New Employees With an Annual Salary of 1 Trillion Won - Chapter 52
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This chapter was translated by Lunox Team. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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Chapter 52. Missing Puzzle Piece (2)
I was completely drained.
I had spent over 5 hours talking with the Google Founders.
Though our philosophies differed, we ended the meeting with mutual respect.
Still, the time wasn’t wasted.
Every conversation with them taught me a lot and sparked new ideas.
It was also time to confirm that their technology was genuine.
Of course, they were people whose philosophy and beliefs differed greatly from mine.
“That took quite a while. Did you have a good time?”
“I think I understand why Investors are reluctant to talk with Engineering Graduate Entrepreneurs. We just can’t communicate at all.”
“Technology-Focused Companies tend to have that tendency.”
“Am I also that type?”
The Branch Manager smiled instead of answering.
Then he naturally changed the subject.
“How did Google look to you? Did it seem to have growth potential?”
“It definitely had a completely different structure from existing Search Engines or Portals. This IT bubble collapse will hit them, but they’re a company that will soar again someday. When that time comes, they seem capable of reaching much higher than now.”
I poured out praise.
While the Google Founders remained frustrating, their Technology was real.
It wasn’t just because of the vast something hidden in Google’s Gear structure, but a decision made after directly seeing and hearing their technological capabilities.
“The VC Investors who invested in Google seem very worried. Quite a few question whether they can sustain without a revenue structure model.”
“I’m also concerned about that part. But if Google Executives just slightly modify their philosophy, the lack of revenue structure problem can be solved anytime.”
“Ultimately, for Website-Based Companies, what matters is how many users they have. With enough users, they can create a revenue structure anytime.”
You could tell by using Google directly.
Information access speed, search result accuracy.
They were far superior to existing Portals, and it was a structure that inevitably had to have many users.
“It was a company that just needed to find the last Puzzle Piece called a revenue model.”
“That’s the complete opposite of Rollbook. Rollbook is looking for the last Puzzle Piece of user growth.”
Of course, Rollbook was also growing rapidly, but not to a satisfactory level.
To survive the IT bubble, we needed more user influx in a short period.
“Knowing that, I thought about collaboration with Google, but the philosophical differences were too great to even make a proposal.”
“Management philosophy inevitably changes according to the environment. Until now, companies received investment funds simply for being ‘IT companies,’ but that won’t be the case going forward.”
“Is the influx of funds decreasing?”
“Yes. It’s a natural progression.”
Who would easily put up money in a situation after experiencing such a crash?
Now that the reality of the IT bubble was being revealed, investors’ eyes were also beginning to see reality.
“Rollbook has evolved into a platform, but there’s no portal to serve as an entrance. Google isn’t a portal, but it’s a search engine that can serve as an entrance.”
“And Rollbook can provide Google with a revenue model. They could be the final puzzle piece for each other.”
If the two companies joined hands, it would go beyond simply overcoming the crisis.
They could lead the future internet ecosystem.
For that to happen, their gears needed to mesh together.
Through coordination, they had to unify the specifications of their gears.
“But we can’t simply wait for the IT bubble to collapse.”
“Looking at your expression, it seems you have another plan.”
“I’m thinking of creating a few algorithms that Google absolutely needs. Their current search engine is already excellent, but I’ve come up with an idea to take it one step further.”
It was an idea that came to mind while conversing with the Google executives.
Code came to mind along with the cogwheel, and with that code alone, I could more than win over the Google executives’ hearts.
“Can you create it here?”
“Just in case, I brought my laptop. I’m thinking of starting today.”
“There’s no reason to keep staring at stock charts. Unless something important happens, I won’t call you, so focus on creating it.”
Just staring at stock charts would only make me motion sick.
Writing code in my spare time was much more productive, and Google was absolutely necessary to complete Rollbook’s final puzzle.
***
When you’re writing code, you lose track of time.
When I got hungry, I’d stuff anything into my mouth, and after holding it in and going to the bathroom just once, a whole day would have passed.
“You’re finally coming out to the living room. How’s the code development going?”
“I’ve completed one, and I need to make two more. But how was the market yesterday?”
“It was calm. The bull market stopped, and it fell about 0.3%. I’d say it was a minor correction.”
“Couldn’t this situation continue for months?”
This was what worried me.
In the long term, IT stock prices had a high possibility of collapsing, but from the position of needing to produce results in the short term, I couldn’t just wait indefinitely.
“No matter how long it takes, it will be decided within ten days.”
“May I ask why you think that?”
“The most important event in the United States will be held around that time. It would be better for you to experience it directly rather than me explaining it.”
What kind of event could make him so confident?
I was curious, but I didn’t bother to look it up. Right now, completing the algorithm was more urgent.
“I’ll wait and see. But are there any meetings scheduled with other companies?”
“Hmm, how many days will it take to complete the entire algorithm?”
“I think it will take at least 4-5 days.”
“Then, I’ll schedule a meeting for you in a week. This will also be quite an interesting encounter.”
As expected, he didn’t finish his explanation.
Whether he liked sudden events or was trying to develop my Emergency Response Ability, I wasn’t sure, but he never explained things to the end.
It was a method completely opposite to mine, where I plan everything.
But since things don’t always go according to plan, I accepted it thinking of it as practice in advance.
“I look forward to it.”
“And depending on the situation, I’ll also schedule another meeting with Google Management. This time it won’t be a simple meeting, but one with a high possibility of leading to a contract.”
“I’ll prepare well in advance.”
“The detailed contract terms will depend on how Employee Lee prepares.”
Only the details will change?
Then does that mean the big picture has already been decided?
The Branch Manager seemed to have already finished the design, and the detailed design would change according to the variables I create.
