The Genius Grandson of the Loan King - Chapter 43 (43/840)
< Hey, Jobs! Hey, Steve Jobs! >
#43
Hey, Jobs! Hey, Steve Jobs!
Steve Jobs.
Almost no one in the world doesn't know this person. It wouldn't be an exaggeration to say that his existence has changed the lives of people worldwide...
However, he is currently in a state of being ousted from the company he created, Apple. He is struggling with NeXT and Pixar, but the results are not good.
No, they are only recording losses.
‘This is the only chance to invest in Jobs. No matter what, I need to establish a connection with him.’
After returning to New York and spending one night, I took a flight and flew to California, where Pixar is located, without any prior notice.
I went there without making any contact.
There was no guarantee that I would be able to meet him since I didn't make an appointment, but I judged that it would be better to stimulate his curiosity rather than make a prior appointment, given his eccentric personality.
A while later, we arrived at the building where Pixar is located.
I walked confidently to the reception desk. An employee sitting inside looked at me.
"How did you get here?"
"Is Jobs here?"
"The CEO?"
"Yes."
The employee glanced at me and my companions, then hesitated before speaking.
"Did you make an appointment?"
"No, but if you tell Jobs, he will probably meet me."
The employee looked at me as if I were crazy, but I maintained a calm demeanor.
The employee, with a dubious expression, asked,
"What is your business?"
"Just tell him that a man from the East has come to save him."
"Ha... What... Please wait a moment."
The employee got up and disappeared inside.
Han Kyung-yeong, who was standing beside me with an embarrassed look, whispered to me,
"Who exactly is Jobs?"
"He's someone who will change the world."
A while later, the employee returned with an even stranger expression.
"…He says you can come up."
"Thank you."
We took the elevator to the CEO's office.
The secretary at the entrance also looked at me curiously but led us to Jobs.
When we entered, we saw him sitting on the sofa with his legs crossed. It was the exact face I had seen in many photos.
‘Hey, Jobs! You still have some hair left at this time, huh?’
I smiled slightly to myself and walked in.
"Hey, Jobs! How are you?"
I greeted him as if we were old friends. He looked at me with a strange expression.
"Do you know me?"
"Of course. Steve Jobs!"
"I don't think I've seen you before."
"Ha ha ha, can I sit down?"
Jobs nodded.
Han Kyung-yeong and I sat down, and Ma Seok-dae stood behind me.
Jobs glanced at the standing Ma Seok-dae and said,
"My bodyguard and secretary. Don't worry about him."
"Ah! Are you some kind of Asian royalty?"
Jobs, who had a deep interest in Asian culture, was very interested in Asian royalty.
"No, I'm from Korea. Do you know where Korea is?"
"Korea? Ah! Ilseong? I've been there once. They rejected my proposal in Ilseong."
He frowned slightly, perhaps recalling that time, and began to scrutinize me again.
"So, what do you mean by coming to save me? If it's a joke, it won't be funny."
"What joke? I wouldn't joke with the great Jobs."
I laughed and waved my hand.
Then, without further ado, I continued.
"Are you thinking about selling Pixar? And NeXT, too?"
Jobs looked surprised when I mentioned his unspoken thoughts.
But it was only for a moment. He smiled at me again.
"Hmm, me? No way."
He shrugged and said playfully, as if he had no such thoughts.
"Come on, we're old friends. I heard you've already spent half of the fortune you had when you were ousted from Apple. Isn't that right?"
The smile on his face disappeared and he stiffened when the topic of Apple came up.
Indeed, this was a sensitive subject for him.
"Ah! Don't make that face. I think it was crazy for Apple to kick you out. Apple is Jobs, and Jobs is Apple. It's only natural. Kicking you out, they're crazy. You can see how Apple is doing now, can't you?"
His expression softened again. I smiled.
"Talking about Apple isn't important. You'll eventually return there. I came here to solve your current problems. Do you want to hear it?"
He nodded, as if daring me to continue.
I smiled, looking into his eyes, which were starting to show a strange enthusiasm.
"I'll invest the same amount you've invested in your two companies. In return, give me half the shares of those two companies."
"I'm not selling."
His words were different from his body language.
His crossed legs were now uncrossed, and his body was leaning slightly towards me.
‘He’s not being honest.’
I hid my true feelings and continued.
"Don't misunderstand. I have no interest in management. I just want to establish a relationship with you. You've invested about 50 million dollars in those two companies, right?"
He nodded, and I continued to persuade him.
"You've invested so much, it would be a waste to sell to someone else. I'll exchange your half of the shares for the same amount of money. I'll give you the voting rights, and I only want to talk about the future with you. How about it? Isn't this a good deal for a savior?"
His expression changed noticeably when I offered to invest in the two companies that were only recording losses while giving him all the rights.
"I won't kick you out like those idiots at Apple. I'm investing in you, not the companies. Pixar? NeXT? Do you think they have any value without you?"
With those words, the last bit of caution in his expression disappeared.
They say he has a strong sense of self...
"Alright, it's good. But do I have to do it with you? There are many other people."
I burst out laughing as if I had heard a funny joke.
