Thoughts
It’s wild to realize Jobs died just 4 years after announcing the iPhone.
The iPhone is the most successful consumer product of all time. It’s more of a legacy than most people could ever dream of. The legacy of the iPhone lives on over a decade after his death. And it’s sad Jobs didn’t get to see everything that Apple is now. But it’s also touching and inspiring how in just a few years he was able to show us all the iPhone so vividly that even without him it continues to evolve. Leading the iPhone to 15+ years of success would be impressive, but leading the iPhone with so much passion for 4 years that it continues to grow a decade after that is unheard of.
After Jobs died people seriously questioned Apple’s prospects without a visionary at the helm, but I think we failed to anticipate that Job’s vision was so pronounced that it continues to extend to Apple’s enterprises today.
I have nothing but respect for Tim Cook. His ability to execute on Job’s vision is not to be downplayed here.