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Cognition
You’re always replaceable
Everywhere I’ve worked, there has always been one employee deemed so valuable that other people say, “If she ever leaves, we’re screwed.” Could be the sales gal. Or the IT guy. Or the fearless leader. Someone whose knowledge runs so deep, whose Rolodex is so bursting, or whose leadership 
is so charismatic that the thought of moving on without them is incomprehensible.
Eventually, the day finally comes when they leave. This is usually followed by a period of head scratching, stumbling, and general awkwardness. Then, out of necessity, people step up. After all, the servers still need to run, the gigs still need to be sold, and the troops still need to be rallied. And in many cases, you end up in a better place than you were before.
Steve Jobs is ill. He has been for years. Between medical leaves when he’s returned to lead the company he’s poured his heart into, you can’t ignore his frailty. If he doesn’t return to Apple this time, it will be the end of an era led by one of the most successful innovators of our time. And it will be sad. But it will not be over.
It bothers me that the stock price consistently dives when news breaks that Steve Jobs is going on medical leave. Not because I’m upset that Apple shareholders may become slightly less rich, but because I’m irritated with the underlying message it sends. Wall Street is simply not confident Apple can be successful without him. During the years he wasn’t running Apple, the company floundered. When he came back, the company thrived. So it must be him.
I don’t buy it.
There is tremendous talent at Apple. I know quite a few people there. They are the sum of their parts. Someone will succeed Steve Jobs, illness or not. And it will likely be a person that worked with him, under him, or thinks like him. And eventually they will chart their own course and steer the ship as they see fit. The company may flounder, but my bet is the company will succeed even more. But to think the end of an era is the end of a company is shortsighted.
So let’s give a little credit to the people who sculpt the devices, write the code, staff the genius bars, license the music, design the interfaces, remove the clutter, sharpen the details, devise the campaigns, and yes, even the people who made Ping. I have faith in all of them, because they made the stuff happen to begin with.
And then there’s this. My dad put his heart and soul into one company for 30 years. He helped define who they were. He was cherished. Then the board elected to sell the company, and they offered him a lousy early retirement package.
In business, one way or another, you’re always replaceable.
40 Responses
A company should be valued beyond one person's contribution. Happy Cog President @hoyboy explains in Cognition:
Thu, January 20, 2011 11:53:32
You're always replaceable. Profound Cognition post by Greg Hoy. He's got soul, Greg does.
Thu, January 20, 2011 11:57:20
Wrote an article for #cognition about the fact that you're not as important as you think. There's no I in team.
Thu, January 20, 2011 11:59:57
Thoughtful, poignant, and a very human perspective by @hoyboy.
Thu, January 20, 2011 12:01:20
via @zeldman, a moving and profound post by @hoyboy about how the cycle of life plays out in companies:
Thu, January 20, 2011 12:02:00
Wow. Great article by @hoyboy Also, this tweet is very replaceable by more famous people.
Thu, January 20, 2011 12:02:30
Great article about how replaceable you are:
Thu, January 20, 2011 12:12:24
A company should be valued beyond one person's contribution. Happy Cog President @hoyboy explains in Cognition:
Thu, January 20, 2011 12:22:32
In which Mr. @hoyboy reminds us that the show always goes on.
Thu, January 20, 2011 12:29:41
A profound reminder.
Thu, January 20, 2011 12:45:05
@hoyboy gives some honest & accurate insight to employment (no matter how large the company). You're Always Replaceable
Thu, January 20, 2011 12:45:48
How do talent acquisition experts view this in the context of replacement costs? cc/@planetmeg @heathery321 @jrestaino
Thu, January 20, 2011 12:53:57
One day, you will be replaced. Impossible—I know, but true.
Thu, January 20, 2011 1:19:05
I agree, but don't tell everyone lest we lose out on the opportunity to make money off these foolish dips.
Thu, January 20, 2011 1:52:46
Your service to your company is transient, but iPods are, no wait, were, forever. Maybe. From @hoyboy:
Thu, January 20, 2011 2:06:43
You’re always replaceable
Thu, January 20, 2011 2:17:46
Replacement costs higher in orgs that don't provide value 4 their employees, lower in orgs that do. /@joerinaldi.
Thu, January 20, 2011 3:48:28
@zeldman 99% of stock investors are now simply speculators... it's why shareholder wealth should be demoted in 2011
Thu, January 20, 2011 4:00:28
“In business, one way or another, you’re always replaceable.”
Thu, January 20, 2011 4:23:24
@planetmeg so when awesome orgs lose awesome people, they weather it better than weaker orgs. I'm on board with that.
Thu, January 20, 2011 4:44:41
Glad to know I wasn't the only one who was left scratching their head when Apple's stock plummeted b/c of Jobs leaving.
Thu, January 20, 2011 5:00:07
Cognition 01\20\2011 by @hoyboy. 2nd to last paragraph says it all. "You're always replaceable" in the workplace.
Thu, January 20, 2011 6:43:57
I think Jobs' mistake has been to allow everyone to think apple can't run with him.
Thu, January 20, 2011 10:56:04
If you build a business on values, and you're bringing individual talent to life, nobody is replaceable sorry @hoyboy
Fri, January 21, 2011 1:23:49
You're always replaceable by Greg Hoy @hoyboy
Fri, January 21, 2011 3:13:05
What happens if @hoyboy leaves @happycog? Or @Zeldman? We're screwed.
Fri, January 21, 2011 10:09:55
interesting read on being replaceable
Fri, January 21, 2011 10:11:42
There must be a way to quantify the contributions of each employee, but that formula would forever be flawed.
Fri, January 21, 2011 3:48:32
You're always replaceable -
Fri, January 21, 2011 7:12:23
You are always replaceable: Very true!
Tue, January 25, 2011 6:06:52
Steve Jobs’ passion for design and innovation is as much embedded in Apple’s customers as well as their company.
Wed, January 26, 2011 5:25:45
Everyone is replaceable at work - even if it hurts at first:
Mon, January 31, 2011 6:58:53
So true. "You're Always Replaceable"
Fri, February 04, 2011 5:37:44
So true. "You're Always Replaceable" (via @paulakreuger)
Fri, February 04, 2011 5:59:50
Everything is circular. When you leave a place, leave it better than you found it and make it easy to finish your work.
Fri, February 04, 2011 5:37:21
As webdev in a very small design team I must admit I sometimes feel like they can't go on without me, but they'll manage
Sun, February 06, 2011 10:38:03
You’re always replaceable -
Mon, February 14, 2011 3:35:23
I agree, if Steve Jobs has been as unwell as reported - who has been running apple? know what i'm sayin?
Thu, February 17, 2011 11:06:09
How I've always felt, everyone is replaceable it is whether they see what your worth or not.
Wed, March 30, 2011 4:21:57