Rebirth of the Powerful

Chapter 427 The word "Awesome" is written on the face

Over the past two years after his rebirth, Xia Xiaoluo's financial industry territory has continued to expand, and he has gradually reached the peak that he could not imagine in his previous life. Seeing a different kind of scenery, his vision naturally broadened.It's not that he hasn't thought about studying abroad, but he finally rejected the idea. Xia Xiaoluo doesn't yearn for the outside world. In this regard, he feels a little idealistic.The heart is far away, even though it is in a small room, the heart has traveled far away.People who know how to live, even if they walk in the park next to the residential area, can read the tranquil state of life from the old man playing chess, and can read the changes of the years from the spring flowers and autumn grass; All over the world, he couldn't get out of his narrow heart, leaving only photos of "so and so came here for a visit".Therefore, Xia Xiaoluo hopes to study in a university in China.Besides, Xia Xiaoluo likes university life very much, that flirtatious roommate, that life where elective courses are turned upside down day and night and must skip compulsory courses, is the real university.Therefore, Xia Xiaoluo hopes to study in a university in China.

The conversation with Mr. Cotter, the chairman of MGM, was Xia Xiaoluo's last business activity in the United States.After the meeting, Xia Xiaoluo's trip to the United States will come to an end soon. This is Xia Xiaoluo's last major business move before the college entrance examination.After the investment is negotiated, he will return to campus, start a campus life that lasts for more than half a year, and then start his long-awaited university life.

"Mr. Kurt, do you want to hear my advice? It's for MGM." Xia Xiaoluo asked faintly, shaking the red liquid in the wine glass.

Early in the morning, Old Cotter took Xia Xiaoluo to his Dynasty Gambling Hotel. The two sat in the comfortable office and started their business talks. Old Cotter hoped to create a casual and relaxed atmosphere.And the expensive 1965 Lafite and the old records in the antique gramophone, the singing of Elvis Presley, did create this kind of atmosphere.

The Dynasty Gambling Hotel has been given a new look, the floor has been washed very clean, the customers are still full, the business is still so prosperous, it seems that yesterday's shooting case never happened.

Sin is the fastest thing to be cleaned up in this world.

Old Cotter woke up from his thoughts and nodded slightly.

"MGM's decline from its former glory to its current decline is mainly due to the antitrust act, but it is not without a chance to make a comeback. You have controlled MGM for 20 years, but during these 20 years MGM There is no turning point, but more and more decline. On the contrary, why other film companies can stand strong, have you thought about this question?"

On Old Cotter's fat face, his eyes became smaller and shrewd, looking at Xia Xiaoluo questioningly.

"Making a movie is not about opening a casino, and running a movie company is not about running a hotel. Mr. Kurt, you have fallen into a misunderstanding. Simply investing in funds cannot fundamentally solve the problem. Every big-budget movie has astonishing risks. Maybe MGM lasted for a while after the money was invested, but no owner can afford a bottomless pit. Not to mention that you don't seem to have invested much money in MGM. As far as I know, in the past ten years, every MGM produces far fewer films a year than any other company."

Xia Xiaoluo's words might just hit the sore spot of old Kurt. Old Kurt blushed, but he didn't make a sound, just glanced at the young man, and then lowered his head again to think.

"Maybe I can understand your feelings, Mr. Cotter. For a businessman, it is a sad thing for a company under him to experience losses for decades. Under the circumstances, willing to continue to invest money in a company that will only lose money. I believe you hope that MGM can bounce back, but you don't see the root of the problem. The problem with MGM is not that Funds, but ideas.”

Xia Xiaoluo stood up, walked slowly to the window, and stood with her hands behind her back, leaving Old Cotter with a peerless back that he could only look up at.

Xia Xiaoluo said indifferently: "This is an era of reform and transformation. Las Vegas is also undergoing transformation, isn't it? From a city that only gambles to a tourist resort city; What a wonderful transformation from being a resort to a resort. In the same way, MGM has to transform like Las Vegas if it wants to come back from the dead.”

