Real Man

After the Apple announcement, people underestimated the iPhone 4s.

But the market reaction was different.

As soon as the pre-order started, the reservation orders soared, and in less than half a day, one million reservation orders were achieved.

It was more than twice as many as the iPhone 4.

The media’s prediction of low sales was completely wrong.

This was also a big difference from Kim Young-gil’s expectation.

Kim Young-gil, who was drinking with Yoo-hyun in the hotel room, stuck out his tongue.

“How can this be? They criticize it, but the customers seem to be more enthusiastic.”

“They must be fascinated by the Apple products.”

As Yoo-hyun emptied his glass and picked up some snacks, Kim Young-gil’s face became thoughtful.

“Huh? Yu, Yoo-hyun…”

“What?”

“Wow! Look at this.”

Yoo-hyun took Kim Young-gil’s phone and froze.

“…”

Yoo-hyun knew very well that Steve Jobs didn’t have much time left.

But he didn’t expect that moment to come so soon.

He had met Steve Jobs a few days ago, and his eyes were full of life.

He still felt like he could hear his voice when he closed his eyes.

Maybe that’s why?

This moment, which he knew and prepared for, felt like a lie.

His mind went blank and he couldn’t think of anything.

Kim Young-gil filled his glass carefully, thinking that he was especially shocked.

“It must be hard for you.”

“Honestly… I can’t believe it.”

“Me neither. I had some connection with him, so I feel more sad.”

Kim Young-gil had met Steve Jobs as an Apple representative.

He had only talked to him face to face at the product review, but he received a huge reward and a promotion opportunity just for being there.

He also had an amazing experience of making his company the world’s number one thanks to Steve Jobs’ words.

From Kim Young-gil’s perspective, it was enough to call it a connection.

Yoo-hyun, who had a sincere conversation with Steve Jobs, was not feeling any better.

“I feel the same way.”

“Let’s go to pay our respects as soon as the sun rises.”

“Okay.”

Yoo-hyun nodded and emptied his glass.

One glass, two glasses.

As he quietly drank, Steve Jobs’ teachings flashed through Yoo-hyun’s mind.

-You have to get rid of the distractions and focus on the essence. You have to decide what is the most important thing to do, and concentrate on achieving it.

Thud.

Yoo-hyun put down his glass and looked at Kim Young-gil.

He had something to say to him, who was a long-time colleague and a trustworthy partner.

“Manager, I have something to tell you.”

“What is it?”

“Well…”

Yoo-hyun mentioned something to Kim Young-gil that was not about the past, but about the future.

It was a story that he had to hear for the sake of the future.

When Yoo-hyun returned to his hotel room, it was late at night.

He sat on the outdoor terrace and placed his phone on the table.

Tap.

On the screen, there was a message from Vice President Yeo Tae-sik that he had received a while ago.

-Congressman Heo Jeong-ro called Chairman Shin directly and asked for mediation. The chairman was furious and convened an emergency meeting.

Congressman Heo Jeong-ro, the next presidential candidate, summoned Chairman Shin Hyun-ho to cover up the Russian corruption.

Shin Hyun-ho, who was enraged by the corruption involving his family, threatened to explode for the last time.

It was the news he had been waiting for, but it felt dull to Yoo-hyun now.

The same was true for Shin Kyung-soo’s move, who had been pressured by Vice President Park Doo-sik.

-Shin Kyung-soo Director gave up SG Bio as expected. He seems to be focusing on cleaning up the bomb. He approached Elliott, so I think he’s trying to stop the chairman with this.

Shin Kyung-soo’s nervousness and impatience were evident in this one line of message.

He should have felt a little relieved to see him flustered, but he was indifferent.

Was it because he was a step back?

But the big picture that Yoo-hyun had in his mind was still clear.

“Sigh.”

Yoo-hyun sighed into the air and felt like he knew the reason.

These things were all distractions.

They were just by-products that would disappear if the company was fixed as he wanted.

Then what was the essence?

-I want to make a company where not only the people here, but all the employees can have dreams and pride. That’s why I want to make a company where everyone can shine.

The answer was in the words he had said in front of his innovation strategy team colleagues.

For Yoo-hyun, who was living again, nothing was more important than correcting his past mistakes.

He wanted to restructure the company’s business structure and improve its constitution fundamentally to protect people.

There was something that had to be done before that.

It was the acquisition of Shinwa Semiconductor.

Whoo.

Yoo-hyun faced the blowing wind and immersed himself in his thoughts for a long time.

As the night deepened, Yoo-hyun’s determination became stronger.

After paying tribute to Steve Jobs, Yoo-hyun relieved his heavy heart a little.

It took him quite a long time to sort out his thoughts.

When he was somewhat ready, he moved for a meeting that he had postponed for a while.

His destination was the Y Combinator building located in Mountain View.

The inside of the building was the same as he had seen a year ago.

The orange tree on the fourth floor terrace had grown a little more.

Yoo-hyun gave a gift to Serena Lian, the secretary, and met Paul Graham in his office.

It had been a long time since they saw each other, but there was no awkwardness between them, as they had shared a business together.

Yoo-hyun had a lot of conversations with him, who was an investor of Airbnb and JK Communications.

Among them was the meeting with Steve Jobs.

Paul Graham, who still had a striking face with sharp features, nodded slowly.

