He had an uncanny ability to know what customers want. He was the customer and knew what would sell. He fine tuned that skill away from Apple during his hiatus

He had an uncanny ability to know what customers want. He was the customer and knew what would sell. He fine tuned that skill away from Apple during his hiatus so when he came back he knew how to turn the company around as the industry was changing right then. It's also about being in the right place at the right time.