Immelt’s transformation of General Electric from a wobbly financial services-reliant conglomerate to a focused industrial powerhouse may wind up taking nearly a decade to complete – a similar time-frame to Lou Gerster’s transformation of IBM IBM +0.92%, Steve Job’s revival of Apple AAPL +1.02% and Ed Breen’s breakup of Tyco - but it also shows the patience investors should have for a CEO who has a clear vision and just needs time.