This 'internet' thing is a fad!

Act One: The year was 1997 (plus or minus) and I had just landed a job with AT&T as a 'middle markets' account executive.

My clients were companies that spent lots of money each month on toll free and long distance.

We are talking $.28 per MINUTE baby!

AT&T rolled out one of the first commercial/corporate website development and hosting offerings. For a meager $5k per month we would build you a five (count 'em 5) page site!

Here are some actual quotes from prospects I pitched this to:

- I am confident sure this 'internet' thing is a fad!
- our customers want to talk to us not a - what do you call it? - oh yeah...a website!
- this business will NEVER go 'on the web!'

Act Two: The year was 2000 (I think the world was supposed to end...)

I worked for Lucent as a 'call center specialist' selling $1m+ phone systems.

My clients were companies with hundreds (and sometimes thousands) of agents that talked to people all day long.

Lucent was one if the first to launch 'text chat' for customer service reps. Our technology enabled reps to chat with up to four customers at once!

Here are some actual quotes from prospects I pitched this to:
- our customers will only talk to people...they don't want any part of this 'chat' nonsense.
- I am confident sure this'chat' thing is a fad!
- We will NEVER chat with our customers

I could go on but I am pretty sure you get the point....