The thirty seconds that marked the history of Apple and Steve Jobs

In 1997, Apple was on the brink, suffering from underrated technology and declining market share. At the time, Steve Jobs, the company's co-founder, was away, devoted to his projects at Pixar and NeXT. This distance changed dramatically with one phone call, This is the moment that not only determined the fate of Apple, but also the fate of Steve Jobs.

Steve Jobs faced a crucial decision during that call with Edgar Woolard, Apple's then-Chairman. Woolard sought performance advice from Apple's CEO at the time, Gil Amelio.

He was internally torn between being brutally honest About Gil Amelio, whom he considered incompetent, or keeping silent to maintain harmony. What should I do?

I thought: Either I should tell him the truth, and that Jill is a fool, or I should lie by omission.

He's on Apple's board of directors, and it's my job to tell him what I think. On the other hand, if I told him, he would tell Jill, in which case Jill would never listen to me again and would ruin the people I brought to Apple.

All of this happened in my head in less than 30 seconds.

I finally decided that I owed this man the truth. I cared deeply about Apple. So I let him have it. I said this guy is the worst CEO I've ever seen. I think if you needed a license to be a CEO, he wouldn't have it.

As I hung up the phone, I thought: “Maybe I did something really stupid.”

Choice, at that Thirty secondsHe had to be relentlessly honest. He described Amelio as the “worst CEO” he had ever seen, even questioning his ability to obtain a virtual CEO license.

This frankness proved to be a turning point Whether for him or for Apple. Woolard, already convinced of Apple's inevitable decline under Amelio's leadership, found the confirmation he needed in words.

Those 30 seconds marked Steve Jobs' return to Apple

This conversation was more than just an evaluation; It set off a chain of events that led to Steve Jobs' eventual return to Apple. As if in a domino effect, Steve Jobs' criticism of Amelio resonated with the board, culminating in the latter's departure.

The impact of those 30 seconds is immeasurable.. Under Jobs' revitalized leadership, Apple not only avoided collapse, but soared to new heights, creating products like the iPhone that revolutionized the industry.

This story was told in a company.emphasizes the importance Honesty in critical moments And how a seemingly small decision can change the course of a company's history.

Jobs returns to Apple This was not just a change in leadership, but rather the beginning of an era of unprecedented innovation and success. Although his decision to speak out was risky, it proved to be the necessary catalyst for Apple's transformation.

This episode highlights the importance of honesty and courage in decision making, especially when the future of the company is at stake. This is a powerful reminder for today's leaders: Sometimes the shortest moments can have long-lasting effects.