Why Apple’s Supply Chain Problem is Such a Big Deal

If you clicked this link, your thought was likely, “Bryant’s a fanboy, let’s see what kind of spin he puts on this horrific topic.” Or, you might be someone who has tweeted to me, emailed to me, or trolled my Facebook timeline with this NY Times article released the other day.

The gist of the article is this: Apple employs hundred of thousands of poor Chinese workers who spend their entire lives connecting cables inside of iPhones for very little pay. The article goes further than that though, too. The article makes the pronouncement that Apple cares very little about the working conditions of their supply chain and you should feel guilty for owning an iPhone, iPad, or iPod. Here’s a taste:

Employees work excessive overtime, in some cases seven days a week, and live in crowded dorms. Some say they stand so long that their legs swell until they can hardly walk. Under-age workers have helped build Apple’s products, and the company’s suppliers have improperly disposed of hazardous waste and falsified records, according to company reports and advocacy groups that, within China, are often considered reliable, independent monitors.

Tim Cook, the newly appointed CEO, made it clear in an email to employees that he was ‘outraged’ by the accusations that the article made and was deeply offended. It’s not hard to see why…The New York Times and Apple have mostly had a very cordial relationship. The NYT’s website is included in iOS’s default bookmarks and Steve often visited their site first when demoing a new product. The Times was quick to adopt the iPad as a way of releasing their content and the relationship has worked for the betterment of both companies. Everything seemed fine.

Until this.

Even today, the BSR, who is quoted heavily throughout the Times’s piece refuted much of its claims. I suspect that we haven’t seen anywhere near the end of this.

As a point of reference, here’s a short clip of Steve Jobs reacting to the Wall Street Journal’s questions regarding the suicides and suicide attempts by Foxconn employees a while back:

Again, we haven’t heard the end of this. As we shouldn’t.

The poor workers. They’re worked hard, worse than many Americans will ever work, and when Apple wants to lower production costs and raise quality of the products, something’s got to give. The media is beginning to claim that the cost of these two desires is human lives and well being. In fact, the NYT titled their piece, “In China, Human Costs Are Built Into an iPad.”

It’s linkbait, but it starts a good conversation. Why is this so important? Why does Apple take the heat?

Sure, it’s because theyre bigger than everyone else. That’s what got Nike in so much trouble. Sure, it’s because they are a hugely profitable company. They made more in profit than Google brought in total last quarter. Sure, it’s because people love their products. But I think this has become a bigger deal for another reason.

I think it’s because their products speak a bit of hope.

Andy Crouch referred to this phenomenon when he spoke about the gospel that Steve Jobs preached in a piece immediately following Steve’s death. I don’t agree with the correlations that Andy drew throughout the entire piece, but his general thesis is good. Steve had a different, often better, way of envisioning how a human interacts with a product. (Andy’s piece comes off a bit harsh at times, though I know that Andy is an Apple fan because when I saw him speak live once he referred to his MacBook Pro as the true representation of ‘perfection’ on earth.)

Apple’s mindset has always been about Thinking Differently. Using a computer sucked until 1984 when the Macintosh was introduced. MP3 players sucked until 2001 when the iPod and iTunes made it possible to actually enjoy listening to digital music. Cell phones sucked until 2007 when the iPhone finally made a smart phone easy to use. Tablets sucked until 2010 when the iPad reimagined what a tablet was and how humans interact with it.

Steve’s quotes. Apple’s marketing campaigns. The products themselves. All of these presented nearly hyperbolic statements about what it was like to use an Apple computer and how much there was to love about them. Sites like “CultofMac.com” and documentaries like “Mac Heads” and terms like “fanboy” are signs of the effectiveness of this message. (I’ll admit, I often get accused of buying into the Apple gospel more than the Jesus Gospel. I’d argue that that might be because Apple is better at presenting it than our churches are right now, but that’s an argument for another day…)

When you use an iPhone, you fall in love with it. Or, most people do. Apple is no longer an electronic company; they become an ideology, a mindset, and a way of life. Apple has engrained this “Think Different” message into our understandings of who they are as a company. When we love their products, we want to believe that the truly are better than everyone else. In every single aspect.

