Internet companies simply must play by the rules that govern all companies. They will need to hire smart, dedicated, experienced people that can inspire others. They will need patient investors. And they will need time to prove their mettle. This is no different than any other business, and that's significant to remember.
Business is hard.
At the top of the business food chain, we have companies that are successful, that have managed to stockpile resources that enable them to survive climate changes in the market and their core businesses. The rash of Internet companies that were born over the last five years didn't have the advantage of knowing the best way to apply their technical knowledge or marketing smarts. Some of them have survived due to sheer luck, but most of the survivors will be left because they adhere to basic business principles. It doesn't mean that the underlying business medium is flawed. The development of the Internet, in some ways, mirrors the development of radio.