We've walked a bunch of people out of the company. If people aren't committed to helping solve these problems, maybe it's better if they look for another job. Such gruff moments are increasingly common in Silicon Valley. A myth persists that every dot-com business is an easy ticket to riches, creating brash young millionaires who can harness the Internet to reshape whatever corner of the U.S. economy suits their fancy. For every cyber smash hit, there are many companies with once-vast Internet dreams now discovering that lasting success can be elusive, while modest progress requires months of struggle and retrenchment.
Trouble starts with the profusion of opportunities on the Internet.
As distractions mount, it is all too common for Web sites to crash or routine operations to skid out of control. Executives try to patch over problems and keep employees excited about building companies that might change the world. But with each setback, things get harder. Adding to the anxiety is the stock market, with its chasm between Internet winners and losers. Because high-tech pay is so closely tied to stock options, slumping share prices feed employees' doubts about whether they are working at the right company.