After rebirth, I became a great master

Chapter 557 Workplace Expert
The end of April.

Zhou Haoran set off for the United States.

Accompanying them were Qiao Hai, Ning Yuanjia, and Yangyang, who was very good at English.

On the plane, Ji Yingyang was still incredulous. "I've used ICQ before, and some people in China use it too. It's just a small tool. Can it really sell for $3 million?"

Zhou Haoran shook his head.

"I think so too." Ji Yingyang breathed a sigh of relief. "How could it be worth so much when it hasn't earned a single penny?"

Zhou Haoran said with a smile, "3 million US dollars is definitely too low. When I go there this time, I will set a fairer price for them."

"3 million dollars is too low?"

Ji Yingyang opened his eyes wide.

"With my technical expertise, the stability of this product has been greatly improved, and an offline message receiving function has been added. It is among the best of similar products globally. Such a good product, priced at several hundred million dollars, is really too cheap!"

Zhou Haoran has gradually gained a clearer understanding of internet products in this era.

Twenty or thirty years from now, technology will be important, but it won't be the decisive factor in a product's success.

Design and marketing are the fundamentals.

It's different now.

Current internet technology is still very immature. If a product has guaranteed technology, can achieve certain functions, is stable and does not crash, then it is basically considered a success.

Even if the product design is terrible.

It doesn't matter if there's not even a tiny bit of marketing.

Ji Yingyang asked curiously, "Is the technical support you provide really that useful?"

Zhou Haoran said, "Of course, it plays a decisive role! This is also a product in the market, from the beginning to maturity in three steps."

"Master, please give me your guidance."

Ji Yingyang pursed his lips, putting himself in the role of a disciple.

Zhou Haoran said, "The first step is functionality. As long as the functionality is done well, stably, and perfectly, that's enough. The second step, after having the basic functionality, is to seek aesthetics and find the best user experience for the product."

"Oh, I see!" Ji Yingyang suddenly realized, "ICQ's design is ugly and the interface is outdated, but it has a lot of features and has achieved great success. This product is now in its first step."

Zhou Haoran laughed and said, "The entire IT industry's products are all at this first step, implementing functions through technology, which has already stumped 99% of startups."

Ji Yingyang pondered and said, "Once the technology becomes widespread and everyone has the technical ability to complete basic functions, product competition will enter the second stage."

Zhou Haoran smiled and said, "Yes, it will take at least seven or eight years to transition into the second step."

"And the third step?"

Ji Yingyang used to work at Cisco. She is very interested in the technology industry, and her eyes are full of curiosity.

“The third step…” Zhou Haoran hesitated slightly, because this was a step he had been trying to achieve in his previous life but hadn’t quite succeeded at. “The product must provide additional value to the user.”

"Additional value?"

"Yes, it's the value beyond the product itself."

"How to say?"

Ji Yingyang humbly sought his advice.

Zhou Haoran laughed and said, "Actually, some products are already quite good. For example, if you buy a bottle of beverage, you can win a prize, such as 500 yuan, a computer, or a 'buy one get one free' offer. This provides another kind of value beyond the beverage itself."

Ji Yingyang drew an analogy, saying, "Just like luxury handbags, luxury handbags not only provide the function of a bag, but also the emotional value of showing off and wealth."

"Yangyang, you are smarter than Xiaochen."

Zhou Haoran praised him.

"Do you need to tell me?" Ji Yingyang rolled her eyes at him. "Additional value... It's not hard to understand. It's not just about commercial products; it's the same with people. Because each person is their own product."

Zhou Haoran gave a thumbs up, "You've reached a higher altitude!"

Ji Yingyang calmly said, "Just like in the workplace, the first step is to provide basic functions and be able to complete the work assigned by the company on time; the second step is to have emotional intelligence, so that while completing the work, you can satisfy all parties; if you want to get promoted... just like you, who is doing very well in the TV station, the most important thing is how much additional value you can provide in addition to your professional skills."

"She's definitely a workplace expert!"

Zhou Haoran applauded for her.

Ji Yingyang shook his head slightly, "I only understood it after you explained the three stages of product development. It's all thanks to your guidance."

"Absolutely! Trust me, you won't go wrong!"

Zhou Haoran was upright and dignified.

Ji Yingyang immediately sensed something was wrong and scolded, "You're trying to take advantage of me again."

"What's so strange about that?" Zhou Haoran said matter-of-factly, suggesting, "How about I take advantage of our business trip to the United States and let you buy a house?"

"No."

Ji Yingyang's attitude was firm.

“It’s not appropriate to keep refusing to accept the house, is it?” Zhou Haoran frowned and criticized, “Yangyang, how old are you? You’re twenty-six or twenty-seven, still a young woman. Aren’t you ashamed?”

"I was wrong to remain chaste?"

Ji Yingyang spoke sarcastically, feeling that social trends had truly changed.

Zhou Haoran sighed, "You're good at keeping yourself pure, but I've lost face."

