Tim Cook will step down as Apple’s chief executive in September and advised successor John Tournus to spend his time where it most helps the company and users.

Business Insider reported on Thursday that Cook, speaking on Apple’s second-quarter earnings call, pointed to “where to spend time” as one of a next CEO’s most important decisions.

Cook also stressed that Apple should not forget its direction. He said Apple is a company that makes the world’s best products that materially enrich other people’s lives, and decision-making should reflect that. He said doing so helps build a good business and sustain performance with more products.

Cook has led Apple since Aug. 24, 2011. He became CEO in place of Steve Jobs as Jobs’ health deteriorated, and Jobs died on Oct. 5 that year after battling a rare form of pancreatic cancer.

Jobs also left Cook similar advice. Cook has said at a 2011 memorial service that one of Jobs’ final pieces of advice was: “Don’t ask what he would do. Just do what’s right.” Cook said that advice has eased a major burden over the past 15 years.

Tournus is Apple’s senior vice president of hardware engineering and has worked at Apple for 25 years. He served under both Cook and Jobs. In a statement posted on Apple’s blog, Tournus said he is optimistic about what Apple will achieve in the coming years and said he is glad Apple has outstanding talent working toward goals larger than himself. He said he will lead the company in line with the values and vision that have defined Apple.