Yet this Foxconn situation seems to be the same as everyone else. I remember getting in trouble at a young age and my first response was to say that ‘everyone else was doing it!’ To which my parents were quick to point out, “Perhaps, but you’re better than that.” These poor (literally) workers in these factories are indicative of what is wrong with the world we’re in and we’d like to think that Apple can rise above those problems. For God’s sake, they’ve risen above it with all of their products!

I hope Tim and Steve are (were 😦 ) right that they are actively working to take greater measures in treating their workers fairly. They’re certainly working to spread a good word about how much better they are than many other suppliers. I hope that what they say is true, is true, and that it will continue to get better quickly.

Apple has nearly $100 Billion in the bank. If there is one company who can actually Think Different when it comes to this type of labor ethics, it’s Apple. They have the means.

I’d like to see them turn this around. Not just politically. Not just through marketing. I’d like to see them make gigantic strides and stand up for the right and well being of humans.

Because that’s what Apple does. They Think Different.

Please, dear God, don’t let that thought leave with Steve.

–B

Steve Jobs vs. Bill Gates

This was shown to me by a ‘friend’:

I’ll simply respond by the same comment I posted to his page:  

Both were ruthless businessmen who have changed the world in unimaginable ways. One, more or less, ripped off the other’s uses of a technology already at use by a company who didn’t know what to do with it. 
 
This representation, of course, is a person’s rendering of each person’s ‘morality’ and no more than propaganda, but continue on mein führer…

 
 
That is all.  
-B

The Death of the UMC #explo2011

I’ve had over 63 pages of writing due in the last two weeks.  It’s funny that we often describe Divinity School as “Hell on Earth.”  Currently, I’m tired of writing my theology paper.  Thus, I am taking a break to do this.

I attended Exploration 2011 this weekend in St. Louis.  Exploration is a conference for about 600 young, college-aged, United Methodist adults who are exploring (hence the title) a call into some sort of ministry.  It serves several purposes:

• Encourage young people to explore their calls into ministry,
• Explain the ordination process,
• Educate attendees about different methods and modes of ministry,
• Provide reflection time in small groups to discuss,
• Enable UMC young-adults from around to the world to meet each other, converse, worship, and fellowship.

In addition, all of the United Methodist Seminaries (13 in all) were represented by staff and student alike, providing information, sweet giveaways, and advice to potential seminary students.  I’m already a seminary student, but I was not a rep from Duke.  I was an attendee.  But, you know, I wore Duke stuff everyday.

Friday night’s preacher in worship was none other than Adam Hamilton, the pastor of the largest United Methodist church in the world, Church of the Resurrection.  Adam has been promoted through churches like WillowCreek and is easily the best known United Methodist pastor in today’s culture.  He spoke well, clearly, and with passion.  He encouraged young people to truly consider ministry for the good of the Church. If a quick search of the Twitter hashtags “explo2011” says anything, his message reverberated with a large percentage of the attendees that night.

One of Adam’s main focuses: The United Methodist Church’s decline.  It does little good to bore you with insignificant stats that prove this thesis.  Instead, this general point can be made: If the rate of decline in membership in the United Methodist church continues, the UMC will not be in existence in 2050.

Gone. No more.  One of the denominations on which Christian culture was established in the United States will have vanished.

It won’t have been the first time a denomination that has been so influential in our history has declined. Or died.

Adam discussed a crucial point, too.  He admitted that our goal ought not to be to save a denomination, or religious group.  He pointed out, more or less, that our goal should be to make disciples. And, as United Methodists, we believe that the Wesleyan way of discipleship is the best, most effective way to do this.  By reaching into our Wesleyan core (which, from my observations, seems to be – at the most – ambiguously articulated in a majority of UM churches across the globe) we may discover new ways of changing the world through disciples of Jesus. I agree, but I do think that and established church has at least the possibility of bringing this on (This is obviously widely disproved throughout the course of history, but a man has to have a little faith, right?)

