The God of Coding, Becoming an IT Conglomerate

39. next(2)

Hoyoung, who stayed overnight at a hotel in Redwood, left the hotel early in the morning.

“It’s the first time I’ve seen a meeting set up at 7:30 a.m.”

It was early in the morning, so Miru said with swollen eyes.

Hoyoung looked into Miru’s eyes and smiled brightly.

“The person I’m going to meet today is not an ordinary person.”

Miru nodded at Hoyoung’s words.

Jobs was already a celebrity in America.

His eccentric and picky personality was also famous.

“Okay. We’re almost there.”

After a while.

Upon arriving at the Next office building, Hoyoung entered the building.

All white pillars and ceiling, clean marble floor without a speck of dust.

The state of the grand office building alone seems to reveal the personality of the founder.

“Hello. Is this Mr. Yoon from Gaia Investment?”

The desk clerk asked Ho-young as soon as he went to the desk, probably because Ho-yeong was the only one to come at this time.

“Yes. I am.”

“please wait for a moment.”

The desk clerk put in a message that Hoyeong had arrived somewhere.

There was silence for a moment while waiting for an answer.

“Is there really only one bathroom here?”

Hoyoung asked the desk clerk.

The staff sighed and replied.

“Yes. That’s right. There is only one in the very center.”

“Really.”

Hoyoung nodded.

During the architectural design stage of the Next office building, Jobs made only one bathroom in this huge office building with the intention of allowing employees to come and go while going to the bathroom and communicate.

‘This is also an element that gives a glimpse of Jobs’ personality.’

While I was thinking about Hoyoung, the desk clerk called me again.

Upon being informed that he could come in, Hoyoung followed the desk clerk and stood in front of the representative’s office.

“When the meeting is over, just go back the same way you came. Then.”

The desk clerk bowed to Hoyoung and went back to his seat.

Hoyoung opened the door and entered, organizing the conversation he had to share today.

“Oh.”

As soon as Hoyeong opened the door and entered, she was a little surprised.

Contrary to what I expected to be sitting at my desk, Jobs was standing in front of the door.

“Are you surprised by me? If so, I apologize. This is Steve.”

Jobs said, guiding Hoyeong to the sofa.

But the expression on his face was not an apologetic one at all.

“Now, let’s sit down. I have an important schedule starting at 8 o’clock, so it’s hard to have a long conversation. Shall we start with the main topic?”

“good.”

“Before that, I will tell you something first. I will not serve as an advisor to other companies, much less as a manager. No. If you’re here to do any of the foregoing, you’d better think again.”

Jobs, sitting in his seat, poured out his words like a rapid-fire cannon.

“Oh, and one more thing. I have nothing to do with Apple anymore, so if you want to talk about Apple, please get out of here right now.”

At Jobs’ words, Hoyoung laughed involuntarily.

But he soon came to his senses and opened his mouth.

“Nice to meet you, Steve. By the way, would it be okay if I call you Steve?”

Jobs nodded.

“Thank you. I’m not interested in what Steve said earlier. I’m here to see you for three other reasons.”

“Three reasons?”

“Yes. The first is your fan, Steve. I have longed to meet you since you founded Apple a long time ago. It’s done.”

Jobs’s eyebrows twitched at Hoyoung’s words.

It was his habit when he was in a very good mood.

‘Fiery narcissism hiding in coolness. I want to be worshiped endlessly. It’s probably the first time someone has praised you directly at a meeting like this.’

But he opened his mouth without making a pleasant tee.

“We didn’t mean to waste each other’s precious time talking about this, right? Get to the point.”

“Ha ha! That was the first point. Seriously. So, let’s talk the second point? I want to invest in you, Steve.”

At Hoyoung’s words of sincerity, Jobs’ eyes, which were about to go up slightly, cooled slightly.

“After all, it’s about investing.”

“What else can the CEO of an investment company say other than investing? After all, it’s about investing.”

But Jobs shook his head and said.

“I have enough money. I don’t need any further investment.”

In fact, NeXT was able to receive sufficient investment, probably because it was a company created by Jobs, who came out of Apple.

“I am not talking about additional investment from capital now.”

“then?”

“I would like to buy some of the current investors’ shares.”

Hearing Hoyoung’s words, Jobs was a little dumbfounded.

“If you want to buy that share, go talk to the investors. Why are you here?”

Hoyoung answered Jobs’ question with a grin.

“I know you included a buy-back clause for some investors when you established Next, didn’t you?”

“How is that?”

Jobs gave some investors a buy-back clause, a clause allowing them to buy back their shares if they wished.

In particular, IBM had an 11% stake in NeXT.

However, Jobs, who hated IBM extremely, had no choice but to sign a buy-back contract in such a way that he could retrieve his stake at any time while receiving the investment money.

“I can’t tell you where it came from. It’s a trade secret.”

“… Wall Street guys…”

It was a fact that Hoyoung learned through Gaia, but Jobs, who could not even dream of knowing that fact, only cursed at strict Wall Street investors.

