| BUSINESSWEEK ONLINE : JULY 12, 1999 ISSUE | ||||||||
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| DIGITAL DISPATCH
Do You Have Dot.com Fever? If you're anywhere near high tech, I bet you do. Here's a test to see which strain you carry: STRAIN 1 1. Your dot.com company has gone public, and you are experiencing vast, arguably undeserved wealth. If this has not happened, please skip to strain 2. You find yourself referring to people by their net worth instead of by what they do for their companies. 3. ''Gore's people'' keep mangling your lawn every time he drops by for a fund-raiser. There is no one left on your Christmas card list to whom you haven't mentioned this. 4. In your discussions with architects for the home you're building, you find yourself explaining your pets' needs. 5. When the minister of your local church reads about your net worth he calls you for a donation. You gently tell him his value proposition is not compelling at this time. STRAIN 2 (FAR MORE PREVALENT) 1. You worked your tail off for a major Valley employer that then fell on hard times. As you walked out the door, top execs were saying, with neck tendons bulging: ''We're not going to get seduced by all this Internet crap!'' 2. You are on your fourth startup, your third marriage, and still in your first condo. 3. Your neighbor bought a new Jaguar. Then, suddenly, it was gone. You've heard he has a ''problem'' with day trading. You now want to try it even more. 4. The bulging-neck-tendon guys you used to work for just announced a new E-services strategy. At the press conference, one said he ''honestly couldn't remember a time when we haven't been an Internet company.'' _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ BACK TO TOP |
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RELATED ITEMS The Dark Side of Silicon Valley's Wealth TABLE: Web Pointers TABLE: Do You Have Dot.com Fever? INTERACT E-Mail to Business Week Online | |||
