civilwarnovels Chapter 171 Each with their own plans
Chapter 171 Each with their own plans
Chapter 171 Each with their own plans
The sunlight in Cupertino, California, gently spills into every corner of Apple's infinite loop campus.
This park, which officially opened in late 1992 and early 1993, is like a hidden pearl in the city, exuding a unique charm.
It consists of six buildings, covering an area of over 79000 square meters. Each building is a fortress meticulously crafted with its own unique design concept, guarding Apple's core secrets.
Before Steve Jobs returned, this place mainly bore the heavy responsibility of Apple's research and development, and was known as R&D1-6.
After Steve Jobs returned, he spent almost every day here, as if it were an indispensable part of his life.
Under his leadership, Apple refocused on research and development, and the campus naturally became Apple's official headquarters. He even renamed the building IL1-6, as if it were a new beginning, foreshadowing a different fate for Apple.
The atmosphere in the conference room was so heavy it was almost suffocating; the air seemed to have frozen.
Apple's board members sat solemnly around the oval conference table, their faces etched with anxiety and unease.
The table was covered with disheartening financial statements and market analysis reports. The dense numbers and charts, like invisible nets, shrouded everyone in an atmosphere of despair.
Apple, a company that once represented innovation and dreams, is now standing on the edge of a precipice, seemingly poised to plunge into an abyss at any moment.
The company suffered losses for 12 consecutive quarters, like heavy hammers constantly striking its foundation.
市场份额从巅峰时期的16%跌至现在的不足4%，股价更是从1991年的70美元暴跌至现在的14美元，市值仅剩下了不到27亿美元。
Steve Jobs, 42, the co-founder who was ruthlessly ousted from the company, has returned to where his dream began with his NeXT company, his eyes filled with determination and resolve, in an attempt to save the company from the brink of collapse.
He surveyed the assembled board members with piercing eyes and slowly began to speak, "We must make changes, and quickly."
His voice wasn't loud, but it carried an undeniable power, breaking the silence of the conference room.
One of the directors frowned, his face full of hesitation and reluctance. He looked at Jobs and said, "Steve, we understand the logic, but Ernst's valuation is too low. We can't accept it."
The financial report data in front of them was precisely what Ernst had presented.
When faced with Apple's offer of a $30 billion valuation, Ernst rejected it without hesitation with a cold laugh and then promptly presented the figure.
He stated that the amount was $25 billion and he wouldn't add a single penny more.
Let's continue our discussion.
Without discussing it further, he headed home, treating the trip as a visit to an old friend.
Ernst was then invited to the rest area, where Apple's internal meeting was held.
Jobs was clearly on Ernst's side, not because he intended to harm Apple's interests, but because he had his own plans.
"The company is facing a tight cash flow, lacks product innovation, and its market share continues to decline—these are undeniable facts," Jobs said, leaning back in his chair with a somber expression.
"You all know better than I how difficult it is for Apple to raise more funds now."
Everyone present looked grim, heads bowed, silent.
If Apple hadn't been desperately short of funds, how could there have been such a frustrating meeting today?
Apple prefers to find institutional investors rather than individual investors, but after looking around, no institution is interested in Apple at its current level.
On the one hand, Apple currently has no hope for the future. Its research and development is lagging behind, its products are not competitive enough, and its market share is shrinking. Such a company is unlikely to attract the attention of institutional investors.
On the other hand, at this time, no one wanted to offend Microsoft.
Apple and Microsoft are notorious rivals, and Apple is currently suing Microsoft for copying its user interface in its Windows operating system.
Bill Gates, on the other hand, acted like a rogue. He seemed completely unconcerned about winning or losing the lawsuit, and simply dragged it out until Apple went bankrupt and he acquired it. At that point, the issue of plagiarism would no longer exist.
On one side is Microsoft, which is thriving and whose market value is constantly breaking new records, and on the other side is Apple, which is struggling on the verge of death. At this time, investment institutions naturally cannot refuse to give Microsoft face.
Jobs looked up again, his headlights sweeping over everyone present, and said in a heavy but firm tone, "Gentlemen, now is not the time to act impulsively. We must understand that what Apple needs most right now is to survive."
He paused, then continued, "Ernst has the funds to save Apple, and he is a leading figure in the internet industry. His investment will greatly boost our influence and brand awareness, and Apple will be able to return to the public eye."
A silence fell over the meeting room, broken only by the soft breathing of the attendees.
Everyone was weighing the pros and cons in their hearts: whether to stick to the so-called bottom line, unable to restrain their greed, and watch the company head towards its demise, or to accept this seemingly humiliating investment and give the company a glimmer of hope.
Finally, after a heated discussion, which could even be described as an argument, the board members chose to compromise.
After all, survival is the most important thing; only by living can one have a chance to rise again.
The board ultimately decided that Jobs would make a second contact with Ernst.
