Recently, I have done a great deal of contemplation on the possible ramifications for our subculture when Steve steps down for good. I would be surprised if he left Apple any time soon, but it is an inevitability that he will one day retire, and leave us Jobsless.
Let’s just ignore the business side of the predicament for now. What will it do to us? What will it mean for everything our culture has built? In my heart of hearts, I don’t think it will be as bad as we imagine it to be. Steve is an amazing person who has given us more than we could ever dream, but when he leaves Apple, he won’t be leaving a group of idiot know-nothings. He will be leaving an Apple filled to the brim with smart, creative people that believe in executing on ideas in a Jobsian manner.
One day we will no longer have Steve to steer the ship, but we’ll have a crew of brilliant navigators. Provided that we trust Steve to make good decisions on who to hire, we’ll be in good hands. This won’t be like the last time we lost Steve from Apple. This will be on his terms. We will have Steve’s version of Apple for a long, long time. Anyone who is betting against that better be investing with someone else’s money.
Photo Credit: Matt Yohe