OK, enough is enough. We all know Steve Jobs has resigned as Apple CEO and we’ve been inundated with stories and theories about what will happen at Apple in his absence.

 

My personal favorite headline of the last week was ‘Jobs exit opens door for nimble Apple rivals’ and from Reuters, no less! What nimble Apple rivals? They are usually six months to a year behind!

 

And how about this classic from the San Jose Mercury, “Steve Jobs resigns as Apple CEO, stunning tech world!”

 

Give me strength, please. The man has recently overcome pancreatic cancer, had a liver transplant and looks almost skeletal in stature. Everyone knew he couldn’t continue in the role and I am certain no-one was surprised that he was stepping down, except for the Mercury, it seems.

 

What is most amazing is that anyone that has followed this man’s career would have any doubt that he has planned anything less than a meticulous succession process within Apple.

 

The most popular of concepts, and probably the one furthest from reality, is that Steve Jobs has single-handedly masterminded – from conception to stunning success – every Apple device since his return to Apple in 1997.

 

This is a man that has created a culture that attracts brilliant people not wanting to be cloistered by traditional corporate structures. He has attracted the right people; given them an environment they can flourish in and managed to keep it private enough that competitors have no idea what will hit them next.