Devoted to Managers and those that seek to improve their management skills

The Net changes everything. "That phrase drove me nuts!"

When we consider the Internet climate today, we see some similarity between the phrase "the net changes everything" again.

Every time some new gadget, widget or technology comes forth you hear a bunch of noise about the next big thing is here. We just about hear it daily again. (I write and follow Internet marketing on another blog, so know of what I speak).

Here's how Grove described why the phrase drove him nuts:

"The Internet doesn't change everything. It doesn't change supply and demand. It doesn't magically allow you to build businesses by turning investors' money into operating expenses indefinitely. The money always runs out eventually - the Internet doesn't change that, as we have seen."

We're seeing similar things to the dotcom hype returning as companies are starting to buy up tons of Internet companies again that in many cases are being built for no other reason than to be bought. And we're hearing the same old message again that this time it's different from before.

The truth is that not much is that different even now. Everybody talked about the new video model with YouTube, and the social networking represented by MySpace and others.

What's happening, even with those that swore they wouldn't "sell out," are finding that there's only so far you can go without monetizing your business. It doesn't matter if it's an Internet business or any other.

So result is all these sites are starting to do what many of us knew they would: they're starting to monetize through advertising.

Again, what the great managers know is the basics of business are never going to change. They ignore the hype, but still look for how it can help them to better serve their customers.

When you come right down to it, there will never be anything that changes everything. Anybody that believes there will be in business will open themselves up to any nutty new thing that someone throws in their path. Grove hated the type of talk like "the net changes everything," when he knew that it never would. We need to hold that same attitude.

Other Andy Grove Resources:

Andy Grove's Rational Exuberance

What I've Learned: Andy Grove

The Digital Age . . . driven by the passion of Intel's Andrew Grove

The History and Influence of Andy Grove

The Education of Andy Grove

Churning Things Up

Grove Quotes

Andy Grove's Re-entrance

Q&A: Andy Grove

Andy Grove enters new post-Intel role as activist capitalist

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