(Ups) to the stock market. After a rocky start early last year, the market rebounded and soared, mirroring the robust economy and giving new life to the old phrase, “You can’t keep a good man down.” SBN’s advice: Ride it as long as you can.
(Downs) to computer viruses, which got meaner and more destructive as the year progressed. One of the nastiest was W95.Babylonia, which came disguised as a Y2K fix and spread through ‘Net chat rooms. This makes us wonder about the future of cybersubterfuge. Will we one day log on to the ‘Net and watch our computers explode?
(Ups) to corporate community giving, which is on the rise. Last month’s Medical Mutual of Ohio Pillar Award for Community Service demonstrated that business owners do make a difference in their communities 12 months a year. Keep up the good work into the next millennium!
(Downs) to the Y2K bug. The repair bill hovers around $100 billion. That’s the equivalent of $365 per person in the U.S. No matter what happens next, this is the most expensive modern peacetime catastrophe ever. All this over two lousy digits.
(Ups) to productivity, which continues to climb. Companies are more efficient with fewer workers. At the same time, labor costs continue to decline, keeping inflation at bay. The good times continue to roll.
(Downs) to business owners who eschew technology and e-commerce. You know who you are — if you still do all your business on paper and by hand, clinging to the false assumption that the Internet is a passing fad, this is the year you’re in for a real surprise. Our solution: Adapt now or get ready to close your company’s doors. Remember, dinosaurs once ruled the world.