I have always admired Steve Jobbs for the vision he brings to his company. In recent news, although sick he has continued to understand where Apple will be, what role they will play and how they fit into the marketplace five years from now. He also understands his people need to have and nurture that vision as well. I learned that early on at Apple the technical qualifications took a back seat to the candidates vision for the company - coincidentally that focus led to their becoming a technically innovative leader!

Even though the market is off and Apple stock is down and Mr Jobbs is not well I am sure that Mr. Jobbs continues to envision his company in five years and manages a strategy that leads to those objectives.

Then there is the rest of the CEO's. Cut costs, drop people, stop breathing, don't take calls, hide, panic, cry over the 401k, why me and so on. So many "leaders" are not talking years out - they are simply trying to get through the first quarter. If you are struggling and focusing only on the first quarter then what kind of year will 2009 be? After all isn't the second quarter coming up regardless?

History teaches us that "true leaders" are able to rise above whatever current cacophony surrounds them and make things happen. What I am learning is that most CEO's can't seem to do that right now. That forces me to draw the conclusion that all leaders can be CEO's but not all CEO's are leaders.