I’ll quote Vance Rains here,

Does anyone here, including myself, really know how to save the United Methodist Church?

All I can do, as a new comer to this movement, is observe. I can tell you what I think the church is doing well.  I can definitely tell you what the church is not doing well.

And for me, it seems to be summed up in this: We aren’t skating to where the puck will be.

This phrase is attributed to Wayne Gretsky (though I’m unsure if he actually said it) and was one of the favorites of the late Steve Jobs.  Jobs wanted to move ahead. So, to do that, he moved ahead…taking great ideas from other people and fusing them with his own.  Through this, he innovated and created products people didn’t know they wanted. Like Henry Ford, he created phones without keyboards, tablets without styluses, and computers without disc drives. Ford is claimed to have said, “If I’d have asked the customers, they’d have said they wanted a faster horse.”

But the UMC doesn’t seem to be doing that.  The UMC doesn’t seem to be taking old ideas, mixing them with new ones, and coming out with something effective. The UMC doesn’t seem to be thinking creatively. The UMC doesn’t seem to be not only listening and reading their Wesleyan heritage, but synthesizing it to create something that will serve the needs of the world. No, it doesn’t seem to be doing that.

And that’s ok.  Research In Motion isn’t doing that either. But come five years, they won’t be around.

Wesley was an innovator.  Wesley was clear about what he thought.  Wesley knew of effective ways of maintaining accountability in discipleship.  Wesley knew of positive ways to change the world.  Wesley knew that the power behind religious revival was in a movement. And Wesley should get a lot of credit for thinking differently than many, many others in his time.

I think United Methodists recognize this. And I do think, as a General Church, the UMC is trying to be relevant.

It’s just that our methodology seems a little screwy.

Our version of “relevancy” seems to be based on what the Reformed or evangelical churches are doing. And we, as we always have been, are behind.  Seriously behind. And sometimes we throw resources into the wrong areas.  We staff the wrong places. We don’t always hire the best in the field.

So no wonder our attempts at things are less successful.  We’re creating the hi-PHONE instead of the iPhone.  We’re trying to play contemporary music, but it’s just not…quite…right…yet.

I think it is happening this way: through desperation, we are copying others.  20 years ago, we saw the evangelical denominations growing faster than us. So we decided something had to change.  We waited around for 5 years to make a decision to do so and then we got to work. We started marketing campaigns (I would say, some of the more successful things we’ve done). We started rethinking who we were. Why? Because we saw others do it.  I ask of you: how different are those rethink church commercials, really, than those billboards from non-denominational groups that advertise a “new way to do church”? They’re only different in that they are more socially minded (a good a righteous thing), but our attitude is much the same. “Oh, God, they’re undercutting us by stripping down some of the perceived ridiculousness of our liturgy and system,” we might as well have said.

The funny part is, the ReThink Church commercials are easily one of the best things the Church has done, in my opinion.  I think we’ve called on people to question some things that ought to be questioned.  It just appears to have had little follow through.

Which gets me to my point.  We copy others. AND THAT’S FINE.  But, in our copying, we aren’t thorough.  We write things like “Open Hearts, Open Doors, Open Minds” when large percentages of our church simply don’t believe it. We try to be relevant, but many of our churches are much, much older than other churches.  So, we try to do things in our old buildings that just aren’t practically possible.  And the product of our efforts doesn’t look “cool” like we think it does.  It looks like a cheap knock off. And people, congregants, don’t see authentic worship, they see posers (something our culture is less and less tolerant of everyday).  They see people faking what’s popular.  They see BOBS instead of TOMS.  They see Samsung instead of Apple. We’re ripping off others, and to make it worse…we’re not even doing it well. (At least Samsung stuff still looks good)

Instead, perhaps, maybe we ought to truly rethink church.  Not basing it off of our own social values.  Not basing it off of our own bias.  Not basing it off of our own thoughts.  Not basing it off of our own Scriptural interpretation. Not basing it off of our own political beliefs.  Not basing it off of our own definitions.

