<<ON SPEAKING CANDIDLY: Cisco Systems Inc. (Nasdaq, CSCO) Chief Executive John Chambers has an unfortunate speech mannerism he ought to consider changing: He likes to sprinkle the word ''candidly'' throughout his stump speech, as in, ''Candidly, the faster this occurs the more it is to Cisco's advantage,'' or ''When you catch a market in transition (as is Cisco's), that is when you have the opportunity to gain market share, or, candidly, lose market share very quickly.''
The habit is worrisome, of course, because one wonders how candid Chambers is being when he doesn't signal it verbally.
Interestingly, Chambers was more than candid in an indirect answer to an investor wanting to know if Cisco could become as good as Ascend Communications Inc. (Nasdaq, ASND) at selling equipment to telecommunications carriers, as opposed to Cisco's traditional big-business customers.
''Unfortunately, I think Ascend will continue to be a very good competitor,'' says Chambers, known to make subtle but biting comments about Cisco's foes.>>
San Jose Mercury News
Friday, December 4, 1998
www5.mercurycenter.com
|
