Rebirth of the Tech Madman

If I don't have an advantage in terms of price, why should I choose a small company like yours, and go directly to IBM. Sam Walton retorted disapprovingly.

American writer Friesen once pointed out in How to Become a Billionaire that one of the secrets to becoming a billionaire is to have a thick skin.

And to explain the secret, Friesen uses the example of Sam Walton.

The founder of Wal-Mart often disrupts market prices. Once he catches the opportunity, he will wait for the opportunity to bargain with suppliers.

Therefore, suppliers know that doing business with Wal-Mart is not easy.

In other words, if you want to be a good man, you'd better give up your dream of being a rich man. None of these people are good men and women.

Tang Huan, who was familiar with Sam Walton's style of work, just laughed it off after seeing this style, Ibm's system is still based on the mainframe architecture, which is outdated, and my system uses micro Computers belong to the latest generation of products, and this difference is manifested in many aspects, such as follow-up maintenance, the price of personal computers will only get lower and lower, and you don’t think your number of Wal-Mart stores will stop here.”

Speaking of this, Tang Huan waved his hands, and his subordinates immediately brought over two exquisite and small card readers, and two bags of colorful and eye-catching cards.

Barcodes are used to manage a large number of commodities, and information such as customers and accounts ∧, ww¤w. must rely on my magnetic stripe card and chip card system.

The reason why Big Blue is often prefixed with great is that it has done a lot of pioneering work from 0 to 1 in the technical field. The magnetic stripe card was developed by IBM engineer Forrest in the 1960s. ? Invented by Parry.

Essentially. Magnetic stripe cards are the same as tapes and disks that computers use to access data. At the same time, the information is processed through the magnetic tracks.

Cards were invented by the French in 1974. Compared with low-cost magnetic stripe cards, the difference is that it integrates a semiconductor chip.

Due to the size of these identification cards, the number of magnetic tracks of the magnetic stripe card, the electrical characteristics of the chip card and the communication protocol, etc., there is no such standard to uniformly stipulate, and manufacturers in this field are still fighting each other.

Another secret to becoming a billionaire is to invent great ideas into the vastness, and Tang Huan, after missing the link of invention, naturally has to focus on how to further optimize this application to be close to the original space-time function maturity level of the period.

now.

Tang Huan is already satisfied with the performance of the card reader for contact data transmission in reading magnetic stripe cards and chip cards, while the card reader for non-contact data transmission operating chip cards is still in the process of optimization and adjustment.

Tang Huan's team has begun to vigorously promote their own magnetic stripe cards and chip cards, and turn them into specific products such as membership cards, bank cards, credit cards, driver's licenses, bus cards, phone cards, etc. Sales of own computers.

In front of Sam Walton, Tang Huan took out the card and swiped it with the card reader. Then there was a beep.

I'm selling products with high intellectual value. This is not a lie. I can provide you with an operation plan now. Tang Huan looked confident, You can set up a club, for example, called Sam's Club, Each member only needs to pay a membership fee of 25 US dollars to become a member, and enjoy the privilege of more favorable shopping discounts with this qualification. Although the profit margin is low, sales can be further expanded.”

Tang Huan put a golden card in front of Sam Walton with a smile, Every member's information can be managed through this card with my second-generation Fangyuan computer, and you can even further divide diamonds. , Gold, Silver and other membership levels to carry out in-depth market exploration.”

Finally, Tang Huan coughed lightly, If you are still not satisfied, then you can only look forward to the next cooperation with regret. Fortunately, there are many retail sales in the United States, and there are always people who are willing to eat crabs and take the lead in adopting this brand new application solution. .”

Negotiations at this level are all about momentum. Tang Huan used his strong self-confidence to suppress Sam Walton's cunning and cunning.

After experimenting a few times with great interest, Sam Walton thought for a while, and finally smiled with a stingy face: I agree with your statement, but you want me to purchase your products according to your conditions. System, you have to come up with another idea that must impress me.

This old man is really capable of exploiting people. Tang Huan raised his lips slightly and asked back, If my idea satisfies you, Wal-Mart will be my long-term customer and use my computer system.

That's up to you. Sam Walton carried out his style of acting in the end.

Are you still flying a plane to inspect the branches? Tang Huan thought for a while before speaking.

Of course. Sam Walton, who is 63 years old this year, can be described as a veteran and full of ambition.

Then how long will it take you to inspect all the branches now? How long can you last with this kind of work intensity? How much will Wal-Mart's branches increase? With the expansion of the company's scale, such a comprehensive working method will continue to grow in the future. Can it be as efficient as it is now? Tang Huan asked a series of questions without any scruples.

