the heights of respect Apple attained with the iPod and iPhone and Mac, but Tim didn’t have Steve on board, other than spiritually, when he continued to lift Apple to the heights of global respect in the face of perhaps more criticism and doomsaying than any modern enterprise has ever faced. Tim is the soul of Apple, and that’s a very good thing,
I can't agree more with this article. The world changes incredibly fast and Steve Jobs left us 14 years ago. For any one to assume they know what he would have done over these past 14 years different from Tim Cook is preposterous. Jobs was not perfect. When the iPad was introduced he was absolutely against the idea of a stylus. But imagine the iPad without an Apple Pencil. How much art would never have been created. The Pencil isn't a necessity to work the device and that's what makes it so good, but the availability of one makes truly amazing.
I had the awesome opportunity to work for Apple retail for 4½ years. It was a post retirement job that I thought I'd have some fun with for a year or two. But I quickly loved it and ended up staying not quite five years. The most amazing experience was not working a store as a Specialist and then Expert, but the eleven months during the pandemic that I worked at home on the phone for RCC with customers doing web order support. In short, if you had an order problem, I was one of the people who had to try to fix it. From lost and stolen items, to fraudulent credit card purchases, to finding sales receipt from five years prior...that's the sort of stuff that filled my day. I had access to computer databases that would blow your mind. (Best story- woman screaming at me about no charging block with her new iPhone 12. She claimed it was her first iPhone. Using her email, I did some quick research on an internal site- she lied. It was her third iPhone. Sorry lady, no free charging block for you...or anyone.)
What I realized was just how incredibly big the company is. For most of us, the Apple Store is the physical presence. But that is just the tip of the iceberg, and Tim Cook has to keep an eye on all of it- albeit with the help of some very smart people. (Who, by the way, if you work in a store, especially in the big cities, you'll probably get to meet one day. Yes, I met Tim, Deidre (twice), and few other top executives.
Everyone expects Apple to be perfect, but it is not. It can't be. No company can be. I had customers who literally would say, "But your Apple, how can this happen?" Well, we're humans and sometimes we make mistakes.
Steve Jobs made mistakes. Tim Cook has made mistakes. Steve Jobs did incredible things for Apple and so has Tim, and I'm sure he will continue to do so for some years to come....and so will his successor no matter who he or she is.
dewme said: If you want to draw a massive contrast between Tim Cook as CEO of the world's most valuable company and ...
Cook did indeed take control when Apple was #1. Now Apple is #3. Other companies have outperformed Apple on his watch and some have moved past Apple.
Cook worked with Trump 1 but didn't take note of the changed political landscape. Instead he stopped using American chips and offshored the final core component. A move that didn't boost Mac sales (products are nice though) but exposed Apple in full to Trump 2. Cook had 8 years to prepare for tariffs but walked in the wrong direction. Same on AI where Apple did Neural Engine and then used it only for photo adjustments.
I do however agree that we can't blame Cook for working with an elected president and he was fantastic as a COO. He made Apple scale.
Comments
Seems like an overly long defensive article that’s completely unnecessary by its own central argument, so what’s the point? It’s like: “look away, nothing to see here”.
From my perspective and observations. people don’t like Tim Cook, not because his business acumen is bad or anything (it’s not) but if anything because it’s probably too good. He’s a dull, soulless logistics guy doing exactly what the shareholders want: maximising profit. Fair enough having someone like that in the company…but the leader?
There’s just something really off-putting (and sleep-inducing) about the way he speaks too. I haven’t been able to bring myself to watch a keynote in years because of it. Not the sort of qualities you want in a CEO I would’ve thought, but criticism of Apple definitely goes deeper than such superficial trivialities. Ultimately people find themselves getting squeezed amid a cost-of-living crisis.
I understand that some people are put off by Tim Cook's willingness to work with the current administration regardless of whether those in power share any of the same values that Tim Cook holds as an individual. Again, Tim Cook is playing the long game and isn't going to deviate from his commitment to Apple's huge number of stakeholders. He's not going to put his own self interests before the interests of those he serves. If you want to draw a massive contrast between Tim Cook as CEO of the world's most valuable company and the current president of the United States, you need only to look at who each man serves. Tim Cook serves all of those who entrusted him with his leadership and stewardship of a global leader in technology and life changing and enriching consumer products. The other guy serves only his own interests above all else, regardless of the massive damage that ensues.
So yeah, if there's one man we want to have in our corner at this time and for the foreseeable future, it's a guy who can put his own self interests aside and fight for us. That man is Tim Cook. We need him now more than ever to counter the forces that are lined up to destroy progress, discovery, innovation, and any sense of meaningful global connectedness.
I had the awesome opportunity to work for Apple retail for 4½ years. It was a post retirement job that I thought I'd have some fun with for a year or two. But I quickly loved it and ended up staying not quite five years. The most amazing experience was not working a store as a Specialist and then Expert, but the eleven months during the pandemic that I worked at home on the phone for RCC with customers doing web order support. In short, if you had an order problem, I was one of the people who had to try to fix it. From lost and stolen items, to fraudulent credit card purchases, to finding sales receipt from five years prior...that's the sort of stuff that filled my day. I had access to computer databases that would blow your mind. (Best story- woman screaming at me about no charging block with her new iPhone 12. She claimed it was her first iPhone. Using her email, I did some quick research on an internal site- she lied. It was her third iPhone. Sorry lady, no free charging block for you...or anyone.)
What I realized was just how incredibly big the company is. For most of us, the Apple Store is the physical presence. But that is just the tip of the iceberg, and Tim Cook has to keep an eye on all of it- albeit with the help of some very smart people. (Who, by the way, if you work in a store, especially in the big cities, you'll probably get to meet one day. Yes, I met Tim, Deidre (twice), and few other top executives.
Everyone expects Apple to be perfect, but it is not. It can't be. No company can be. I had customers who literally would say, "But your Apple, how can this happen?" Well, we're humans and sometimes we make mistakes.
Steve Jobs made mistakes. Tim Cook has made mistakes. Steve Jobs did incredible things for Apple and so has Tim, and I'm sure he will continue to do so for some years to come....and so will his successor no matter who he or she is.
Cook did indeed take control when Apple was #1. Now Apple is #3. Other companies have outperformed Apple on his watch and some have moved past Apple.
Cook worked with Trump 1 but didn't take note of the changed political landscape. Instead he stopped using American chips and offshored the final core component. A move that didn't boost Mac sales (products are nice though) but exposed Apple in full to Trump 2. Cook had 8 years to prepare for tariffs but walked in the wrong direction. Same on AI where Apple did Neural Engine and then used it only for photo adjustments.
I do however agree that we can't blame Cook for working with an elected president and he was fantastic as a COO. He made Apple scale.