Phrases become clichés because at one time they fit many situations perfectly and subsequently got used, abused and overused, which in itself is probably a cliché.

So why think outside the box? Using the right cliché can be a win-win situation, and at the end of the day, there is a certain synergy between a cliché and the business situation one is trying to bring to the table going forward. So rather than pushing the envelope and trying to reinvent the wheel I'll stick with a standby that is more reliable than a weather report and righter than rain.

And it's this: The more things change, the more they stay the same. This is especially true for the TM Forum. While the communications industry responds to a new wave of competition -- one born of innovation and much more threatening than the one born of legislation in 1996 -- by making wholesale changes to its infrastructure and its business model, the mission of the TM Forum remains the same. See the interview below with TMF President Martin Creaner to see why this is true.

However, looking at the agenda for the forum's upcoming Management World Americas in November, you may think that things aren't remaining the same for the forum. There are all kinds of new initiatives and lots of surprising new members, such as cable and content companies. Two new organizations have also been incorporated since the TMF last visited Dallas: IPDR.org and the Global Billing Association. There's even a new name for the forum itself as well, but we all know a name change doesn't say much about what changes within.

Another change, which is not really a change, is that for the first time in a long time, a major initiative is being driven by a U.S. Tier 1 service provider. In this case, that service provider is AT&T. And the initiative comes in the guise of a Catalyst project. It is being called a showcase for the management challenges of next-generation services. So if you can't make it to the event in November, be sure to check out the Business Transformation supplement Telephony publishes on Nov. 5 to see what that initiative is all about.

Until then, remember that Rome wasn't built in one day, so take things one step at a time and keep your eye on the prize. The changes taking place within the TM Forum only enhance its mission; they don't change it. And in this case, change is good.

E-mail me at tmcelligott@telephonyonline.com.