But the rosy years came to screeching halt in the last quarter of the old millennium. At 13, it was close to the level that had prompted Apple's board to dump CEO Gil Amelio in 1997. But Steve was back up against the wall, and we were all hoping to Be There when another Miracle was conjured up from the famous Jobs Reality Distortion Field. The lines were long around Moscone Center's main ballroom. I think it goes to the nature of innovation.
Innovation is risky.
And while high-tech companies everywhere routinely babble about how 'innovative' they are, that's often not the case. My experience, as a past employee of both Apple and a large 'old economy' media conglomerate, is that there are 2 kinds of companies. Bottom-up companies are far more commonplace, even in high tech. They tend to be careful, methodical and take only small, measured risks when they 'innovate'. Steve Jobs and a small group of very smart people come up with an idea, build it, and then make sure the whole world hears about it.