Do you think Apple will continue to be the most successful company on the planet without Steve guiding the way? Or do you think this could be the slow demise of this powerhouse?
History shows when a head is killed, a snake will kick around lots then die down.
Henry Ford's Ford motor company is still around albeit skirting near bankrupcy a few times. Microsoft share price wanders around ever since Bill Gates left. General Electric is still around, is it still in the same shape and form as in its glory days when Thomas Edison was around? Where is Rockefeller oil company now? Andrew Carnegie's steel company?
The exception is when a head is a dynasty. When a figure head is gone, there are successors within the family to take over the batons. Like the JP Morgan families, queens of England, DuPond, Murdoch... In Australia, the Packer family is getting into the second generation now.
In general, the business will not do as well over time.
