Our Forecast: Pragmatic Optimism

Fast Company, July, 2001 by The Founding Editors

And now it's time for our new-economy weather report. First we'll take a look at current weather conditions, and then we'll go to our long-term forecast. And -- whoa! This just in! According to Cisco Systems CEO John Chambers, his company has just been hit by a "100-year flood." No wonder he feels like he's been cast in the role of Noah, doing his best to keep the company afloat After the Deluge. But this wasn't just a flood: It was a massive, sudden, unpredicted downpour that hit Cisco by surprise. In a five-day period in December, the company's orders dropped 10%, and before long, Cisco had gone from 65% growth to flat or negative growth. Chambers's forecast: pragmatism mixed with smart risk taking.

Farther down the coast of California, Roger Cass also has a watery view...

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