I work for a large Multinational (embedded systems supplier)Corporation and I've just completed my divisional FY2000 budget ($150M). I've tried to set the expectation at every level within our corporation that the financial performance expectations of our company need to be tempered by Y2K-related market disruptions and have been summarily dismissed (at least in this regard). So I go on my merry way developing market/business plans and discussing all the 'reasons' why 2000 will be such a gangbuster year - and I feel like a hypocrite/liar all the way. This is a no-win situation, not to mention that at some level I'm being dishonest. Any comments?

-- Jonny B Good (feel@bad.com), October 14, 1999

Answers

In that situation I believe I'd develop two sets of market/business plans based on the two different assumptions about how next year will unfold and be honest about our lack of a crystal ball on this.

DCK

-- Don Kulha (dkulha@vom.com), October 14, 1999.

Embedded systems supplier? What was your experience with the compliancy of your systems? How many of your customers called/wrote and asked for verification that your systems had been remediated, or did not need that step? Financial performance for more embedded systems, hhhmmm. Do you get your parts overseas? Do you have enough on-hand stock to replace/upgrade all the frantic customers who will be trying to reach you in January?

If you were positioned just right, your prospects could be better than most. But if there's a lot of toast, there may be a backlash against re-digitizing everything right away.

Only your conscience can truly ascertain honesty.

-- Ashton & Leska in Cascadia (allaha@earthlink.net), October 14, 1999.

I feel your pain Jonny B. During the day I have the stock market channel on, I think its CNBC. I think about the single investor out there, who wants to be a good dobee and does what his Gov. suggest, dont count on social security, invest. If the single investor knew what I know about Y2K, he would pull-out. If the investment House knew what I know about Y2K, they woudnt tell anybody. The foxes gaurding the hen house know that if Y2K is bad there bus-life is over, but thats then , why end the bus-life now.

-- Les (yoyo@tolate.com), October 14, 1999.

Hypocrite? You wanna talk hypocrite? I've self-censored myself in nearly every relationship I have - colleagues, neighbours, friends, even family. I tried through '98 and the first half of '99 to be open and honest and create awareness that Y2K could be bad. Since taking such a battering over these early efforts, I've stopped discussing Y2K offline. When I'm asked, I give a blase 'well it'll be interesting, that's for sure' but no FUD stuff (prep prep prep etc.)

-- Whaaaaaaaaaah?????? (slkjdf@aflkjd.com), October 14, 1999.

* * * 19991014 Thursday

Personally, I can't sleep if my conscience knows I've been hypocritical!

It was all that I could do to sleep in 1997 and 1998. All those Y2K project status reports and meetings. Every irrefutable fact I stated in these documents and forums was "schmoozed" by TPTB into politically and career -correct terms-LIES!!

I bailed out in December, 1998. Couldn't stand it any more. I've been sleeping relatively well ever since!

However, all my relatives and--I'm ashamed to even say it--most of my professional network have slammed the "Y2K Leper" treatment on me! You know... The "Thousand Mile Stare," or "Pregnant Pause... Change the subject" shifts?

I've enjoyed 33 years of honorable IT work, including the REAL Y2K messes I did the best that I was able to remedy. I _know_ what I _know_, notwithstanding Koskinen, de Jager, Simpson, et al! _They_ can't take that away from me without forcible administration of a thorough frontal lobotomy!

I've reconciled with my own conscience in my own way. _THAT_ is all that matters, in the final analysis! I'll live honorably, whatever the consequences.

Peace be with you?!?

Regards, Bob Mangus

* * *

-- Robert Mangus (rmangus1@yahoo.com), October 14, 1999.

Robert, you know that you are right about Y2K. We know you are right. Thank you for posting so much reality on the Forum. God bless you. He likes the Truth :-)

-- Ashton & Leska in Cascadia (allaha@earthlink.net), October 14, 1999.

The truth shall set you free!!!!

(I thought that I would get that in before somebody else did. Most likely Liberty.)

-- King of Spain (madrid@aol.cum), October 14, 1999.

species die-back is natural.

-- zoobie (zoobiezoob@yahoo.com), October 15, 1999.

YEP, big ol' hypocrite here. I am an 8th grade teacher and today I was putting up posters in the hallway for a Halloween Scary Story contest we are having and a history teacher walked by and expressed how impressed she was by the contest and would we be having any more? I told her yes, a Christmas Essay contest, a Millenium essay contest, then I said under my breath "if we are still here", then kinda ha-ha'ed and started to mention the Love Story contest in February when she said really loudly, "What do you mean if we are still HERE?" She gave me the strangest look. Oops. I said, "Oh I was just kidding, you know all that Y2K stuff" She says, "Oh, that pile of baloney?" I laughed and said "Oh, ho ho ho, yes, isn't it all so silly? Hee hee hee!" CRINGING INSIDE. I am a person with TONS of food stored in big plastic buckets, enough water storage for 8 months or more and ammo out the bootie for our two guns and I am laughing the subject off. Strange moment. Sometimes I look at my students, and think if it is a 5 or above, I may never see them again and I feel really really upset. (I truly love teaching.) We have talked about it in my classes, though. They brought the subject up and wanted to talk about it (out of the mouths of babes). So we did and I was pretty honest about it and I just asked THEM a lot of questions and got them thinking.

-- Preparing (preparing@home.com), October 15, 1999.

Preparing,

What did your students have to say about this subject?

-- Wilferd (WilferdW@aol.com), October 15, 1999.

Preparing,

Scary Holloween Story Contest!! I bet I know who will win that one! The kid who writes about cascading cross defaults and the loss of critical infrastucture in all US cities! I am trembling just thinking about that one now. Let us know if his/her last name is Koskeinen (sp?).

-- Kevlar (squeeze@triggerslowly.-), October 15, 1999.

I've found that being hypocritical for an extended period can be damaging to one's self.

Perhaps y2k will provide impetus for some of us to seek a whole new living.

-- Will (sibola@hotmail.com), October 15, 1999.

Choices... choices.

Do you wnat your bosses to sleep well, or yourself? As suggested, offer a Best Case and a Worse Case scenario. Even if the worst case doesn't go beyond your boss... it's documented. They call it CYA (truthfully)... and then you can sleep.

Next year? Just "happen" to have an immediate emergency contingency Action Plan... in your back pocket. Who knows? You might be one of the invaluable "key" fix-it staff they decide to keep.

Your boss may be marginal.

Diane

-- Diane J. Squire (sacredspaces@yahoo.com), October 16, 1999.