Pulling a pep talk out of a tailspin

By DAVE GUSSOW

© St. Petersburg Times,
published June 18, 2001

Times are tough in the tech world, and a little pep talk seemed to be in order at last week's Tampa Bay Technology Forum breakfast.

So forum president Tom Wallace invoked two local sports celebrities as examples of persevering through difficult times. Former Bucs coach John McKay, who died last week, went through a winless 1976 season, followed by a two-win year, before finally leading the team to the playoffs.

Tennis star Jennifer Capriati seemed destined for greatness as a teenager but only now has she blossomed into a top star, recently winning the French Open.

Then Wallace started listing the woes of the tech field with money tight, companies folding and layoffs. He paused, realizing his pep talk was beginning to sound like funeral oration.

"I didn't mean to paint a doom-and-gloom picture," Wallace said, causing the audience to laugh. "That's not my message! We can persevere and overcome this." The audience broke into applause.

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