Person of the Century

Throughout this year, you’ve watched the festivities build toward a climax. As we approach the end of 1999, the newsstands—and your mailboxes—are crowded with all sorts of magazines proclaiming their choices for Person of the Year, Person of the Century, even Person of the Millennium.

Because this is the last issue of SecureWay Connection for 1999, perhaps you’ll forgive me for following the trend and naming my own Person of the Century. I’ll reveal my choice at the end of this column.

But first I’d like to start a new trend. Allow me to look toward the future and be the first to select the Person of the 21st Century. Who is the person who will make the biggest difference in our world, the world of business?

The Person of the 21st Century is your customer—the person who purchases your IT products, resources, and services. As you know, e-business is about using the power of the Internet to extend the reach of your business to new customers and extend the level of service you provide to current customers. Of course, the customer is the common denominator throughout this equation.

The most successful business people have always understood the importance of the customer. Today, as e-business expands the possibilities for your enterprise beyond what you could only imagine a few years ago, that simple truth remains. The customer is still the reason for everything we do, and that fact won’t change in the coming century.

IBM SecureWay Software offers the solutions you need to succeed at e-business. And, because our product line is built on a solid foundation based upon industry standards, we intend to continue providing you with powerful enterprise-class solutions well into the new century.

So who is my choice for Person of the 20th Century? Perhaps I could pick Thomas J. Watson, who built IBM into a great company, or Lou Gerstner, who is leading IBM into the new century with renewed vigor. But my vote for Person of the 20th Century goes to you. As IBM’s customer, you are the reason for everything we do.

I hope you enjoy all of the end-of-millennium celebrations, and I hope you—and your customers—continue to enjoy success throughout 2000 and beyond.

Larry Kunz
Editor, SecureWay Connection