“If you don’t have the money available, I’ll lend that too. At no interest. I only want a stake in NeXT.”

“But what profit do I get from doing that?”

Jobs asked Hoyoung.

Hoyoung laughed haha and said to Jobs.

“I will not interfere in Steve’s management in any way.”

Jobs’ eyes widened at Hoyoung’s words.

“What do you mean by not interfering?”

“It’s literally. Steve runs NeXT and will never interfere in management, no matter what product it produces or whether it makes a loss.”

“Then what’s the benefit to you from doing that?”

Hoyoung stared at Jobs.

“Because I can be a part of the future you envision.”

Jobs’ eyes shook as he looked at Hoyoung.

Hoyeong thought to herself that what she had just said made sense.

“Do you remember what you said to John Scully?”

Jobs frowned at the name John Scully.

John Scully was Apple’s CEO and was the one who got him kicked out of Apple.

Of course, I couldn’t have any good feelings for him.

However, he was also the person Jobs had personally scouted as Apple’s manager in the past.

Originally a vice president of Pepsi, which was growing in full swing, Jobs brought him to Apple through a direct interview.

Jobs recalled that time.

“Are you asking if you want to waste the rest of your life selling sugar water or if you want to change the world?”

“That’s right. I want to change the world with you.”

At Hoyoung’s words, Jobs involuntarily nodded.

It’s been 5 years since I was kicked out of Apple.

NeXT’s business, which began with an eager attempt to give Apple a shot, showed no signs of going well.

When I was working at Apple, all the people who admired Jobs had disappeared like fog. It had been too long since he had received such sincere praise.

‘It’s a strategy that can only work at this timing.’

Jobs, who can be said to be the incarnation of self-esteem and confidence, is the only time when he is weak.

Ho-young dug into that gap well.

Jobs nodded slowly.

“If that’s the case… let’s think positively.”

“thank you.”

“Then what is the third reason? I said there were three reasons earlier.”

“The third reason is also an investment.”

Hoyeong smiled and said, while Jobs looked puzzled.

“Is there anything else you want to say about what I just said? Other than buying shares with a buyback clause?”

“It was about investing in Next. I want to invest elsewhere.”

“Any other place?”

“Yes. Another place I want to invest in is Pixar.”

“Pixar!”

Jobs bought two computer-related departments from Lucasfilm in 1986 and established a company, then named it Pixar.

Although Pixar currently has excellent 3D animation technology, Jobs used animation only for promotional purposes and set a high-end image computer as his main business model.

However, Image Computers, which cost 120,000 dollars per unit, were not sold at all, and Pixar was struggling with tremendous financial difficulties.

“I’m sure Pixar has great potential, too, but the current situation is very bad.”

“Hmm…”

Jobs was speechless.

His pride did not allow him to say that Pixar was difficult.

“But I think there’s always a chance to bounce back with the right investment and time.”

Steve Jobs was deep in thought.

Even so, Pixar was no different from the current nuisance complex.

It was a company that he bought for ten million dollars, but he was not able to make an operating profit due to the sluggish sales of Pixar Image Computer, so he was running it with his own money.

More than $20 million of his money had already been put into it, but Pixar still showed no signs of turning a profit.

“I will start with $2 million and invest up to $30 million sequentially. All I want is a 20% stake.”

Jobs’ eyes widened.

A 20% stake for $30 million was a very tempting offer.

“In addition, we are willing to invest additionally in animation production.”

Jobs looked into Hoyoung’s eyes as if trying to understand Hoyoung’s true intentions.

Hoyeong continued, conscious of Jobs’ gaze.

“I think Pixar is really good at making high-performance computers, but I also think there is great potential in animation technology. I hope to improve their technology by producing at least one 3D animation every year.”

“Do you want a stake in that investment too?”

“No. Investment in Pixar and investment in animation production can be considered completely separate. If the animation succeeds and makes a profit, we will receive the profits in proportion to the investment.”

After hearing all of Hoyoung’s story, Jobs quickly shook his head.

And I came to one conclusion.

“then…”

“Ah! It’s already eight o’clock. Steve. Didn’t you say you had an important appointment at eight o’clock?”

Jobs, who was about to say something, was interrupted by Ho-young, who looked at his watch.

Jobs also checked the time and asked Hoyoung.

“Do you have any time this morning?”

“I’m fine, but I’m worried about Steve.”

“it’s okay.”

Jobs picked up the intercom and called his secretary.

“Melissa. I’d like to cancel all of my plans for today. Please tell me to reschedule later. Thank you.”

Then he turned round and asked Hoyoung.

“Are you vegetarian?”

“I tend not to hate it.”

“Then, if it’s still before dinner, shall we have breakfast together?”

“Good.”

Jobs happily took the lead, and Hoyoung followed suit.

Breakfast was important to Steve Jobs.

Having breakfast together meant that Hoyeong thought of him as an important person.

It’s something that no one in the world knows yet, but Ho-young, who knows this, sang joy inwardly.

It was a moment when I thought it was worthwhile to fly from New York at the eastern end of the United States to Redwood at the western end.