Li Mu didn't have any long-sleeved shirts in the trunk. The reason why he said this was because he was holding back bad intentions to embarrass Ding Zhenglin, but he said it in a low voice, as if he was deliberately avoiding Ding Zhenglin before saying this to Lin Qingya, And his tone was full of concern, and it seemed that he just cared about Lin Qingya privately.
But these words still hit Ding Zhenglin's ears word for word, and instantly made him feel a little embarrassed. At first, he thought that he couldn't find a job in this outfit, but at this moment, he felt that he had become a strangely dressed person. The clown felt extremely uncomfortable everywhere in his body. This feeling was so contrasting and psychologically so different that Ding Zhenglin wanted to tear off his suit quickly, not to mention changing into a simple T-shirt. At least Changing into a short-sleeved shirt can also make you feel more comfortable.
But under the current situation, Ding Zhenglin could only bite the bullet and say, "I turned the air conditioner too low. I'll turn it up a little."
He said and reached for the remote control.
Lin Qingya also guessed Li Mu's intention. Although she felt a little cold after entering the room, she knew that she definitely couldn't believe what Li Mu just said, so she could only laugh in her heart, pretending to be indifferent on her face, and said to the two of them: " It’s okay, I’m not cold.”
As soon as he finished speaking, Ding Zhenglin adjusted the air conditioner from 16 degrees to 24 degrees. He wanted to take off his suit jacket, but he hesitated and was too embarrassed to do it.
Li Mu felt that if Ding Zhenglin felt awkward and awkward during this interview, his entire mental state would be subtly and greatly affected. If he wanted to trick him into giving up Sequoia and joining Makino Technology, he would have to attack his current role. self-confidence.
At this time, Li Mu invited him to sit down and said, "I'm sorry, Mr. Ding, there's a traffic jam on the road and I kept you waiting for a long time."
Ding Zhenglin said hurriedly: "You're welcome."
Li Mu smiled slightly and asked Ding Zhenglin: "How long has Mr. Ding been working in an investment bank?"
Ding Zhenglin felt uneasy because of his outfit, so when he was asked questions by Li Mu, who was nearly ten years younger than him, he felt as if he was being questioned by an elder. He even said with a bit of nervousness: "I am already the third person in the investment bank." It has been eight years since I started working in the industry as soon as I graduated and I have been working here ever since.”
Li Mu nodded and said with a smile: "Then you can be considered a veteran in the investment banking circle. To be honest, I don't know much about financial operations, so if Mr. Ding feels that I am too amateurish, feel free to correct me."
"No, you are very smart in financial operations. You are simple, direct and effective. Even those of us who specialize in finance are very impressed." Ding Zhenglin behaved extremely modestly, not that he could pretend to be so. Facing a twenty-year-old billionaire like Li Mu, Ding Zhenglin basically couldn't find any sense of superiority. Even though he felt that Makino Technology's capital operations were weak and disorganized, he did not dare to underestimate Li Mu's capital operations. perspective.
Normally, today's Internet companies are all about bragging and telling stories. Most Internet entrepreneurs hold a mouse pad in their hands and dare to tell investors that they are going to open a global chain of Internet cafes. This kind of low-cost After starting a business, many people will be extremely active in financial operations, and they can make a lot of money in financing. In comparison, Li Mu's two financings were too simple, and there was almost no technical operation. Looking at operations alone, The method is indeed very inexperienced.
However, Ding Zhenglin thought about this problem from another angle. Makino Technology has risen rapidly with only two financings. This speed is almost unprecedented in the Internet field. Makino Technology can develop so quickly. On the one hand, it is inseparable from Li Mu’s operation. On the other hand, It seems to be related to his financing strategy. The first time Li Mu raised money from Baidu was to introduce Baidu’s traffic. Before the second financing, he kicked Baidu away because Baidu’s traffic no longer meant much to him. In the second round of financing, those who invested in Makino Technology were all friends of Li Mu. Xu Jiaming and Chen Ze contributed money and took shares in Makino Technology, but no one would interfere with Li Mu’s daily operations of Makino Technology. Therefore, Li Mu is still interested in Makino Technology now. With 100% control, from another perspective, this is also a strategy of Li Mu. If Li Mu introduces real venture capital companies early, it may be difficult for him to guarantee his unshakable position in the company.
So overall, Ding Zhenglin feels that Li Mu is a very good person in financial operations. He is very simple and uses the simplest way to achieve the greatest results.
Li Mu laughed at himself and said, "If you think so, you are actually blinded by the success of Makino Technology."
Li Mu knew very well that Ding Zhenglin felt that he was very smart in financial operations. In fact, it was a kind of determinism. After seeing the success of Makino Technology, he in turn felt that Makino Technology's practices were very awesome. It seems that later generations are advocating how awesome and wise Lao Gan Ma's approach of not going public is. In fact, this is a kind of determinism. In turn, calm down and think about it, is Lao Gan Ma's approach of not going public really awesome? Not necessarily, it’s not that she made Lao Gan Ma successful because she didn’t go public, but that after she made Lao Gan Ma successful, judging from her consistent development model, whether it goes public or not is no longer important to her.
