Apple – The Great Comeback
The iMac, iPod and iPhone almost didn’t happen. After 20 years of success and failure competing with Microsoft, Apple, Inc., the company famous for the Macintosh, found itself at the brink of bankruptcy in 1997. Apple attempted to improve its operating system, but after multiple failures, a three-year record-low stock price and mangled financial losses, its existence teetered from day to day.
Apple had two choices: shut down or reinvent itself. With the vision of Steve Jobs, the replacement CEO and former executive, the company has realized one of the greatest comeback stories of all time. Today, Apple is enjoying success, financial rebound and record stock prices.
The revival began with returning to their roots: cool design. Apple introduced the iMac computer featuring an innovative sleek look in colors like Bondi Blue. Over 800,000 iMacs sold in the first five months returning the company to financial sustainability. To house the iMacs and future cool technologies, Apple opened the first Apple Stores in Virginia and California and continued opening stores around the country including the “glass cube” Apple store in New York City. And with that, Apple was back.
And we’re glad. What came next brought Apple to the top for design and ingenuity. The iPod reinvented how we listen to music at the gym and iTunes made it so easy to download our favorite music. Then the iPhone came out and the madness began. The cell phone/email/internet video phone sold 270,000 devices in the first 30 hours of launch. And there’s more cool Apple technology on the horizon. We can’t wait.
Apple’s big comeback reminds us that anything is possible where there is vision, determination and a rebirth of what you really are: cool, unique and darn good looking. The Apple doesn’t fall far from the tree.
Business School for Moms
Apple faced tragic financial perils in the late 90s, but redesigned and created products that saved and grew the company. With the same type of thinking – being creative and smart in your dealings with money – you can also reap success and achieve your financial goals. Apple is a great comeback saga. What will your story be?
