Becoming an Organizer

Late last week I was asked to organize an event in the Marriott School. I was asked to make sure there were 140 participants in the 2011 Marriott School Trading Simulation. I was a little disappointed that I would be given such late notice for an event that would take place in only two short weeks. I didn't want to disappoint anyone, so I got right to work and now we are well over-subscribed for the event. I learned some valuable lessons during the process.

I learned that it is very important to figure out who is on the bus with you. You've got to find out how much work they are willing to do, decide on a clear objective and give some encouragement. Feeling committed to the faculty, I loyally filled my part. Sharing that same sense of obligation to faculty as well as feeling an obligation to fulfill what was agreed upon, the others on the bus followed suit. I feel I got a faint taste of how best to organize and lead, and the way everything was carried out was a winning strategy.

Apple Inc., Man Overboard

This past Tuesday, Apple shares fell 2.3% even as its profit surged 78%. On Monday, Steve Jobs announced that he would "continue as CEO and be involved in major strategic decisions for the company." He also added, "I will be the first one to step up and tell our board of directors if I can no longer continue to fulfill my duties as Apple's CEO."

So what can we take from this? Perhaps Larry Ellison can help us better understand the current predicament of Apple Inc.

We were at a cocktail party, and [former Apple CEO] Gil Amelio was explaining Apple's predicament to us, and he said: “Apple is a boat. There's a hole in the boat, and it's taking on water. But there's also a treasure on board. And the problem is, everyone on board is rowing in different directions, so the boat is just standing still. My job is to get everyone rowing in the same direction so we can save the treasure.”After he turned away, I looked at the person next to me and asked, “But what about the hole?”

—Larry Ellison

Now the cocktail party referred to above occurred in 1997. We know Apple has come a long way under Steve Jobs. But I think we can learn a lot from this event. How would investors feel if they found out that as the ship was going down, Steve Jobs flew to the rescue, boarding ship. Upon landing aboard, he put his foot on the the leaking hole. Then he started shouting orders.

Since July 9, 1997, share price has experienced a near 9500% return. Moreover, Apple has combated more entrenched players and introduced some innovative products, becoming a mainstay in the marketplace and each one of our homes. It has found some incredible profit pools, turning into a 65 billion dollar company.

So now Apple comes out with numbers by the likes of a 78% jump in profit, and shares decline. Shares this week have in fact experienced a 5.48% decline. Now this is nothing some would say, just a little healthy volatility. So did he plug the hole in the ship on his way out? Is the treasure safe? This week, investors so far aren’t sure. Let’s hope Tim Cook and his crew know how to row.