“Ex-Apple CEO John Sculley takes a similar look at his stint at the top of Apple, and says the company made a big mistake when it hired him as CEO,” Kahney reports. “It’s the most surprisingly frank admission I’ve ever heard anyone make about their career.”
Interview extract – recommended – here.
Full interview – recommended – here.
MacDailyNews Take: Mr. Obvious. Frank or not, that sonuvabitchin’ unprepared sugared water salesbozo signed away Apple’s crown jewels via a poorly-written contract with Microsoft and very nearly killed the company. As least he seems to know it and is willing to admit it.
[Thanks to MacDailyNews Readers “Fred Mertz” and “Arline M.” for the heads up.]
This man wants forgiveness…
This man wants forgiveness…
Really pretty interesting that a CEO in our culture would make such an honest statement.
I officially have 1/1,000,000 more respect for Sculley now.
Really pretty interesting that a CEO in our culture would make such an honest statement.
I officially have 1/1,000,000 more respect for Sculley now.
Thanks for all your help Mr. Sculley!!!
Thanks for all your help Mr. Sculley!!!
It doesn’t matter now, because the events that transpired helped shape the future of Apple, which I’d bet is a far more superior company today than it would have been had they not had the struggles they did at the time.
It doesn’t matter now, because the events that transpired helped shape the future of Apple, which I’d bet is a far more superior company today than it would have been had they not had the struggles they did at the time.
Forgiving a guy who admits he f__ked up is a lot easier than forgiving a guy who thinks he is brilliant. Gotta give Sculley credit for fessing up to his mistakes.
Forgiving a guy who admits he f__ked up is a lot easier than forgiving a guy who thinks he is brilliant. Gotta give Sculley credit for fessing up to his mistakes.
On the other hand, it seems likely that Apple (and Steve, too) needed to struggle in the wilderness for a while in order to make possible its current level of power and respect.
Maybe Sculley was exactly what Steve and Apple needed. Ironic.
On the other hand, it seems likely that Apple (and Steve, too) needed to struggle in the wilderness for a while in order to make possible its current level of power and respect.
Maybe Sculley was exactly what Steve and Apple needed. Ironic.
Will never happen again.
Will never happen again.
He’s got more sense of reality than Ballmer.
He’s got more sense of reality than Ballmer.
I have mixed feelings about Sculley and a lot of what-ifs. They say Jobs needed his extended sabbatical from Apple in order to become it’s savior later. Though if he had stayed and become the young Apple CEO, while he would have probably made mistakes, who’s to say Apples standing in the world would even be much greater than today as he evolved and matured within it’s ranks? Copeland OS might have had a better direction or scuttled much earlier for something a lot better.
But yeah Sculley was an a-hole who nearly cost mankind a precious gift and gave away the keys to OS supremacy to a couple of geeky used car con men, not realizing what he had (as Jobs no doubt would have).
Thank your lucky iPads the universe corrected this gaffe and reversed the direction of all the previous Apple CEO imbeciles who show that people who think like Steve Jobs are rare.
I have mixed feelings about Sculley and a lot of what-ifs. They say Jobs needed his extended sabbatical from Apple in order to become it’s savior later. Though if he had stayed and become the young Apple CEO, while he would have probably made mistakes, who’s to say Apples standing in the world would even be much greater than today as he evolved and matured within it’s ranks? Copeland OS might have had a better direction or scuttled much earlier for something a lot better.
But yeah Sculley was an a-hole who nearly cost mankind a precious gift and gave away the keys to OS supremacy to a couple of geeky used car con men, not realizing what he had (as Jobs no doubt would have).
Thank your lucky iPads the universe corrected this gaffe and reversed the direction of all the previous Apple CEO imbeciles who show that people who think like Steve Jobs are rare.
There are no coincidences.
There are no coincidences.
Don’t forget that Jobs made several major mistakes when he was at Apple. Those mistakes were possibly more important than what Scully did. Scully didn’t give the jewels away to MS. The deals to have MS write programs for the Mac that resulted in Apple losing control over overlapping windows and other OS features wasn’t Scully’s fault. That was done before he got there. It was a result of faulty contracts written by the legal team.
Apple wasn’t doing badly when he left, just not as well as the board wanted. The real problem came from decisions made by his successor, Michael Spindler.
Don’t forget that Jobs made several major mistakes when he was at Apple. Those mistakes were possibly more important than what Scully did. Scully didn’t give the jewels away to MS. The deals to have MS write programs for the Mac that resulted in Apple losing control over overlapping windows and other OS features wasn’t Scully’s fault. That was done before he got there. It was a result of faulty contracts written by the legal team.
Apple wasn’t doing badly when he left, just not as well as the board wanted. The real problem came from decisions made by his successor, Michael Spindler.
I’ve heard John Sculley speak once. He is an incredibly sharp and talented guy. I was very impressed. I don’t think he was a bad CEO. It’s just when you compare ANY CEO to Steve Jobs, well they just all average at best.
I’ve heard John Sculley speak once. He is an incredibly sharp and talented guy. I was very impressed. I don’t think he was a bad CEO. It’s just when you compare ANY CEO to Steve Jobs, well they just all average at best.
If Jobs had stayed, would Apple have achieved today’s success back then in 1985? I think Apple would have avoided going through near death had Jobs stayed on. It is his baby after all.
One thing can’t be denied though. Jobs picked Sculley. Jobs also revealed Apple’s GUI secrets to Gates and company. Obviously Jobs had a lot to learn about character.