Laoganma has good products as its core, which not only expands its market, but also strengthens its supply and marketing relationship, so its cash flow is strong. In addition, it is asset-light, so the overall operating status has been good, but this good To put it bluntly, the model is the same as Li Mu's financial operation. It is effective, but it lacks sufficient technical content and also limits the possibility of diversified development.
Laoganma’s initial entrepreneurial model was: production, sales, profit;
The model after the start is: be more productive, sell more, and make more money;
The development goal has always been: produce more, sell more, and earn more.
Li Mu will not deny this simple, direct, rough and effective business model, but his pursuit must be a little higher on the basis of simplicity and practicality. He hopes that his own pattern can continue to make breakthroughs, and he also hopes that his own industry model can continue to make breakthroughs. , so he was not happy at all for Ding Zhenglin's praise, but was more aware of his own shortcomings. If he just wanted to maintain the current situation, make money stably, and spend money with peace of mind, simple and effective things would be enough for now, but if he wanted to make a breakthrough, The current development model must be changed.
Ding Zhenglin thought for a moment and seemed to grasp the meaning of Li Mu's words, so he also realized in his heart that Li Mu was actually not satisfied with his own financial operations.
Thinking of this, Ding Zhenglin began to put the topic on the right track and said seriously: "Mr. Li, you should be a leader who focuses on Internet development and Internet products. If you are worried that finance will not keep up with the development of Makino Technology, I think it is best to The best way is actually to attract established venture capital companies like Sequoia to join. If Makino Technology chooses Sequoia for its C round, Sequoia will definitely use its accumulated financial operation experience of more than 40 years to help Makino Technology develop better. , Sequoia’s strength in the U.S. financial community is extraordinary, and if Makino Technology wants to go public in the U.S. in the future, we can provide the most direct and effective help."
Li Mu nodded in agreement and said with a smile: "The future path of Makino Technology must be to go public in the United States, but the question now is not how many stops before going public in the United States, but how many stops there will be before going public in the United States. People get in the car.”
The meaning of Li Mu's words is a bit cryptic. What he wants to express is that listing in the United States is his goal, but he no longer considers financing. What he considers is attracting more professional talents to join before going public.
Although Ding Zhenglin is very good at financial operations and investment strategic vision, he still seems to be a little lacking in understanding the hidden meanings of other people's words. He did not understand the meaning of Li Mu's words, but said with a look of approval. : "What Mr. Li said is so right! Now is a key point for more people to get on the bus and move forward together. If Sequoia joins, Makino Technology will definitely be able to go faster and faster on the road to listing in the United States! "
Li Mu smiled calmly and said: "Mr. Ding didn't understand what I meant. To use an inappropriate metaphor, if Makino Technology is a train, then it has completed its last formation and is arriving at its next destination. Previously, it would not stop, regroup, and start again, but if there is the right person and the right individual, Makino Technology will put him on this train and move to the next stop together."
Ding Zhenglin was dumbfounded and looked at Li Mu in astonishment. After a while, he asked, "Mr. Li, what do you mean?"
Li Mu was helpless. Lin Qingya on the side also shook her head secretly. Ding Zhenglin was confused. What does it mean to not regroup and start again? What does it mean to have the right people and the right individuals? He is sensitive to finance, but he really lacks the brain-circuit for this kind of convoluted speech.
Li Mu simply opened the skylight and spoke frankly, saying calmly: "Mr. Ding, let's talk directly. Makino Technology is not planning to do Series C financing before going public. Our goal is to be listed on Nasdaq by the end of 2003 or the first half of 2004. Makino Technology will strive to achieve the goal of going public in one and a half to two years, so in this short period of time, we will only accept individuals to join Makino Technology, and are not prepared to accept any other companies or institutions to join."
As soon as he said such straightforward words, Ding Zhenglin became anxious. He stood up and said angrily: "Mr. Li, aren't you deceiving people? It was you who announced that you were going to do Series C financing, and the whole industry was jealous. I'm waiting to talk to you about the C round. Please ask Mr. Lin to make a call, and I will come to talk to you about financing in such a high temperature of 30 degrees in the summer. I don't even dare to take off my jacket for fear of losing my courtesy in front of you. , if you suddenly say this now, isn’t this just a monkey trick!”
Li Mu raised his head, looked at Ding Zhenglin's blushing face, and said innocently: "When did we say we were going to integrate round C?"
Ding Zhenglin blurted out: "Didn't someone from Mingcheng Capital reveal it? Isn't Mingcheng Capital the lead investor in Makino Technology's Series B round?"
Li Mu nodded: "Yes, you said it yourself. The news was revealed by people from Mingcheng Capital. What does it have to do with me?"
"Here… "
(End of chapter)