Booking Glory-Chapter 52: IndiSoft Product Launch - Part 2

"From your hesitation, I can see that you are already aware of what is wrong with Brent’s business. I love that boy too much to see him waste away. Please, throw me a bone here," Mr. Walker said sincerely causing Rob to feel a little embarrassed.

"I understand your hesitation Rob, but sometimes being a good friend means doing the unpleasant thing so that your friend isn’t too caught up in his own world. It means slapping him awake and telling his ass to get a move on."

"If you really consider Brent to be a friend, just tell me what he needs to do. Brent would never know that it came from you," Mr. Walker said earnestly causing Rob to let out a sigh.

"That’s the thing, Mr. Walker. You say Brent is running a business but is he exactly doing that?" Rob asked finally.

"What do you mean?"

"Let’s say Brent is running a business. Make note, I don’t think he is running a business, but we will consider it as a business for this argument," Mr. Walker frowned but nodded gesturing Rob to continue. "If Brent is running a business, what product is he exactly putting out?"

"I thought it was clear. Isn’t it related to computers?"

"That would seem so. But, let’s forget Brent and his business for a moment. Take the traditional industry for example. Say in the automobile industry, a company that is doing business will put out one or more products related to automobiles, right? Whether it is tires, brake shoes, engines, designs, or any other thing that is related to the industry in general."

"What the company does is find new ways to improve the existing products or put out a brand new version of an existing product. Sometimes, they may even come up with brand-new products. You with me so far, Mr. Walker?"

Mr. Walker nodded his head in understanding.

"Now, what would you say a bunch of mechanics tinkering with some cars with no proper idea what they wanted to do or no end goal in mind? They say that they are improving stuff and when they are done they are going to change the entire automobile industry. But, all you can see is them tinkering away because they like cars."

"Now, will you invest in such a place?"

"No," Mr. Walker stated unequivocally. "I invest to make money not for them to tinker their cars."

"Exactly, as much as you like cars, you will never invest in them because they neither have a clear goal nor a product that they are working on. If they are working on a product, then you will check whether it has market potential or not and then invest in them. But, if they don’t even have a product in mind, then how can someone invest in them?"

"This is the same with Brent’s computer company. I have been to his garage or office whatever he calls it a few times. And all I see there is a bunch of computer-obsessed young men working on whatever they feel like. They are not even working on the same thing when I come back next week."

"They say that they have a new idea and want to test them out. In short, it is more like a research center. Even there, there will be scientists doing dedicated research on a single subject or idea for months and years. Here, they jump from one idea to another at their whim."

"There is no structure to them. There is no direction to their efforts. There is no overall vision for their efforts. That is why I never considered Brent’s whatever as even a business."

Mr. Walker’s face was taking on a constipated expression as Rob talked. Rob knew that it would be really a bitter pill to swallow for Mr. Walker. After all, he had helped out his nephew a lot to establish this.

And now, he was learning that his nephew was horsing around without any proper goal. Any man would feel unpleasant to know that someone they helped out was basically wasting their help by being a kid.

"Don’t take this the wrong way, Brent has got a good heart and good connections in the computer industry. But, he is no business owner. He is someone who chases after whatever catches his fancy. He has no proper vision for what he wants to do next year or where he wants to be next year."

"Take this computer company I am investing in for example. Who do you think told me about this company? It was Brent who gave the information. The market doesn’t even know they are going to launch a product this Sunday. But, Brent knows."

"While I think this product has potential and invest in it, Brent on the other hand doesn’t even care about it. He is merely concerned with what they can tinker on next. And even that is not a permanent thought. If someone says something else that he finds interesting, he will chase after it as well."

"Like I said, he has the connections, the passion, and the right mind for the industry. But, without proper drive, dedication, and discipline, all he will do is tinker on some stuff with his group of friends and waste his time and money away," Rob finished sincerely looking into Mr. Walker’s eyes.

Mr. Walker remained silent for a long time. It was clear that what Rob said had sent him into deep thinking. He frowned for a while tapping his fingers on the table in a chaotic rhythm. His thoughts at the moment were unreadable for Rob.

Rob wondered if he had made life difficult for Brent with his words. But, he didn’t think he said anything very insightful. If Mr. Walker took a close look at Brent’s activities, he would easily come to the same conclusion as Rob did.

Because what Rob said wasn’t any big secret or something that needed deep knowledge. It was basic common sense. Everyone knew that to succeed in any endeavor, you need dedication and concentration along with hard work and talent too. If not, you will never succeed.

So, Rob wasn’t even trying to drive a wedge between the uncle and the nephew. He merely stated things as how he saw it. For this to send Mr. Walker deep into thought, it was clear that Mr. Walker was already suspecting something to that extent as well. He just didn’t want to believe it.

But with Rob saying the same thing, he was now left with no option but to take this seriously. After all, he was the one that forced Rob to answer. If he didn’t take his answer seriously then it would be incredibly stupid.

And Rob wasn’t spouting some hard-to-understand gibberish like what Brent usually did when he asked how his business was going. Rob spoke plainly. He said why he didn’t even consider Brent’s company as an option in a clear, precise manner.

"Let’s say," Mr. Walker spoke after a few minutes of silence. "Let’s say... what if some changes are to be made to the way Brent runs his business? Do you see them flourishing?"

"Mr. Walker, I will be frank. I feel that the computer field has huge potential to dig. The early movers, who are serious and have a vision, will become like the first gold miners who have turned into huge conglomerates today. But, there will also be people who will forever remain miners."

"What Brent can become will depend on how he approaches this. He can become the next millionaire or just roam around tinkering all day with his friends for his entire life as well. It will be up to how he handles himself."

Mr. Walker nodded in acceptance of that statement. Silence once more ensued as Mr. Walker started thinking again. Unlike last time, there was a hint of clarity in his eyes now. It was as if he was coming to decision.