Xia Xiaoluo is right. In 1992, Las Vegas was still a place full of gangsters, known as "Sin City". Now, in Las Vegas, the government, especially the police and judicial forces, are It is very weak, and the order is basically maintained by the five major gangs headed by Old Cotter's Italian Mafia and the Chinese circle on the west coast of the United States.This point can be seen from yesterday's shootout, the police didn't come out to wash the ground after killing people, it's too unprofessional.

However, Las Vegas has now entered a critical period of transformation. In the 21st century, the management here is very standardized, and the social security is particularly good.

Old Kurt also felt this change, and he couldn't help but nodded.

"Why is MGM struggling to survive, and what is the difference between them and well-run companies like Warner and Fox, do you know?" Xia Xiaoluo ended this long speech with a question.The young man seemed to be tired from talking, and moistened his throat with a glass of water.

Old Cote thought hard and shook his head for a long time, expressing that he couldn't think of the answer Xia Xiaoluo wanted.

"It's not anything else, but because of different bosses. Warner's boss is Time Warner, while Fox's boss is Murdoch Media Group. The bosses of all successful film companies have the same identity, that is, a large media group. Only with such a boss can there be real development. With the backing of a media group, there is an inherent advantage, that is, publicity. No matter how bad a film is, as long as the publicity is in place, it can attract people to the cinema. And the boss of MGM, You are a casino tycoon, what can you bring to MGM's movie business?" Xia Xiaoluo took a sip of boiled water, smiled and looked at Old Cote casually.

"What's more, you have made a big mistake in the operation of MGM. In this era, movies no longer rely solely on releasing movies to make money, but have formed an industrial chain. Books, toys, and souvenirs related to movies , games, theme parks. Maybe a film’s box office is a loss, but the industry chain behind it will double the loss of the film.” Xia Xiaoluo, who graduated from the third-rate Pheasant University majoring in finance, and The author of this book, classmate Xiaomi, is also different. Although he often skips classes, he also reads a lot.

Xia Xiaoluo wanted to show off her knowledge, looked at Old Cotter with a smile, and asked, "Do you know the story about illette and his razor?"

As Xia Xiaoluo hoped, old Mr. Cotter shook his head cutely.

"In 1903, Kim Gillette, a salesman full of utopian fantasies, was nearly fifty years old, but he aspired to be an inventor. It took him four years to invent the replaceable blade razor. Throughout the year, only 51 sets of knife holders and 168 blades were sold. But what Gillette did next created a new business model. He sold millions of knife holders at extremely low discounts Sold to the U.S. Army in the hope that these soldiers could become loyal users of Gillette after they retire and return home. The army naturally distributed the knife holders to the soldiers as daily necessities. He sold the knife holders to the bank and asked the bank to buy them as gifts. For new clients. He managed to bundle the knife block with just about everything—from Green Arrow gum to black tea bags. After just another year, he had already sold 9 tool holders and 1240 million blades."

In the end, Xia Xiaoluo concluded as if authentic: "The prevalence of Gillette blades 100 years ago has left an important legacy to the business of later generations: providing free, or at least cheap, almost free platform products, and then through consumables, or Supplies, or services, to obtain real fat profits and income. Movies can be shot at a loss and sold at a loss, but peripheral products must make money!"

"My God!" Old Kurt's eyes widened, and he looked at Xia Xiaoluo in disbelief, as if the word "Awesome" was written on Xia Xiaoluo's face.

Damn, of course it's awesome. Xia Xiaoluo is very frightened. These theories come from the handed down classic "Freedom: The Future of Business" by Chris Anderson, the editor-in-chief of "Wired" magazine and the author of "The Long Tail Theory". .The author of this book is known as "the spiritual godfather of the information age". This book has also changed the fate of many people. Isn't it awesome?