“Do you already have the main contract in mind?”
“Both Rollbook and Google need each other. The collaboration contract will definitely proceed. Whether it happens is a constant, and where the initiative goes depends entirely on Employee Lee.”
“I’ll prepare more thoroughly.”
“Employee Lee is a variable. No one places high expectations on variables. Though sometimes variables completely overturn the game.”
How could I work comfortably after hearing such words?
I silently went back into the Room and continued my work.
***
Before I knew it, it was the last day of March.
The Stock Price was still sluggish, and I spent my time immersed in Algorithm Code instead of the boring Stock Price Window.
“You know there’s a meeting today, right?”
“So I’ve been preparing since this morning. I never know when you might suddenly tell me to go down to the VIP Room.”
“Good job. A guest is coming soon, so go ahead and head down now.”
“Shouldn’t I know who it is before meeting them?”
“Ah, I didn’t mention that. There’s a meeting with the management of a company called Netflix that does Internet DVD rental business.”
It was an unexpected company.
It was questionable whether DVD rental business could be called an IT company, but if it was Internet-based, there was definitely a connection.
“Is there a particular reason you arranged a meeting with Netflix?”
“I didn’t arrange this meeting. Netflix contacted us first. They said they wanted to meet the Rollbook founder directly. So today, Reed Hastings, the founder, came to visit personally.”
There was no time to look up information.
I had already received word that Netflix’s CEO had arrived at the VIP Room, and I hurried there.
“Nice to meet you. I’m Reed Hastings, CEO of Netflix. Please feel free to call me Reed.”
“Pleased to meet you. I’m Lee Jung-hoo, creator of Rollbook. Please call me Mister Lee.”
I smiled and extended my hand for a handshake first.
I don’t particularly like handshakes, but he was someone worth it.
His hand was damp with cold sweat, and I could feel directly how desperately he wanted this meeting today.
“I heard you were the one who proposed this meeting first.”
“I was deeply impressed by Rollbook’s system. Please forgive me for reaching out so boldly.”
“Thank you. What aspects impressed you?”
“The personalized advertising was particularly impressive. I think it’s exactly what our Netflix needs.”
Because of advertising?
If they were experiencing losses, they would naturally be obsessed with advertising revenue, but listening to him, it seemed he was more interested in the system itself rather than simple advertising.
“Do you want to introduce personalized advertising?”
“If personalized advertising is possible, wouldn’t a personalized recommendation system also be possible?”
“Are you talking about DVD recommendations?”
“Exactly. If we could accurately recommend movies that customers want, we could increase rental rates and reduce churn!”
The personalized advertising that Rollbook was using.
Actually, this was possible because our main customer base was university students, and it was a system that worked because it was location-based.
“DVD rental has diverse customer demographics and wide geographic distribution, so precise targeting won’t be easy.”
“That’s why I’m asking for your help. Do you think there might be a good method?”
“A perfect level would be difficult, but there are methods we could try.”
Creak!
CEO Reed pulled his chair closer and held his breath.
His eyes showed he wouldn’t miss a single word I said.
“What method do you have in mind?”
“We analyze user ratings, rental history, and genre preferences to build a personalized recommendation system for each client. Rollbook is already using this kind of data to provide customized services.”
“So you’re saying we should systematically organize client information.”
CEO Reed nodded while taking notes.
Inspired by his enthusiasm, I began pouring out the ideas from my mind.
“Introducing a subscription service would also be a good approach. Right now, when someone rents a DVD and it’s not entertaining, they feel tremendous disappointment. But with a subscription, they can try various DVDs without psychological burden.”
“You mean an unlimited rental subscription? It’s a good idea, but there’s concern about abuse.”
“That’s why you limit the quantity they can rent at once. For example, if you allow only 1-2 discs at a time, it’s perfectly controllable.”
“That makes sense!”
As we talked, gears came to mind.
And more ideas began flowing.
“How about introducing a package system? For example, when someone rents a horror movie, you bundle and recommend similar genre DVDs.”
“A kind of bundling approach!”
“It’s good for inventory management and would be effective for increasing sales.”
CEO Reed clapped and showed great enthusiasm.
Encouraged by his reaction, I picked up the pace.
“You should also consider location-based recommendations. Different regions have different genre preferences.”
“Exactly. Boston was strong in noir, LA in comedy.”
“Then along with a location-based recommendation system, you’ll need regional distribution centers.”
Regional hubs were necessary for fast shipping and inventory management.
Especially since the United States was such a vast country, regional hubs would be absolutely necessary for Netflix to grow beyond its current size.
“Building distribution centers costs quite a bit.”
“Not large centers, but small office-type distribution hubs would be sufficient.”
“Ah, a strategy to increase shipping speed with small hubs.”
CEO Reed understood perfectly whatever I said.
A company run by someone like this would surely survive even the IT bubble.
And Netflix’s gear structure and hidden framework were more massive than I had thought.
For a company like this, providing ideas wasn’t a waste at all.
Of course, it wasn’t free. I planned to get back all the costs for the ideas I provided today later.
Annual Salary 1 Trillion New Employee Chapter 52
E-book Publication Date | 2025.11.27
Author | Seo Oh
Publishers | Heo Heung-beom, Park Geon-won
Published by | Poten
Address | [04783] 10th Floor, 8 Yeonmujang 11-gil, Seongdong-gu, Seoul
Phone | 02-6320-8500
Fax | 02-6320-8585
ISBN | 9791175305892
Price | 100 won
ⓒ Seo Oh 2025
This e-book is a copyrighted work protected by copyright law.
This e-book is published under contract with the author, and unauthorized reproduction, copying, distribution, and sharing are prohibited without written consent from both parties.
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This chapter was translated by Lunox Team. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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