"Hey, Jobs. Stop testing me. Who else would be smart enough to invest in you in this situation? You know, they're all idiots. Do you think there are people on Wall Street who would invest tens of millions of dollars in companies that have been in the red for years? Unless they want to buy the whole company."
Jobs finally gave in.
"Phew, I can't say anything. Of course, no one offers such conditions. There are many people interested in acquiring the company, but..."
Of course.
It was a time when giants in the information and communication industry, such as Paul Allen, who co-founded Microsoft with Bill Gates, and Larry Ellison, known as the rogue of Silicon Valley, were testing the waters.
Especially Larry Ellison, who was close to Jobs, would be more actively proposing.
But Jobs was reluctant to sell the companies. Not just NeXT, which he created after being ousted from Apple, but also Pixar, which he acquired for ten million dollars...
If he sold the companies and stepped away, he might avoid losses, but he would be uncertain about whether he could return to Apple.
Well... eventually, Pixar would become a huge success, and NeXT would merge with Apple, bringing Jobs back as CEO.
I nodded in agreement.
"Right. If I were a normal investor or businessman, I would have acquired the company instead of working with you. But you don't want to sell, right? That's why I came here. Otherwise, I would have left."
As I was about to get up, Jobs quickly stopped me.
"Ah, young man, why are you so impatient? So, you want half of my shares, and I'll manage the company?"
"50 million dollars! What do you think?"
"What if the investment fails?"
"Just consider it the cost of building a relationship with you."
It will come back tenfold, twentyfold, so what's there to worry about?
"That's too little..."
Seeing the signs of Jobs' characteristic negotiation tactics, I preemptively blocked them.
"Don't think about getting 50 million dollars more. You'll give up all management and voting rights, and you'll have the right of first refusal if the company goes public or I sell my shares. This is the best I can offer. Do you think any other crazy investor would offer such conditions?"
"Let me talk."
"50 million dollars!"
"No..."
"50 million dollars!"
Jobs burst out laughing, looking exasperated.
"Ha... I've never met anyone more stubborn than you. Alright, I get it. We'll discuss the details later, but let's have a meal and talk today."
"Okay."
Han Kyung-yeong, who had been silent, spoke to me in a slightly tired voice.
"I'll go to the hotel first."
"Alright, if you want. Call the lawyer here."
While Jobs was preparing, I gave Han Kyung-yeong a simple task and got up.
"This is my partner, James Han. I'll mainly be in Korea, and he will be the one who will frequently interact with Jobs."
"Ah! Mr. Han? Nice to meet you."
"Nice to meet you too."
"Let's go to dinner."
"He's too tired and will go to the hotel first. He has some work to do, so we'll see him tomorrow for the contract."
"Alright, see you next time."
Han Kyung-yeong shook hands with Jobs and left.
We arrived at a restaurant Jobs often visits.
‘Ah... he was a strict vegetarian, right?’
He only ordered salads and fruits.
"Don't worry about me, order what you want. I'll pay for it today. Ha ha ha."
He was smiling, seemingly in a good mood. I simply replied and ordered the same.
"Are you a vegetarian too?"
"No, but I can't eat meat in front of Jobs."
He laughed loudly, seemingly pleased with my answer.
"I like it. Your confident attitude reminds me of myself when I was young. But does your secretary not eat?"
"No, don't worry about him. He's always like that. He's a reliable person."
Jobs glanced at Ma Seok-dae and nodded.
"It's hard to find someone like him. He's different from the start, and he always keeps an eye on your movements."
"Thanks."
"Why?"
"He's my man."
The food arrived, and we continued our conversation while eating fruits and vegetables.
"What do you think about the internet?"
"It will change the world, especially the World Wide Web. Innovations have already started with Mosaic and will continue with web browsers. Information will flood in, and eventually, the world will become a place where computers are everywhere. It will happen within ten years."
"Young people like you know this, but the fools at Apple don't. They are still clinging to past glories. The Apple I want is not like that."
"Ha ha ha, they are fools, so they kicked you out."
Jobs nodded, smiling contentedly.
"By the way, what's your name? I didn't even know that."
"Charlie Kim."
"Charlie? What's your original name?"
"Kim Mu-hyuk."
"Kim Mu...?"
"Ha ha ha, don't try to pronounce it. Just call me Charlie."
"That's embarrassing. I've lived in Asia for quite a while. Call me Steve. It's a term I only allow close friends to use, so consider it an honor, Charlie."
"Alright, Steve."
The conversation continued in a warm atmosphere.
Jobs talked about his life. Although I already knew the story, I nodded along. It wasn't difficult to agree with him, knowing who he is.
"Innovation is the yardstick that distinguishes leaders from followers. Which one are you, Charlie? A leader or a follower?"
"Steve, I've always been a leader and will continue to be one. I don't think anyone is more innovative than me. You are the same, Steve."
"Ha ha ha!"
He laughed loudly, genuinely enjoying himself.
"You're the first person to say that to me. It's really funny. What kind of world do you see in the future?"
Let me give you a taste of the future.
I took out my mobile phone from my pocket and showed it to him.
"Do you know what this is?"
"A mobile phone, right?"
"This mobile phone will keep getting smaller, and eventually, a computer will fit inside it."