] "Apple does rely on a cult of personality and the stock
] trades on some of that," said Bare.

[ In the wake of Jobs' cancer surgery and the inevitable fear response, there are a few articles which bring up this issue of how heavily Apple relies on Steve for it's past and future success. I have to say, I think he's literally the soul of that company. A perfectionist soul, prone to rage and ego at times, but nonetheless the most critical component. Unless the true visionaries are buried somewhere beneath his presence and shwomanship, I think Apple would be sunk without him. He ties it together somehow.
Thus the more relevant question in the long term is, what can be done to buttress the company against his eventual retirement (for whatever reason)? Seems like i'd be looking to institutionalize visionary thinking in other areas of the management. I don't know if that's being done, or if anything is being done. What's the answer? -k]

What's next for Apple? - Aug. 2, 2004