Steve Jobs’ Departure from Apple in 1985 and His Return in 1997

Exploring Corporate Growth: The Influence of Leadership and Vision

In the realm of corporate growth, the narrative often intertwines with the charisma of its leaders, marking the distinction between mere innovation and a transformative vision. A thorough examination of Steve Jobs’ life and his pivotal contributions to Apple Inc.illustrates the profound impact a visionary CEO can have in pushing a company to the pinnacle of the technology sector.

This phenomenon becomes particularly evident when juxtaposing Jobs with his successor, Tim Cook. While Jobs was known for his dynamic and larger-than-life persona, Cook’s leadership style is frequently characterized as more understated and pragmatic. Surprising as it may be, under Cook’s stewardship, Apple currently boasts a valuation exceeding a staggering tenth of the United States’ GDP. Despite this, some metrics raise concerns about the company’s growth trajectory, leading to a perception of stagnation in the absence of Jobs’ charismatic leadership.

September 16: A Landmark in Apple’s History

Apple’s origins are well-documented, tracing back to its establishment in a garage by Jobs and his co-founder, Steve Wozniak, in 1976. By 1985, however, Jobs found himself in a precarious situation at Apple, largely influenced by one of his own hires, former PepsiCo CEO John Sculley. The tension between Sculley and Jobs peaked as both executives clashed over the relative failures of the Lisa and Macintosh products. Ultimately, Sculley succeeded in ousting Jobs from control of the Macintosh division, marking a pivotal moment in Apple history.

Fueled by a mix of indignation and frustration, Jobs confronted Apple’s board with a passionate address, the outcome of which remains contentious. Jobs contends he was dismissed, whereas Sculley claims Jobs voluntarily left. Following this tumultuous chapter, Jobs launched NeXT, a high-end computing business. However, by 1996, the venture struggled to find a buyer, ultimately leading to Apple’s acquisition of NeXT and Jobs’ return to the tech giant on September 16, a date etched in corporate lore.

Fortune favored Jobs again as he replaced Gil Amelio, whose previous decisions had led to a significant decline in Apple’s stock price. This transition allowed Jobs to execute his vision, culminating in groundbreaking innovations such as the iPhone in 2007, which revolutionized the mobile industry.

Understanding Tim Cook’s Leadership Style

When Tim Cook stepped in as CEO in 2011, following Jobs’ resignation due to health issues, he inherited a company poised for remarkable success. Since then, Apple’s stock performance has increased significantly, boasting a staggering growth of over 1, 500 percent since September 2011. However, the narrative surrounding Apple’s growth under Cook is mixed, especially considering the company’s performance metrics.

Yep. Did you know iPhone unit sales peaked 10 years ago? Clearly, Apple’s flagship product is in terminal decline. Yet it’s managed to keep revenue growth alive solely by raising iPhone prices.pic.twitter.com/0lP3kv2erM

— Stephen McBride (@DisruptionHedge) September 16, 2025

Conversely, Apple’s iPhone shipments have experienced stagnation, fluctuating between 200 million and nearly 250 million units since 2015. Although the services sector has matured, the flagship product has failed to show significant volume growth, raising questions about the company’s innovation capacities moving forward.

AAPL’s Tim Cook – Worth the Cost? $AAPL has outperformed the market under Cook, but he is expensive, costing the company $530K in compensation per every 1% of Avg. Annual Total Stock Return. AAPL is not well positioned for the future under Cook’s leadership if the company’s… pic.twitter.com/blsWIutctv

— Jon Maietta (@JonathanMaietta) September 16, 2025

Additionally, Tim Cook’s financial compensation raises concerns regarding its alignment with Apple’s financial performance—costing the company approximately $529, 000 for every 1% increase in total stock return. This figure starkly contrasts with NVIDIA CEO Jensen Huang’s compensation of just $30, 000 for the same metric, according to CEORater.

In 10 years, people will look back and wonder how $AAPL squandered trillions in buybacks and became irrelevant. What a waste. Can you imagine what Steve Jobs would have done with a trillion dollars? No chance he would have cancelled Apple Car. No chance $AAPL would be a zero in… pic.twitter.com/uWynMY3brE

— Ray Myers (@TheRayMyers) September 15, 2025

Furthermore, Apple plans to execute a substantial $100 billion stock buyback in 2025 alone. While this move demonstrates the company’s financial strength, it raises eyebrows during a time when its investments in artificial intelligence technology appear to lack a clear direction. This brings up the question: Would Steve Jobs have endorsed such lavish returns for shareholders amidst critical advancements in AI?

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