"What does it have to do with you?"

Ji Yingyang was somewhat baffled.

Zhou Haoran said, "We've known each other for so long, and you've even become my apprentice. All this time, and I still haven't been able to take you as my concubine. Those who know you think you're chaste and pure. Those who don't might think this great master of mine is weak-willed and has no skill in dealing with women."

"Who would talk about something like that when they have nothing better to do?"

Ji Yingyang rolled her eyes, not believing his nonsense at all.

Zhou Haoran said seriously, "Hu Xiaochen, she's making fun of me. She says I didn't get a house for Qiao Nuo, and you didn't succeed either. If this goes on for too long, won't it shake my tall and mighty image in her mind?"

"Alright, stop teasing me." Ji Yingyang said helplessly.

With her intelligence, she had actually anticipated this long ago.

This is probably it for life.

The most precious thing I've guarded for so many years will eventually have to be handed over to him.

……

It's difficult for a technology company to go global without involving the United States.

The same applies to ICQ.

Although it is an Israeli company, it also has an operations center in the United States.

With Zhou Haoran providing new technical solutions and a more user-friendly experience for ICQ, ICQ's user base has more than doubled in the past six months, exceeding 1000 million!
This really caught the attention of American tech giants.

Some companies want to raise funds, while others want to acquire strategic controlling stakes.

Israelis don't like this.

They just want to sell the company, and after a few years, the startup team will reunite, start another startup project, and then sell it to the United States once it's nearly finished.

This was exactly what Zhou Haoran wanted to do.

He has no interest in holding shares.

He's just waiting for ICQ to be acquired, which will give him a chance to cash out and exit!

Once Zhou Haoran stepped in, the deal went into the fast lane.

The offer from American Online is $3 million.

The Israelis said, "Nothing less than $5 million!"
The two sides reached a stalemate.

Zhou Haoran mediated and both sides compromised.

The ICQ startup team was told that the current internet bubble is very serious, and many economic experts have said that we should pay attention to the financial bubble in the IT industry, as this could lead to uncontrollable financial events.

Asia is still in the midst of a financial crisis!

US stocks, on the other hand, are hitting new highs, going against the trend... This doesn't make sense!
Who knows, the US stock market might crash one day!

If financial turmoil occurs, ICQ will certainly not be able to sell for such a high price. In fact, if it lacks profitability and financing is thwarted, its survival will be uncertain.

This convinced the Israelis.

Zhou Haoran met with executives from AOL again, telling them about the soaring Nasdaq and how any company that rides the wave of the internet boom can command a premium of several times or even dozens of times!

Although ICQ is just a small tool, it is a real internet product.

If you don't act now, you'll have to wait a year or two...

Let alone $5 million, it might not even be enough to take it for $10 billion!
Acquisitions are something that should be done sooner rather than later!

in the country, Zhou Haoran is a respected figure.

He acts as a mediator in commercial disputes.

Upon arriving in the United States, Zhou Haoran truly acted as a mediator, facilitating friendly talks between the AOL and ICQ teams.

An agreement was eventually reached.

AOL acquires ICQ for $4.2 million!

During this process, Zhou Haoran had only one request.

He doesn't want stocks, he wants cash.

Zhou Haoran holds a 7.5% stake, with a total value of US$3150 million.

After taxes, there's still $2500 million left!
A whopping HK$2 million!
Taking this money to the Hong Kong government to bail out the market would be very prestigious and be befitting of his status as a prominent figure.

"This is capital operation! It's amazing!"

Qiao Hai, who was involved in the entire process, was truly dumbfounded.

Zhou Haoran chuckled and asked, "Interested in capital operations?"

Qiao Hai said in astonishment, "It's just too amazing. Back then, you asked for a $500 million consulting fee, but they didn't give it to you. Instead, they gave you some shares. In just six months, those shares have increased five or six times!"

Zhou Haoran said, "I said long ago that this ICQ deal might be more cost-effective than the $2000 million quote we gave Microsoft before."

"Where to go next?"

Qiao Hai's mind started to wander.

"Go back to China."

Zhou Haoran has been abroad for more than ten days and it's time for him to go back.

"I mean after you return to China..." Qiao Hai bluntly stated, "You're going to the Hong Kong government to revive the market?"

"Ah."

"Go and battle with international capital in the capital market?"

"Correct."

Zhou Haoran nodded.

"Should I go along too?" Qiao Hai had already been captivated by the magic of capital operations. "Let's go see what it's like."

Zhou Haoran laughed and said, "Everyone go! Everyone go!"

Currently, people in mainland China still hold a superior and reverent attitude towards Hong Kong and Macau.

This is normal.

At present, Hong Kong, Macao and Taiwan are much stronger than the mainland.

Taking this opportunity, everyone can go to the Hong Kong government's bailout program as representatives of the Hong Kong business community, and take a look around. See what it's like under "one country, two systems," and get to know the Hong Kong government's powerful figures.

(End of this chapter)