Sam Walton's complexion was very exciting. After changing several times, he said angrily: Look at the way you speak, you must have some insights?

Are you interested? Tang Huan also put on a gesture of hawking if he doesn't see a rabbit.

Well, I would like to hear more about it. Sam Walton finally gave in and asked for advice on countermeasures.

In the past 1970s, Wal-Mart's sales revenue and net income grew at a rate of 40% per year, and its operating income and net income increased by 40 times and 35 times respectively within a 10-year period, making it the largest in the United States. A young regional retail company with an annual sales revenue of more than 1 billion US dollars, and the fastest growing and leading regional discount department store. Tang Huan stared into Sam Walton's eyes. These brilliant achievements. Customers are attracted by massive preferential figures. Therefore, Wal-Mart's enterprise informatization is imminent, and the most effective way to transmit the data of each branch to the headquarters is through private communication satellites.

Private communication satellite? Sam Walton, who had to worry about purchasing a second-generation solution from Tang Huan, gasped immediately after hearing Tang Huan's suggestion.

Yes. In this way, even if Wal-Mart opens a branch outside the United States in the future, the headquarters can keep abreast of its business status. Tang Huan nodded, As long as you have a communication satellite, I can provide you with a package erp system.

Well, I have to admit that your idea, although it looks crazy, does make sense. Sam Walton borrowed the help of going down the slope to find a new level for himself, and no longer entangled with Tang Huan on product quotations. I will ask Robson to be responsible for the implementation of this project.

After finishing speaking, Sam Walton called a man in his thirties. After giving a few orders, he became the hands-off shopkeeper himself.

To this. Tang Huan didn't take it seriously, because Sam Walton was old after all, and the successor he found was his eldest son Robson Walton, who had been the vice president since 1978, and his level was sufficient.

...

After the Waltons were settled, Tang Huan set off for Washington to contact the next target customer. Its president, Ryan Kirkland, had already agreed on the meeting place at the Hilton Hotel, and Tang Huan happened to be staying there as well.

It is now Sunday, March 29, 1981, and before you know it, a quarter has passed by.

While Tang Huan was busy, he also found a psychological balance for himself. Other colleagues are also rushing to release new products. In a few days, at the West Coast Computer Festival, we can see the first clues.

After a short rest, his subordinates put the urgently delivered card reader in front of Tang Huan.

Is the work so rushed, is the stability up to standard? Don't make a mistake during the demonstration and embarrass me. Tang Huan couldn't help but joked after looking at it for a while.

In the design of the card reader, Woz only provided help in the circuit, and more work needs to be done by Zheru's engineers.

Radio frequency identification technology also emerged in the 1970s.

At present, the senior expert in this field is Charles Walton, who has contributed more than ten patents alone.

Naturally, Tang Huan didn't need this person, so he let his subordinates do the work.

After testing the card repeatedly, Tang Huan was relieved that the device was very reliable.

Soon, Ryan Kirkland came and saw first-hand the practicality of magnetic stripe cards, chip cards and three types of card readers.

In particular, the card reader can sense the chip card at a certain distance and emit a beeping sound, which makes Ryan Kirkland quite miraculous.

In effect, the AFL CIO, the umbrella for its various unions, provides policy and legislative support, and is politically active, lobbying and supporting candidates at the national and federal levels.

Therefore, Ryan Kirkland, as the president, has considerable social influence.

However, after he took office in 1979, the number of trade union members began to decline sharply, which naturally resulted in a weakening of influence.

No matter what the reason is, Tang Huancai's success in sales is the key, so his argument is that the service work for members is not done well, and an electronic file that can be searched more quickly should be established for everyone, timely investigation, and understand their needs , will get the support of more people, and my system is a tool to help achieve this goal.

It's good, but we are not a profit-making organization. Can we give you a discount on the system price. Ryan Kirkland began to complain.

Contrary to his refusal to give an inch to Sam Walton, Tang Huan was very generous this time, Except for hardware such as computers and card readers. Software... Tang Huan picked up the magnetic stripe card and shook it while talking. shaken. Including this. I gave it away regardless of the cost.

The price of software is really elusive. Why don't you give a discount on top of the hardware. Ryan Kirkland fully demonstrated what it means to be versatile, and began to bargain skillfully.

It's hard for me to agree to such a loss. Tang Huan looked embarrassed, Do you have any high-standard advertising opportunities as compensation? My products are actively expanding their popularity.

Ryan Kirkland considered it. There is an opportunity in front of us. Tomorrow, President Reagan will come here to give a speech and have lunch with the representatives. There will be a large number of media following. As you, you can definitely participate. As for how to advertise, I can't think of it.