“I see why Steve Jobs said that.”

“Why is that?”

“Do you know how much Airbnb is worth now?”

“I heard it’s worth about 2 billion dollars (about 24 trillion won).”

“That’s a bit exaggerated, but yes, that’s how it’s valued. How much is the market capitalization of Han Group?”

Paul Graham asked, and Yoo-hyun answered right away.

He had been keeping an eye on the figure habitually, so it didn’t take long for him to recall it.

“It’s slightly less than 80 billion dollars (about 96 trillion won).”

“There’s still a gap, but as you know, Airbnb is a new company. They only have 70 employees at their San Francisco headquarters.”

“I know.”

“If you had wanted, you could have created such a company yourself. That’s what I mean.”

Yoo-hyun didn’t run Airbnb himself, but he had a stake in it.

As Airbnb grew, the value of his stake also increased.

“There are better people than me who are making it well. I’m just lucky to have a spoon in it.”

“No. Investing and business are different. Steve Jobs was a person who wanted to create something unique. Aren’t you?”

“I have that ambition too. It would be a lie if I didn’t.”

“Right. Especially here in Silicon Valley, there’s no one who doesn’t have that ambition. It’s just that there are people who can do it and people who can’t.”

“Which one am I?”

Yoo-hyun didn’t want to be evaluated by anyone.

If he had to be evaluated, he only wanted to be evaluated by Paul Graham, whom he respected.

The investment genius and the famous gem finder spoke firmly.

“You’re someone who can do it. I’m even envious, but what about Steve Jobs? He was a person who cared for you enough to give you so much guidance before his death.”

“That’s true. I should have expressed more gratitude then.”

“You didn’t look like the type to regret?”

“I felt like I received too much from him.”

Paul Graham, who had been glancing at Yoo-hyun, laughed.

“That’s interesting. Even in this situation where we’re talking about tens or hundreds of millions of dollars, you have such a romantic thought.”

“That money is not mine. And I don’t think money is the essence.”

“Hmm. That’s how a businessman should be. Money is something for investors to think about.”

“You’re pushing me too hard.”

“Ha ha! Did I? Oh, right. I have something to say to you, who are not a businessman but an investor now.”

Paul Graham didn’t call Yoo-hyun just to chat. Yoo-hyun knew that from the beginning.

Yoo-hyun asked calmly, without showing any curiosity.

“What is it?”

“You’re straightforward. Do you plan to keep your stake in Airbnb as it is?”

“Can I know why you’re asking?”

“Did you hear that Airbnb is getting an investment review from Andreessen Horowitz?”

Andreessen Horowitz was one of the big players among the venture capital firms in Silicon Valley.

If Paul Graham dug up gems as a hobby, they were the ones who raised companies with their money.

Yoo-hyun nodded his head, having heard about their interest through Brian Chesky.

“Yes. I know they’re preparing for it.”

“I didn’t tell the Airbnb founders, but they’ll probably pass. I’ve already agreed with their representative.”

“What does that have to do with my stake?”

“They’re planning to invest 500 million dollars (about 600 billion won) in Airbnb.”

Yoo-hyun reacted realistically rather than being surprised by the huge amount.

“That’s a good opportunity. But they’ll have to give up a lot of shares in return.”

“Yes. The shares of the founders, including me, will be reduced. Of course, we’ll get money for that. And even if the shares are reduced, the value of the company will increase a lot.”

“You don’t have to say that. I understand that I have to give up some of my shares.”

When Yoo-hyun pointed out the core, Paul Graham spoke directly instead of beating around the bush.

“Brian couldn’t say that to you, so I called you. You know that, right?”

“Of course. I know very well.”

“Good. You’ll get at least 20 million dollars (about 24 billion won) per one percent. You can get cash or exchange it for other startup shares.”

“Startup share acquisition is mediated by you, right?”

“Yes. You can choose anything from my basket. Whatever you choose, you won’t lose.”

Yoo-hyun had a total of 5 percent stake in Airbnb.

Even if he sold only 2 percent, he would get 48 billion won.

If he reinvested that in a small company, he could get a much higher stake.

Of course, money was not important to Yoo-hyun.

“I have no complaints. I’m just curious if we’re getting the right value and investment.”

“What do you mean?”

“This investment will greatly shorten the growth time of Airbnb. But that doesn’t mean Airbnb won’t grow without it.”

“So?”

Paul Graham couldn’t predict how far Airbnb’s dazzling growth would continue.

There were not a few startups that soared high and then crashed.

But Yoo-hyun was a person who had witnessed the future of Airbnb with his eyes.

He spoke with confidence that only those who had experienced it could have.

“I’m sure that Airbnb will dominate not only guesthouses but also hotel business in a few years. Then it will easily surpass the value of Hilton Hotel.”

“Hotel, huh. That’s possible. We’re people who live on dreams.”

“It’s not a dream. If you add luxury to the current growth rate…”

Yoo-hyun predicted the future based on the objective facts about Airbnb.

He had memorized the information to help Brian Chesky prepare for the investment, so he didn’t need to look up any data.

Paul Graham was amazed by the accurate figures that Yoo-hyun spit out.

He was even more amazed by the way he added the luxury idea to the figures and drew the future.

“Huh.”

He was speechless for a moment, and then he straightened his posture.

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