Key Man – Creating the "New & Different

Key Man – Creating the “New & Different” Yesterday’s banner headlines of the New York Times, Wall Street Journal, Financial Times, and most other major news and business outlets, reported that Steve Jobs is taking a medical leave of absence. The news shocked the investment community, and Apple shares fell 8%, validating what everyone already knows: Jobs is the strategic architect and driving force behind an extraordinary company. The news caused me to reflect on CEO leadership. There are a handful of Fortune 100 CEO’s that drive innovation, change, and create the “new and different.” If you think about it, every business can stand bold new ideas and approaches, but more typically it’s business as usual, don’t “shake-up the system.” In our great industry there is rarely profound change, or reward, for thinking out of the box. My comments are not about technology and the iPad (which, by the way, I love), but more about an orientation to test new ideas, shake-up the system, or most importantly as Jobs is well known for, driving change and execution. I hope he is okay, I’m waiting for Apple’s next act.