Because the Wesley that I read doesn’t seem to have been ripping anybody off. Wesley seems to have been starting something new, incorporating the traditional values, thoughts, concepts, and theological insights of the old tradition to bring about a revival that focused on holiness in discipleship. That movement is what helped influence the Christian culture in America.  And his thoughts were so good, I’m convinced there’s another opportunity, if only we’d wake up.

Picasso said, “Good artists copy.  Great artists steal.”  There’s a huge difference between the two, and I’m unconvinced that the UMC understands that.

So please, let’s not put up a GPS (or phone…we had disagreements about what it was) around the lyrics being projected on the screen unless we’re going to take the time to actually explain it, incorporate it, and usefully employ it. Otherwise, it looks like we saw the evangelical churches using the iPhone theme for their events and thought, “Oh, God, we’re behind.” Which, I’d imagine, is exactly what happened.

If we’re going to do it, we need to do it well.  Otherwise, we’re going to die.

Like Vance, I don’t know what is going to save the church.  But, I do feel as if I’ll know when I see it. And I know this from observation: we can’t keep following everyone else.  We have never been like that as a church and this is an awful time to start. We ought to seriously rethink who we are, where we’re going, and where we’ve been. We make corrections, we synthesize, and we move on…making the best, most faithful decisions we can as fast as we can. And we have to do it throughly, with class, artistry, energy, and resources.  Every detail has to be ironed out so that what we say is cohesive and intentional. And we don’t need to try to be “cool.”  That’ll come to us, if we are who we are and the story is as good as we say it is.  And, friends, it is.

Please, it’s too good of a story not to tell in new and fresh ways. And besides, Jesus is calling us to tell it.

-B

AutoTuned Siri

Ever wondered what Siri would sound like AutoTuned. Wonder no more.

Funny work. Catchy progression.

-B

Are We Better Off With or Without Apple?

Since Steve’s passing, the world has honored him at Apple Stores, via social media, via television talk shows, and countless other ways.

The world, even Apple haters, has been kind to honor the work and change he’s made.

But, now, it’s been a few days. And we’ve all had a small chance to grieve. And we’ve all had a small chance to reflect a bit on his direct impact on OUR lives. It is like when Michael died, we all grieved because the world had lost another Mozart; then we began to reflect on what kind of difference was made on our personal lives. For some it was sad to lose Michael, but not for too long. The same has been true of Steve, for some.

He’s been compared quite a bit to Thomas Edison, the famed inventor of the light bulb. I was asked this question the other day, “Edison created the light bulb, how does Steve even begin to compare to that?” My honest first reaction was to automatically assume that the asker simply doesn’t think about what they do day in and day out.

To me, the impact is simple to see: almost everything that consumers do with computers today has so much to do with Steve’s work. He was the driving force behind making the graphical user interface popular (a paradigm we take hugely for granted today…I think my evidence above proves it). He made using computers simple, and I’d argue that that is what brought forth widespread adoption. Because of some of Apple’s poor decisions and Microsoft’s willingness to copy, it happened indirectly…but it was Steve who did it.

This morning, the point was raised to me,

“i[sic] think he was brilliant for sure but are we better off as a people to have the newest toy but as a whole we are going broke to afford them.[sic] i[sic] think these things have made a much more selfish world that are[sic] self centered and spoiled.”

It’s a fair point with a certain amount of validity. There are also many claims going on here:

• Steve simply made the newest toys
• We are going broke to afford them
• These things have made a much more selfish world
• This selfish world is self centered and spoiled (apparently because of the devices Steve has created)

Again, it’s a fair argument. I know there are families that struggle to feed themselves each night, but give their kids smartphones. I know, and have acknowledged in the past, that texting and driving has become one of the most dangerous parts of our lives.