Tang Huan played with the chip card in his hand, and played with the card reader from time to time to make it beep beep.

That's it. You arrange a few people to guard the door and put this card reader there. If someone enters the hall, ask the waiter to hand a chip card to him, and when he walks through the card reader Take it back, and the whole process can demonstrate the functions of the entire system, which can be regarded as a live advertisement. Tang Huan came up with a way.

You are indeed a smart businessman, you can come up with an idea casually. Ryan Kirkland laughed in admiration, The standard of this advertising opportunity is high enough, so what about the discount you promised me?

As you wish. Tang Huan waved his hand generously, an imperceptible playfulness flashed in his eyes.

...

The next day, Monday, March 30, 1981, President Ronald Reagan, who had only been in office for 69 days, and his wife, Nancy Reagan, attended a fundraiser at Ford's Theater in the District of Columbia.

According to the itinerary, he will then go to the Hilton Hotel in the District of Columbia at noon, have lunch with representatives of the American Federation of Labor Unions, and deliver a speech. As a result, the hotel is slightly busy.

The Hilton Hotel in the District of Columbia was built after the assassination of President John F. Kennedy in 1963. It is considered to be the safest hotel in the entire District. One of its manifestations is that it has a closed presidential passage specially prepared for the president and his entourage.

Sitting in his seat, Tang Huan watched the people coming in and out at the entrance of the hall leisurely. When he passed the card reader, he was surprised when he heard a beep.

To put it bluntly, this is an ordinary phenomenon that happened at the door of the bus a few decades later, but now people have not seen this application, so they are a little curious, and many people go back and forth a few times for this.

Even the reporters present included it in their shots.

Sitting next to Tang Huan was Alfred Antenucci, a labor representative from Cleveland, the second largest city in Ohio.

He joked: You salesman, you can be said to be full of tricks.

No way, who told your president to bargain too hard, I have to make up for the loss through advertising. Tang Huan made a helpless look, and spread his hands unwillingly, Ryan Kirkland caught my eagerness to open up the market, The mentality of promoting new products is really unkind.

Seeing Tang Huan, a prominent billionaire, deflated, everyone couldn't help laughing happily.

Seeing that the card reader has been working continuously for such a long time, and it has always been performing normally, Tang Huan couldn't help but feel relieved secretly, and said that he would give a lot of praise when he went back.

Soon, Reagan, White House press secretary James Brady and other staff entered the hotel from the presidential channel, and the lunch meeting began soon.

The whole event had no content, and it was worth Tang Huan's attention, but the card reader became a popular toy, and many people even intentionally or unintentionally failed to return the beautifully made chip cards to the waiters. One of the girls was so anxious that she ran to Tang Huan to complain.

Quality ah quality! Tang Huan couldn't help complaining secretly, these chip cards are much more expensive than those magnetic stripe cards, but if you take them away, there is no other use for them except for collection.

Forget it, anyway, there is the company name and phone number on it, so it should be regarded as another form of advertising. Tang Huan waved his hand generously, indicating that it doesn't matter.

Finding a gap, Tang Huan had a conversation with Reagan, and the other party also joked that wherever he went, he would do product promotion.

...

At 2:27 p.m., after attending the event, Reagan left the Hilton Hotel through the Presidential Passage. Nine meters away, there was a car waiting for him at the northwest corner of T Street. If the card reader is not in the way, stand at the front of the crowd to bid farewell.

It can be seen that because of the short distance, the secret service personnel obviously relaxed their vigilance. Reagan waved his hand, walked through the crowd, and walked towards the special car.

Suddenly, a young man pulled out a pistol and pulled the trigger towards Reagan.

Bearing the brunt was James Brady, who was hit in the head with the first bullet.

A second bullet hit the back of the neck as District of Columbia police officer Thomas Delahanty turned to try to protect the president.

The teen continued to pull the trigger, but a third bullet hit the glass of another hotel across the street.

At this time, the security agents of the Secret Service had already responded, and the chief Jerry Parr desperately pushed the president into the car.

The fourth bullet hit the abdomen of agent Timothy McCarthy, who was desperately throwing himself on the president as a shield.

A fifth bullet hit the bulletproof glass of the sedan's open door.

The sixth bullet first hit the bulletproof armor of the car, then rebounded and hit the president's chest from the armpit.

Tang Huan, who had seen this scene in his eyes, had long been looking forward to it, but he was still shocked. This is the president of the United States, and he was shot black just like that.

Tang Huan moved his eyes and quickly found the instigator not far away, the famous John Hinckley. He lifted up the card reader and threw it at it. At the same time, he was heartbroken. This is a device worth thousands of dollars.

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