5 CEOs Who Think Like Steve Jobs

ROCKVILLE, Md. Apple (NASDAQ: AAPL ) shareholders and gadget geeks are
mourning the loss of the company's iconic founder. Apple has been one of the
few true growth stories on Wall Street lately, and the death of Steve Jobs at
just 56 years old makes you wonder if we have any good stocks and more
importantly, any good leaders remaining. True, the headlines make it seem like
only charlatans get to be CEOs these days, and shareholders have to fear
executives more than trust them. An overpriced MBA and a golden parachute are
more common than they should be in corner offices. But take heart. While Steve
Jobs was a cultural force the likes of which the world might never see again,
there still are wise and talented leaders out there right now. These CEOs share
the Apple founder's ability to create value for shareholders and employees,
and to define their industry to both competitors and consumers alike. Lest you
think such success depends on an iPhone-like innovation, it's worth noting
that gadgets were only part of the Steve Jobs story. There was his focus on a
long-term vision that trumps the quarterly drumbeat of the Street. There was his
shrewd use of capital to grow and cripple competitors. And above all, there was
his desire to connect completely with customers so his product would almost sell
itself. Lest you think Steve Jobs was the only one who understood these
concepts, here are five CEOs who think like he did: James Sinegal, Costco What
the heck does a 30-gallon tub of mayonnaise at Costco (NASDAQ: COST ) have to do
with the iPad? Probably not much. But when it comes to innovative business
builders guys with a long-term focus on shareholder value and connecting with
consumers in new ways Steve Jobs and James Sinegal were two peas in a pod.
Sinegal co-founded Costco and has been president since 1983. His innovations
made Costco the first warehouse club to include fresh food, eye-care clinics,
pharmacies, gas stations and other businesses previously thought out of place on
retail floorspace. Under Sinegal's leadership, shares of Costco are up 2,800%
and have paid modest dividends since 2004. Perhaps the most Jobs-like quality
Sinegal has is his desire to put the "user experience" above everything
else. For a retailer, that means customer service and happy, motivated
employees who feel they have a stake in the company. About four out of every
five Costco workers get health care and benefits, even though about half are
part-timers. The average wage is $19 an hour, and there have been no layoffs in
the recession. In this respect, the Costco founder actually might be one up on
Steve Jobs. Many Apple critics malign the company's outsourcing to Asia, while
Sinegal managed to create an industry leader that offers livable wages to almost
150,000 Americans all while COST stock beats the market and is on track to turn
a cool $1.4 billion in profits. The only question is whether Costco can keep
this up after Sinegal steps down at the end of the year.