The main point though, I think, is that Apple’s marketing has encouraged people to want the next big thing all the time. Our emotional draw to the company has forced us to wait in long lines, complain excessively, and stop everything we are doing for product announcements. Yes, it’s true and each any every one of those statements applies directly to me.

I think it would be fair to account that a large objection to the future and progress of technology can be summed up inside of this argument: these things (and the marketing of them) have made us worse people.

I think I’ve recognized the bit of truth to this argument. We text instead of call. We avoid face to face confrontation if at all possible. We have gained a new sense of individualism, and less of a sense of community. I might argue that things like Skype and FaceTime have actually counteracted this argument, but I’ll leave it be for the time being.

The question for me though is, “Who is to blame?”

The Church has discussed this for ages. The questions has always been, “Are we a part of the culture or are we not?” or “Is progress good or bad?” or “Can we have material things, or should we deny ourselves?” or “How is Scripture interpreted for this purpose?”

Throughout time, religion has made use of new mediums. In example, George Whitefield’s popularity in early American Christianity is largely due to the newspaper reports of his preaching. There are tons more examples.

Isn’t it a question now in the Church as well? We’ve got churches who attract more members because of their light shows and moving backgrounds. We’ve also got churches who speak down on these churches and worship in a very liturgical, high church way. Both have dying churches. Both have growing churches.

This argument currently going on in the Church is not separate from the argument made to me this morning.

However, even more high church churches are beginning to figure out how to relate to people. They sometimes break it down by “worship” vs. “outreach”. For example, it’s ok to have a website, because people want to know about you…but no computers in a worship service. But…even that’s becoming less and less true.

I know where your mind is going…”Who is winning?”

STOP

This isn’t about winning. This is about living a Christ-like life. This is about hearing a call from God. This is about Resurrection and Salvation.

I am convinced that these things, these most important things, are still possible with progress.

I actually think that progress helps these things. For instance, because of the advent and popularity of texting, we have been reminded that living, talking, and being in community is important. And now, now that we know this, we are able to use these new fangled inventions and technologies as tools instead of distractions.

Sure, these tools have the ability to distract, and ARE VERY TEMPTING in this sense. But, what if the Church were to look at these tools as better ways to communicate, as better ways to outreach, and as better ways to live as disciples in 2011?

What exactly are we afraid of? That we won’t be creative enough to figure it out? That God won’t show us the way? We’ve got to have more faith than that.

What I like so much about Apple’s approach to technology is that they don’t do things just because others did. They don’t make a bigger screen just because others have bigger screens. They don’t implement a voice recognition piece of software just because Google did. They don’t have an open platform just because other companies did.

No, they approach it from the perspective of use. What good is voice to text software if you still have to hit buttons? What good is a big screen if you have to use two hands to use it and it no longer fits in your pocket? What good is an open platform if its very openness is one if its greatest downfalls as an experience? It’s not even really about being ahead of the game…it’s about taking a technology, a concept, an idea and applying it in a real world situation for a real purpose in a way that helps people communicate. That’s what spurred Steve’s innovation. That’s what defines who Apple is in today’s world.

So has Apple’s marketing asked people to become self centered? Their new iPad ads don’t seem to support that.

No, it doesn’t seem so. No, what has spurred on this idea is our reaction. I can no longer blame the technology companies for my failings as a human. I can no longer blame McDonald’s for the hot coffee I spilled on my lap. I can no longer blame the cigarette companies for my lung cancer (post-revelations that that was actually bad for you). I can no longer blame the city for me not paying attention to that huge stop sign. I can no longer blame the fast food companies for my fatness. I can no longer blame the Church for my lack of faith.

No. Because at some point, I must take up my own cross. At some point, I must learn that it’s not the new things that bother us…it’s the way we use them. It’s not the progress that makes us worse people…it’s our sinful nature. It’s not someone else’s fault that I’m not the disciple I could be, it’s me.

