10 Years Ago Today: Michael Jackson's Final Release

CLEVELAND - Truly great innovators have a habit of crafting pioneering masterpieces in their life and career that receive critical acclaim. Those same geniuses also suffer creative slumps and their resulting work gets slammed in the media. But often, those so-called failures gain a reappraisal years later that changes the original thinking.

It is now Michael Jackson's turn.

Today marks the 10th anniversary of the release of Invincible, Jackson's first solo album of all new material since 1991's Dangerous. It was met with loads of negative reviews and its sales figures fell far below what his previous albums sold. With MJ's shocking death in 2009, the Invincible LP became his final album (that he totally created), though released nearly 8 years in the past.

In spite of the negative reviews, Invincible is still a great R&B/Pop album. MJ had become a prisoner of his own lofty standards which is part of why his 2001 effort was seen as a disappointment by many. In the 12 years between 1979 and 1991, MJ crafted 4 nearly flawless albums that rank among the greatest in pop history; Off The Wall, Thriller, Bad and Dangerous. In the case of Thriller, he authored the biggest single phenomenon in history in record sales, awards, critical praise and popularity. Anything he did after that album would always be seen as something of a let down.

He was always his own biggest competition.

Also, Michael's public reputation began spiraling downward rapidly following the child molestation charges he faced in 1993. This greatly affected his sales and public sentiment in the U.S. towards him. By '01, he was widely considered a creepy has-been but still possessed an enormous global fanbase of multi millions. I, for one felt that he never lost any of his magic and I considered Invincible to be excellent in spite of its shortcomings. Years of listening to it has caused me to appreciate the man's artistry even more than I already did.

The true greats deliver even when they're not at the top of their game.

Jobs' Legacy Of Incredible Singularity

CLEVELAND - I never owned a Mac computer, nor have I ever owned an iPad or iPhone. I do own an iPod Nano, which someone else purchased for me 5 years ago. But in spite of my limited experience with Apple Inc.'s legendary electronic products, I have long been an admirer and fan of the genius behind the magic.

Steve Jobs.

With his semi-surprising death yesterday at just 56 years of age, the tech and business worlds raced to issue the most gushing of platitudes for the man who co-founded Apple Inc. in 1976, then eventually used it to create groundbreaking gadgets that are now as ubiquitous to consumers as stethoscopes are to doctors.

What I most admire about Jobs is his think-outside-the-box sensibilities and relentless drive to live the life he wanted. During a famous commencement speech at Stanford University in 2005, he eloquently articulated the importance of living life to the fullest and doing things on one's own terms to the graduating class that year. He was always that maverick who didn't conform, but who ultimately made others conform.

That's part of his brilliance.

It speaks to his phenomenal resilience that he was able to rebound from the depths of supposed failure in the mid-1980's (when he was ousted from his own company) to return a decade later as an even more impressive technological mastermind and a peerless innovator. He began his re-ascension as one of the creative forces behind Pixar animation. Then, beginning in 1998, he began redefining the personal computer landscape with a new design philosophy for his Mac computers. The iPod arrived in 2001 and completely dominated the portable music landscape. From there, Jobs helmed one brilliant product or service after another; iTunes, the iPhone and last year, the iPad. Suddenly, owning an Apple product carried a serious status as hip, cool and very stylish.

He made Microsoft and its leader, Bill Gates look antiquated by comparison.

I rank Steve Jobs high on the list of great entrepreneurs who changed the world forever for the better. From Thomas Edison and Henry Ford to John Rockefeller and Sam Walton, the man's legacy of achievement can never be overstated. He was truly one of a kind.

Thanks, Steve.