RE: Hard Times and Advice

["Albertson, Chris" <CAlbertson@primeadvantage.com>]

In the 1920's there was this new "high tech" invention
called "commercial radio".  Everyone thought all you
needed was a transmitter and you'd be rich.  Well, rich
as soon as _everyone_ had gotten around to buying a
receiver.  So stocks in radio companies shot through
the roof as people scrambled to stake out their part of
the market.  Stations ran at a loss in order to gain
market share.  Then the whole thing went bust.  We still
have radio and some people can earn a living with it
but no one expects to get rich on radio stocks any more.

I think what's happening is that the computer industry is
maturing.  You can still make money if you have a product
people want to pay for and you can market it and you can
manage your company well.  I'm telling people "I actually
have to work at work now."  Darn.

Just last Saturday I was talking to this homeless guy who
makes he rounds of some dumpsters around an industrial area
of LA harbor. (I have a boat and needed to dispose of some
empty soft drink containers.) It turns out even being a bum
is a full time job.  Collecting cans, pushing the shopping
cart, stopping by the food kitchens. The guy doesn't have
time to sleep.