(It’s worth adding that this is mostly true in America, currently. There are places in our world where girls are used in conjunction with the exploitation of men’s sexual desires. This is not the girls’ fault, this is the both the faults of the brainwashers above them, and the men who readily support these ventures.) I, in these cases, think the Church has to speak up for the girls…speak up for those who can’t. It is still worth noting that those reading this in American CAN almost assuredly speak for ourselves.

As soon as the Church realizes that our mission is active and not passive and that we are not controlled by others, but only influenced by the grace of God through Christ, then we will be able to look at our culture with new glasses…in a way that is beneficial to the life of faith and the progress of the Gospel.

We don’t do things just because. We don’t slobber at the feet of our favorite company just because they brainwash us. No, we appreciate what they do because it makes a difference. It changes what we can do. It changes how we do things. It’s up to us to be able to step back and see where we have succeeded and faltered.

Apple made tools. Thankfully, they made good tools.

Let’s use them for good. Please.

-B

PS – Lack of recognition of Steve’s contributions to society is a great example of just how well he succeeded.

Woz Remembers Steve

Steve Wozniak remembering Steve Jobs through an interview with AP.

Touching, particularly the last few seconds.

-B

He Is Gone.

There are no words to fully describe the sadness within my heart and the hearts of the world.

I will miss him, his taste, and his vision for the future.

I am always reminded at moments like this of the nastiness of disease, cancer, and other human afflictions. It is most appropriate that he has been most likely THE largest instigator of technology in a world where we work to rid cancer, disease, hunger, and many other things. His insight has garnered a passion for an industry that has changed the world.

Steve had lots of money. Nothing could buy him out of his illness. But, now, he can rest in a state not concerned with fleshly afflictions. Cancer did not beat him, it inspired him to live every day like it was his last. We may never know how the last 6 or 7 years may have played out if he had not struggled as he did.

We must, at this time…in our sadness, be thankful for all he has given us, contributed to our world, and inspired us to do.

Here’s to the crazy ones. The rebels. The troublemakers. The ones who see things differently. While some may see them as the crazy ones, we see genius. Because the people who are crazy enough to think they can change the world, are the ones who do.

Think Different.

-B

My Favorite Steve Pictures

As I was looking through my iPhoto library, I realized that I’ve saved many many pictures of Steve Jobs from google searches, articles, etc. I thought that I’d share some of my favorites.

I do not own these pictures, I do not make any money from this website, and I’m sure that this breaks all kinds of copyright rules. I’m almost positive that any of these can be found fairly easily in a google image search, so I have not taken any care of referencing where they came from. Deal with it.

We may one day (maybe today) remember this as the product that saved Apple.

What an elegant shot of him during one of his assumedly stressful keynote presentations.

We will one day look back on this day as the day the computer industry changed forever.

A classic of him and Woz.

I think that it was at this point that he knew he had something great.

His baby, and what eventually got him fired.

His D Conference interviews were outstanding.

Steve reflecting on stage about where his company came from.

The Pirates Of Silicon Valley movie portrays this day as the day he became a true salesman.

TIME magazine always has the best photos. If you disagree, you’re wrong.

The presence and prominence of the wedding band here is most intriguing.

Without a doubt, my favorite. So young, so much spunk, such a smirk, it sums it all up so nicely.

-B

Auto-Tuned Steve Jobs

Steve’s famous words from his Stanford Commencement speech, put to music.

-B

Steve Steps Down

Over the past six years or so, I’ve become increasingly obsessed with Apple Computer (of course, they dropped the “computer” part of their name several years back).

Of it, probably, my greatest obsession has been with one of its cofounders, Steve Jobs.

The man is remarkable. He has a keen sense of taste, a clear vision for the future, he is unapologetic about his decision making, and Apple has been, thus far in history, unable to turn profit and survive without his leadership. He literally took a company on the verge of disaster and bankruptcy and spent ten years growing it into the colossal giant that it is today. He knows how to hire great people who design and build great products that help us with our everyday lives.

