Where Are the Tim Cook Haters Now?

Let me start with a disclaimer: I own quite a number of shares of Apple Stock and have been trading it since 2008. The smile (smirk) on my face comes from the increasingly rapid approach of my family’s financial security.

Having said that, I’d like to take a moment to chide all the bandwagon business and tech journalists who called for Tim Cook’s head in 2013. I won’t call them out by name, but they know who they are. One of the beautiful things about the Internet is there’s no take backs! To see a list of articles from myriad journalists who got it completely wrong just Google “Fire Tim Cook”.

Go ahead.

I’ll wait.

.

.

.

See? Every publication from the New York Times to Forbes to Business Insider published at least one piece about how Tim Cook was wrong for Apple and how Steve Jobs was probably rolling over in his grave or some such nonsense. It’s fun to go back and read just how wrong people can be. I like it when these sooth-sayers’ crystal balls are proven to be nothing more than cheap plastic 8-balls.

The reality is Tim Cook has doubled the company’e market cap and stock price since he took the reigns in 2011. If you want to attribute any of this good fortune to Steve Jobs, then your only valid point is his final act as CEO of Apple: appointing Tim Cook as his successor. That act has served to reinforce Jobs’ legacy as a true visionary.  Since August 24, 2011 Mr. Cook has increased the company’s stock price by 133% and over doubled Apple’s market cap to somewhere over $700 billion. That makes Apple the highest valued company in the history of companies. Ever.

Those of us fortunate (smart) enough to have been along for this meteoric ride are truly thankful for whatever magic Tim Cook uses to guide our (all shareholders own part of Apple) company. I have to admit to being more than a little apprehensive when Steve Jobs resigned. Tim Cook had been Apple’s interim leader since Jobs’ health began its final downward spiral, but in the first months no one knew for sure how much of Apple’s good fortunes were attributable to Tim and how much were due to Jobs’ directives still in Apple’s product pipeline. Today, those questions have been answered beyond any shadow of doubt. Tim is “the man”. Anyone believing Jobs’ directives extend 3 ½ years beyond the grave is delusional. Maybe his philosophy and the people he influenced who still work at Apple, but that’s all. I’m not saying that is trivial. On the contrary, Tim Cook repeatedly asserts that focusing on delivering great products to its customers assures Apple’s financial well-being. Nothing speaks more to Steve Jobs’ philosophy than that.

So to Mr. Cook I say, “You go girl!” We shareholders will sit quietly and watch you make monkeys out of your naysayers and propel Apple to new heights. Not new to just Apple, but every other company in the world!