Sad news today.  Apple today announced that that Steve Jobs has been granted a "medical leave of absence" from the company.   He sent an email to all Apple employees, which concludes:

“I love Apple so much and hope to be back as soon as I can. Steve”

No timetable for his expected return has been given.  Jobs had previously suffered from pancreatic cancer and had reportedly been cured of the disease back in 2004 but then took six-months leave in 2009 and later revealed that he had a liver transplant in that time.  

I have had the pleasure of once receiving an e-mail reply from the great man.  One of those "Sent from my iPad" notes that Mac fans treasure and frame and blog about (okay two of these apply to me).  I don't use "great man" lightly or pejoratively or in any other way, except sincerely to remark upon probably the greatest inspiration of the last decade for anyone who aspires to make a difference in the world of work.  A story, so typically untraditional, in Four Acts:  

1. He forms a company (Apple) in garage, takes on IBM, builds a franchise, but is ousted.
2. He forms two other companies, one of which is Pixar - which has made about a zillion dollars since and brought joy to millions of kids and adults.
3. The second company's technology (NeXT) he brings back with him to Apple.
4. His new team, including brilliant Brit designer Jonathan Ive, go on to create iMac + iPod + iTunes + iPhone + iPad and Apple is now the second most valuable company is the USA (second only to Exxon Mobil).  

Inspirational.  Visionary.  Genius.  

Let's hope that he gets well, gets re-charged and comes back to do more remarkable things that inspire.