Keen: Ballmer gets it

[oddlots]

Great statement from Microsoft's Ballmer:

“We’re certainly in the midst of a once-in-a-lifetime set of economic conditions. The perspective I would bring is not one of recession. Rather, the economy is resetting to lower level of business and consumer spending based largely on the reduced leverage in economy,” said Chief Executive Steve Ballmer during a conference call. For consumers, that may mean less discretionary income to spend on a second or third home computer, he said.

http://www.debtdeflation.com/blogs/2...s-it/#comments

The image that keeps coming to my mind is that of Matt Dillon at the end of Drugstore Cowboy working as a short order cook. Somehow this one shot - after the mayhem, excitement and heartbreak of a junkie's life - summed up the problem of getting real when you've allowed yourself to live an "enhanced" life. It's a long fall.

But it's real which means everything.

[GRG55]

Re: Keen: Ballmer gets it

Great statement from Microsoft's Ballmer:

“We’re certainly in the midst of a once-in-a-lifetime set of economic conditions. The perspective I would bring is not one of recession. Rather, the economy is resetting to lower level of business and consumer spending based largely on the reduced leverage in economy,” said Chief Executive Steve Ballmer during a conference call. For consumers, that may mean less discretionary income to spend on a second or third home computer, he said.

http://www.debtdeflation.com/blogs/2...s-it/#comments

The image that keeps coming to my mind is that of Matt Dillon at the end of Drugstore Cowboy working as a short order cook. Somehow this one shot - after the mayhem, excitement and heartbreak of a junkie's life - summed up the problem of getting real when you've allowed yourself to live an "enhanced" life. It's a long fall.

But it's real which means everything.

Maybe Ballmer "gets it", or maybe he's just mouthing what his management consultants are telling him. Let's give him the benefit of the doubt. Despite this [one of] Ballmer's problems is dragging along a very large organization that is undoubtedly still in denial. I'll bet that every single executive and manager in Microsoft thinks that cutting costs and cutting people is an excellent idea...for the company [it never pays to disagree with the boss]...but every one of them is at the same time explaining to Ballmer why their department is not the problem.

The quarter-hearted way they approached this task shown in yesterday's announcement [it doesn't qualify for even half-hearted status] bears all the markings of a group of executives that have hired some expensive consultants and don't like what they are hearing.

[sunskyfan]

Re: Keen: Ballmer gets it

Rationalizing Depression ... "once in a life time" talk is getting passe'.

One of the great enablers of the bullshit economy was microsoft ... I hear they heard that Apple owns the rights to the Black Swan so microsoft has bought themselves a Black Duck and telling us its a swan.

[kelton56]

Re: Keen: Ballmer gets it

The new CEO conference call mantra, to be repeated over and over for quarters to come:

“We’re certainly in the midst of a once-in-a-lifetime set of economic conditions. The perspective I would bring is not one of recession. Rather, the economy is resetting to lower level of business and consumer spending based largely on the reduced leverage in economy,” said Chief Executive (Your Name Here) during a conference call.

For consumers, that may mean less discretionary income to spend on (Your Company's Product Here), he(she) said.

[GRG55]

Re: Keen: Ballmer gets it

The new CEO conference call mantra, to be repeated over and over for quarters to come:

“We’re certainly in the midst of a once-in-a-lifetime set of economic conditions. The perspective I would bring is not one of recession. Rather, the economy is resetting to lower level of business and consumer spending based largely on the reduced leverage in economy,” said Chief Executive (Your Name Here) during a conference call.

For consumers, that may mean less discretionary income to spend on (Your Company's Product Here), he(she) said.

Hmmm. Interesting point. Probably works for the retailers too. :p

This new excuse will be a refreshing change from years of listening to them blame the weather for missing their targets..."The cold discouraged shoppers from coming to the malls"; "The sunny weather caused people to spend more time outdoors"; "The wet weather meant shoppers stayed at home"...

[Spartacus]

Re: This is bad for Ballmer's health

he can't throw chairs at "the credit crunch", like he can at Google, so where is he going to get his exercise?

[oddlots]

Re: Keen: Ballmer gets it

Jeeez... do you guy's need a hug? I thought I hated Microsoft!

Ok, so maybe I'm a naive putz for thinking that it was significant that some CEO acknowledged that the old "realities" are not just offstage waiting for the encore but gone, never to return. But have you heard any other statements from the "adult supervisors" this clear on the point that a phase-shift has occured: the boosters are gone and gravity has re-asserted itself (two distinct events.) Is there another CEO of a major US institution embracing this viewpoint?

[marvenger]

Re: Keen: Ballmer gets it

the end of the credit binge and its effect on consumption is a pretty easy concept to understand, all keen is saying I think is that ballmer is the first to admit that the old days of credit creating purchasing power are gone and like an alcoholic the first stage to taking action to rectify the problem is to admit you have a problem. Need to start hearing most people voicing their realisation their system has a problem for their to be action. The myth of a slow crash hopefully also means that action will start to happen quickly too.

[Master Shake]

Re: Keen: Ballmer gets it

Is there another CEO of a major US institution embracing this viewpoint?

Maybe they all understand what's going on, but are trying to put on a brave face?