As he left the conference room, the moment the door closed, Jobs' lips curled into a barely perceptible smile—an expression of triumph and complete control.
In the lounge, Ernst sat leisurely by the window, seemingly gazing at the scenery outside, but his eyes held a hint of contemplation.
To be honest, there wasn't anything particularly noteworthy to see outside the window; it was just a few office buildings with somewhat unique designs.
But this is Apple's headquarters, which naturally evoked a special feeling in him.
The lounge door opened, and Ernst turned to see Jobs walk in with a smile.
"So, they agreed?" Ernst's tone was certain, as if he had already anticipated this outcome.
Jobs smiled without saying a word, walked over and sat down next to Ernst, but the confidence in his smile had already given the answer.
"Congratulations, you're about to complete your revenge," Ernst said again.
Revenge was the reason why Jobs sided with Ernst.
Despite his attempts to maintain a moral high ground and appear pure and detached from worldly affairs, Steve Jobs is actually quite petty and has never forgotten the hurt he suffered in the past.
Steve Jobs? Ernst sometimes even felt he should be renamed Niu Zuanlu Shi Qiao Qiao to describe his deep-seated cunning.
After returning to Apple as a consultant, Steve Jobs and then-CEO Amelio quickly became best friends in the eyes of outsiders.
How close were the two? Amelio even publicly stated on multiple occasions in the media that Steve Jobs was the person who understood him best in the world.
However, at the board meeting, Steve Jobs presented a completely different picture.
He would often inadvertently say things like, "Amelio doesn't understand computers at all, his business is too complex, and his management skills are poor," etc.
Finally, after a barrage of persuasive remarks from Steve Jobs, Amelio was fired by the board of directors less than four months after Jobs returned to Apple.
Then Steve Jobs naturally became Apple's CEO. To show his nobility and prove to outsiders that Amelio's dismissal had nothing to do with him, he created an ICEO position for himself and symbolically took only a one-dollar salary.
He wanted to convey to the outside world that Amelio's dismissal had nothing to do with him, and that although he became CEO, he did not gain any benefit from it.
Now, he is going to implement the second step of his plan, which is to dismiss the entire board of directors.
This was the deal between Jobs and Ernst: Jobs helped Ernst get into Apple and gain control of NeXT.
Ernst, on his side, helped him purge the entire board of directors and get rid of all the guys who had ousted him in the first place.
"This is a win-win situation for us; you got what you wanted, didn't you?"
Ernst looked at him and joked, "Apple these days?"
Although Ernst always wanted to take over Apple, he never made it too obvious, and all his actions revolved around NeXT.
The company is expanding.
Even when he told Jobs that Apple could contact him if it needed funding, Jobs assumed he was only saying that because of NeXT.
This investment in Apple originated from NeXT.
Although he did not show any reluctance, his aggressive price-cutting during negotiations had already made his stance clear.
Jobs' eyes were incredibly firm. He looked at Ernst and said earnestly, "Believe me, investing in Apple will definitely bring you a rich return."
"Of course, because you're here," Ernst replied without hesitation, his support bringing a satisfied smile to Jobs' face.
Jobs increasingly felt that the man in front of him, who was 17 years younger than him, was his close friend despite the age gap, and the one who understood him best.
"What are your plans?" Ernst was curious about Jobs' next move.
To revive Apple, simply solving the funding problem is far from enough.
Jobs understood this and voiced his thoughts.
"Once the board of directors is replaced and I have no more worries, I will carry out a thorough reform of the company, eliminate outdated ideas and inefficient processes, and reignite the employees' enthusiasm for innovation."
This is one of the reasons why he wanted to get rid of all the directors; he didn't want to be fired again the moment he started to achieve some success.
"So you're planning to lay off employees?" What's the difference between this and layoffs?
Jobs nodded with difficulty. "Apple needs employees who only think about Apple, not old men who read books and newspapers all day."
"It's not just layoffs; unnecessary production lines will also be cut, leaving only four computer production lines."
After Steve Jobs left, Apple developed an excessive number of products under several CEOs.
When Ernst saw Apple's asset documents, his first impression was that they were messy and disorganized.
This is not a computer manufacturer at all; it's more like an electronics wholesale market.
Digital cameras, printers, scanners, and even mice, external storage devices, and external speakers (computer speakers) have all been sold throughout the 1980s and 90s. Apple developed more than a dozen products and built a number of production lines.
"Of course, the most important thing is product planning, and I already have some ideas."
"Can you tell me about it?" Ernst picked up his coffee, looking as languid as if he were listening to a story.
"The development of personal computers is inseparable from the Internet," Steve Jobs said in a deep voice. "So, how to make it more convenient for individuals to access the Internet and give them more enjoyment will be a key issue."
At that moment, sunlight streamed through the windows of the lounge, casting dappled shadows on the two of them.
The fate of Apple was quietly altered during the casual conversation between these two men.
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