"Say, Rob, what do you think they need now the most?"

"Discipline and direction," Rob said without even thinking. "If they all can concentrate on one single project and work to sort it out, I think they will be able to accomplish something."

"Hmm, I see."

Mr. Walker looked as if he was deep in thought for a moment before giving Rob a small smile.

"Thank you, Rob. I will keep a close eye on Brent and the imbeciles hanging around him. You have given me a lot to think about. Don’t worry, Brent wouldn’t even know we talked about this," Mr. Walker assured Rob.

Rob let out a relieved smile upon hearing that. He didn’t want Brent to feel as if he was a spy sent by his uncle. The relationship with Brent was already paying off and he didn’t want to jeopardize that.

"If that is all, Mr. Walker, I will take my leave," Rob said getting up.

"Do drop by some other time, don’t just visit me only when you have legal troubles," Mr. Walker smiled getting up as well. "And don’t forget that T-shirt."

"I wouldn’t," Rob said shaking Mr. Walker’s outstretched hands.

*****

"Look that that, they even invited Mr. Malcom Waters. Mr. Malcom is heading a research division that has been working on increasing the speed of Data Transmission over the network. Now, that is real research. If that pans out, we will be able to send a large amount of data through the network. You know, just all in one click," Brent spoke excitedly into Rob’s ears as they sat waiting.

It was Sunday and Brent had picked up Rob in his car and drove to the location of IndiSoft’s product launch. Rob was dressed impeccably like a businessman. However, Brent was dressed casually in jeans and a T-shirt.

Rob could easily identify the different groups that were invited for the product launch. There were people like Rob who were dressed very smartly and awaiting eagerly for the product launch to begin. Then, there were people dressed casually like Brent, who were discussing and mingling amongst themselves.

The first group was probably the businessmen and other investors in the industry. The second was probably the ones who were really into computers and were enamored by them. And then there was a third group which was dressed semi-casually with microphones and id cards on their coats.

Those were the reporters who have been invited to the product launch. Rob saw the owner of IndiSoft, Mr. Piers Simmons, talking animatedly with them. He figured that the owner was trying to butter up the reporters so that they gave a good endorsement of his product in their articles.

All in all, the assembled people were a mixed bunch of professionals, businesspeople, and media. There wasn’t anything extravagant included in this product launch. It looked to be a solemn and small affair.

But, coming here had made it possible for Rob to get in touch with several leading figures currently in the computer industry. And this was where having Brent along really paid off.

Almost all the professionals present seemed to know Brent. He was like a fish in the water in this environment. With the computer industry in its infant stage, the circle was really small. And Brent was very known among his colleagues.

The only problem he faced was that Brent would often get stuck conversing animatedly with some professional, leaving him to stand by the side with a blank look on his face. But, Rob didn’t mind it.

He was already grateful that Brent was able to bring him here. Rob knew that if he networked in a proper manner in this circle, he might make it big in the future. And not to mention the businessmen who were talking to each other, forming their own circle.

From the conversations he heard from them, they seemed to have high expectations for the UI-OS, unlike the professionals in the computer industry. It was understandable as both groups were fundamentally different from each other.

Their needs, goals, and thought process was entirely different. While most of the professional community didn’t think much of IndiSoft’s product, the business community seemed to be very interested in it.

From their talk, it was easy to understand that they wanted to see the product with their own eyes and then make a judgment. Rob figured that IndiSoft’s value would skyrocket after this product launch.

Luckily, he had gotten the information earlier and had used his hard-earned money to get some of IndiSoft’s shares already. If this product launch went well, then Rob would be earning a lot.

Brent who was completely unaware of Rob’s thinking was still excitedly talking to him about the research Mr. Malcom Waters was heading. Rob listened to it with one ear, making appropriate noises, and keeping his other ear open to hear any juicy gossip.

From his past life, Rob knew that these kinds of places are where juicy gossip between business people was exchanged. And if one was resourceful and intelligent enough, one will be able to use this gossip to take advantage and earn some money easily.

So, he was listening carefully to what others spoke regarding the industry.

"Looks like they are beginning," Brent said bringing Rob’s attention back to the stage. "I really wonder what kind of look their product would have."

"You haven’t seen their product before?" Rob asked frowning.

"No," Brent chuckled. "They were keeping it real tight. If not for them consulting a few people regarding this mouse device, no one would have known anything about it. They collaborated with a leading optical manufacturing unit to create them."

"If not for that, no one would even pay attention to this product. I am telling you, most people are here to see that device in action. They don’t care about their UI-OS as it doesn’t involve any new technological advancement."

"Why do you say that? From what I see, if their advertisement is spot on, they would revolutionize the entire computer industry, right?"

"What big revolution?" Brent scoffed. "We already know how to operate the computers and what they are doing doesn’t benefit us one bit. Instead of progressing the industry, they are regressing the advancement by trying to make common people use computers."

"Tell me, do you see someone like my uncle adding any value to the advancement of this field? No. So, their focus of research is actually in the wrong direction. Most of my peers are here for the new device they are unveiling. We want to see if it has any potential," Brent said self-righteously.

Rob grimaced hearing Brent’s elitist approach to computers. He could see where Brent was coming from, but without common people using computers, computers will always remain a niche, highly technical industry.

And the market wouldn’t support such an industry for long.

In his opinion, the approach of IndiSoft was the right direction. By lowering the entry threshold to operate computers, IndiSoft has just widened the whole business market for the industry.

"Ladies and Gentlemen, welcome. We at IndiSoft warmly welcome you all on this great day to see the new direction in which the computer industry is going to flourish. We are here to unveil our new graphic operating system that we have dubbed as UI-OS..."

*****

A/N: Hey folks!

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