Today, Steve stepped down as CEO. He’s leaving his highly influential position (some might say, controlling) in the company that he built. In his parents’ garage.

His letter:

To the Apple Board of Directors and the Apple Community:

I have always said if there ever came a day when I could no longer meet my duties and expectations as Apple’s CEO, I would be the first to let you know. Unfortunately, that day has come.

I hereby resign as CEO of Apple. I would like to serve, if the Board sees fit, as Chairman of the Board, director and Apple employee.

As far as my successor goes, I strongly recommend that we execute our succession plan and name Tim Cook as CEO of Apple.

I believe Apple’s brightest and most innovative days are ahead of it. And I look forward to watching and contributing to its success in a new role.

I have made some of the best friends of my life at Apple, and I thank you all for the many years of being able to work alongside you.

Steve

Short and sweet, to the point, as usual.

I have often referenced Steve’s leadership and vision for the company in regards to Walt Disney’s influence in the monstrosity that is Disney. I have even mentioned before that I feared the way that Steve might leave Apple, as Walt left Disney. But at this point it is clear that this won’t be the way it will go.

While this knowledge might make this a little easier, it doesn’t truly make the concept of losing the man who brought all this into being any easier to swallow. Steve will no longer be leading this company. It will be weird, it will be difficult, and it will be uneasy.

Is it a rough day? Yes. Is it a sad day? I don’t think so.

I suppose the real question is: where does Apple, as a company, go from here?

Undoubtedly Tim Cook will step in as Apple’s CEO, and Steve will continue to have a significant amount of influence in the accountability of Cook and future product decisions. The truth remains though…the boat has a new captain.

Here’s where we are fortunate: Cook knows what he is doing. Cook has been managing operations for quite some time now and has brought Apple the sales numbers that we keep hearing about. Cook managed product shortages when people just HAVE to get their hands on them, and he certainly added to the continuing profit gains Apple’s been reporting. The good news is that I think Apple is going to be alright.

One of the things that I’ve done a lot of in the past few years is listen to every extended interview Steve Jobs has given throughout time. There aren’t many of them, but Steve has always chosen his words and actions carefully, and that makes these presentations and interviews unbelievably interesting to parse.

Even the biggest anti-Apple pundit you might encounter will admit that Steve has preached, yes…preached, a mindset and attitude to his people: Great products, great products, great products. He has always defended Apple by preaching and evangelizing about the products. He has an eye for beauty, simplicity, and innovation and is unafraid to make difficult decisions. He has always believed that if Apple makes good products, and they tell people about them, people will buy them. If enough people buy them, he gets to come to work tomorrow. This is his understanding of capitalism and a free market. This is his understanding of the world.

And so, the questions remains: will Steve’s vision be carried through into the future?

This question, obviously, remains to be answered. Tim Cook is not the stage man that Jobs is. Tim Cook does not have persona that Jobs has. But Tim Cook has proven himself as a businessman. Tim Cook has proven himself as a manager. Tim Cook has proven himself as an unbelievable CEO.

Apple is going to be more than alright. Apple is going to be stellar.

What’s my proof? Apple’s culture.

Steve has left a message and mission. Steve has left a culture. Steve’s words, thoughts, and dreams will forever be captured in his interviews, products, and legacy. If you meet someone at the Apple store, or any employee of Apple, you will know what I am talking about. It becomes more than a selling point. It becomes a life, a system, a love.

Outsiders think we are crazy. We probably are.

“While some see them as the crazy ones, we see genius. Because the people who are crazy enough to think they can change the world, are the ones who do.”

Steve said it best:

I believe Apple’s brightest and most innovative days are ahead of it.

-B

Friends, I’d like to leave you with my favorite of Steve’s videos. This is why I think he “gets it”.

To honor Steve, I wrote this entirely on my iPad. The future, friends. The future.