In a letter to young creators, Apple Inc.’s (NASDAQ:AAPL) CEO, Tim Cook, disclosed the crucial question that steered his choice to join the then-ailing tech giant.

The letter published by the Steve Jobs Archives revealed that Cook, who joined Apple in 1998, was initially hesitant about leaving secure firms like IBM (NASDAQ:IBM) and Compaq, acquired in 2022 by Hewlett Packard (NYSE:HPE), for a company that was struggling.

He remembers, “Many people doubted the company could survive, and I was warned that accepting a job there would come with risks.”

Despite the risks, Cook was influenced by founder Steve Jobs‘ fervor and vision. However, his admiration for Jobs wasn’t the only factor in his decision. Cook needed to be sure the move was right for him.

Cook said the future is unpredictable despite our best efforts to shape it, and advises that instead of focusing on “What will happen?”, people should ask themselves something deeper.

Thus, he posed himself a potent question: “Who will I be when it does (happen)?”

This question guided Cook to choose purpose and passion over security and prestige, molding the skills he would acquire and the person he would evolve into.

Cook Recalls Jobs’ Brilliant Leadership Lesson

Cook’s decision to join Apple was not just a career move, but a defining moment that shaped his leadership style. Cook learned from Jobs the skill of rethinking decisions instantly when new facts surfaced. This skill, which Cook later termed “brilliant” in a 2024 interview with the Wall Street Journal, has been instrumental in shaping his journey at Apple.

In a recent interview with CBS, Cook recalled that Steve Jobs once advised him to "never ask what I would do—just do the right thing." Jobs had drawn that lesson from observing decision-making paralysis at The Walt Disney Company (NYSE:DIS), where people often debated what Walt Disney would have done.

When preparing Cook to lead Apple, Jobs emphasized independent judgment and aimed to ensure a smooth, professional CEO transition rather than the panic-driven handovers the company had experienced before.

Apple At 50

Cook is now the CEO of a $3 trillion company.

As Apple nears its 50-year mark on April 1, Cook, on Thursday, shared a heartfelt "Thank You" note to employees and customers, acknowledging their role in helping Apple achieve major milestones over the years.

Although Apple was formally incorporated on January 3, 1977, in Cupertino, its journey began earlier, on April 1, 1976, when co-founders Steve Wozniak, Ronald Wayne, and Steve Jobs started working together in Jobs' garage.

After poor Macintosh sales in the 1980s, tensions between Steve Jobs and then-CEO John Sculley led Apple's board to side with Sculley, forcing Jobs out. The company later struggled and neared bankruptcy before bringing Jobs back in 1997, when he secured a $150 million investment from Bill Gates of Microsoft (NASDAQ:MSFT) to help revive the company.

Since then, Apple has surged ahead with hit products like the iPod, iPhone, MacBook, iPad, AirPods, and Apple Watch—devices that helped fuel its massive growth and global influence.

Disclaimer: This content was partially produced with the help of AI tools and was reviewed and published by a Benzinga editor.

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