Chapter 58: Forcing a Duck to Take the Shelf
This time, Enron came to give money to DoubleClick. For Enron, giving the advertising order to DoubleClick in the same city could be considered as taking care of it.
With Enron's current status, its annual advertising campaigns were all given to those big advertising companies. This year, it gave the business to DoubleClick, telling Houston locals that Enron still favors local companies. Otherwise, why would it give these millions of dollars to DoubleClick...
Song Yang couldn't refuse those who came to him to offer money, otherwise he would have a falling out with the . It goes without saying that Song Yang would be the one who would suffer, especially in Houston and Texas, where tens of thousands of people depended on Enron for their livelihoods and hundreds of thousands of families used Enron's natural gas, electricity, and water power. If he offended Enron, he would basically have no chance of surviving in Texas.
"Let them come over!" Song Yang could only say to Irene.
Song Yang originally thought that Enron Group would send a senior executive over. After all, the advertising fee of several million US dollars was a lot for DoubleClick, but it was nothing for Enron. At most, it was just a matter of reselling two tubes of natural gas.
But what Song Yang didn't expect was that the person who came this time was Kenneth, the president of Enron Group, whom he had met once before at Adrian's banquet. He came in person, which caused a chaos in Double Click Company.
Kenneth's current identity is the president of a Fortune 500 group. Even if he goes to Wall Street or Capitol Hill, he will be treated as a guest of honor, not to mention coming to DoubleClick Company.
Kenneth arrived at DoubleClick with the demeanor of a big boss. He greeted everyone at DoubleClick, then smiled at Song Yang and said, "Song, did I disturb you?!"
"How could that be? It's DoubleClick's luck that President Kenneth can come!"
At least Song Yang doesn't dare to offend this leader of the global energy industry. Just by looking at him for a while, people from other companies working in the Harbor Building all came down to admire Kenneth's style, and you can see how influential is.
Kenneth seemed very interested in DoubleClick, so Song Yang had to take him to visit the various departments of DoubleClick.
"This is DoubleClick Technology, the best technology team in Houston is here!"
After arriving at the technical department, Song Yang said to Kenneth that this was not bragging. There were only a few Internet companies in Texas, and many companies had not yet started computerized offices. DoubleClick was the only one like it, so no one could object to his boasting.
DoubleClick is not a big company, but Kenneth visited every department and even communicated with the people in each department. Sometimes he even got to experience it himself.
After meeting Kenneth, Ryan, who is in charge of DoubleClick's advertising and business operations, immediately introduced DoubleClick, the most important department of the company, to Kenneth.
"This is probably the largest digital advertising sales department in the American Internet industry. We have already reached cooperation with more than 450 companies, including Compaq Computer, HP, Xerox and many other companies. Now about 58% of the revenue of the entire American digital advertising market is generated here!"
When talking about these, Ryan couldn't help but reveal a hint of pride. His current advertising department almost represents the entire American digital advertising market. More than half of the revenue of the entire digital advertising market comes from here.
Kenneth couldn't help but applaud after hearing Ryan's words. He turned to Song Yang and said, "Song, I have to say, this is a magical place. Just by sitting here, all computer users in America can see the ads you put out!"
After Kenneth came to the office, Song Yang pushed a cup of coffee in front of Kenneth and said, "Thank you, President Kenneth, and Enron Group for taking care of DoubleClick!"
Enron Group gave next year's advertising order to DoubleClick Company, so Song Yang naturally wanted to express his gratitude.
"Enron Group will naturally cooperate with Houston companies," Kenneth said to Song Yang, "It seems that your place is very popular, and it can attract Joetus to come here frequently!"
Song Yang was stunned. He didn't expect that Kenneth knew that Qiao Tus had been here.
Seeing the astonishment on Song Yang's face, Kenneth just smiled faintly and pointed outside like a big boss, "This is Houston!"
Song Yang understood clearly that there were countless Enron spies in Houston and even in Texas. If Kenneth wanted to know something here, he probably couldn't hide it from him at all.
"Jotus is here to discuss some small projects." Song Yang said to Kenneth. There was no point in hiding this kind of thing from Kenneth, so it would be better to just say it directly.
Hearing Song Yang's words, Kenneth also said, "Today, DoubleClick Company, in addition to the advertising order, also has another matter to discuss with you, Song!"
Song Yang knew that Kenneth was about to get to the point, and he really didn't want to hear what Kenneth was going to say next, but at this time he had no choice but to listen.
Originally, Kenneth came here today just to see what the Double Click company that was touted by the media was like, but after seeing the Double Click company, Kenneth changed his mind.
"Enron is preparing to enter the Internet industry and expand Enron's industry from offline to online!"
Kenneth said that the idea of the "Enron Online" website was to do online trading of energy futures, putting natural gas, electricity and other products on the Internet for futures trading. Enron Group was ambitious and wanted to become the world's largest energy trader.
Song Yang couldn't help scratching his head when he heard what Kenneth said. Kenneth's meaning was very clear. He wanted to double-click the company and join the Enron Group project.
"President Kenneth," Song Yang said to Kenneth carefully, "Silicon Valley has better technology than DoubleClick, and is a company more suitable for cooperation with Enron!"
Kenneth kept his eyes on Song Yang, as if he wanted to see through him. This was the first time in all these years that Kenneth had met someone who didn't want to cooperate with Enron and instead pushed it away. Although Song Yang said it tactfully, Kenneth could not fail to hear the evasion in Song Yang's words.
Kenneth narrowed his eyes and stared at Song Yang and said, "I've said before that Enron wants to cooperate with local companies in Houston. Of course, Song, if you refuse this cooperation, Enron will not force you!"
When Song Yang heard this, he felt helpless. Kenneth was putting him on the fire.
If the rumor of refusing to cooperate with Enron and ignoring Enron spread, DoubleClick would become a laughing stock and would certainly not be able to survive in Houston. The entire America would probably be in trouble. Now no one would be willing to offend the giant Enron.
"In the whole of America, who would refuse to cooperate with Enron? If we can do our bit for Enron's project, DoubleClick would be happy to serve." Song Yang could only say with a smile.
Kenneth finally smiled when he heard this. "This week, Enron will hold a board meeting. Song, you should also attend!"
Looking at Kenneth walking away, Song Yang couldn't help but let out a long sigh, but for the people at DoubleClick, hearing that they were going to cooperate with Enron had a different reaction.
"Kenneth came here just to cooperate with us?"
After Kenneth left, Greg came in hurriedly and asked Song Yang. Irene, Ryan and others behind him also stared at Song Yang closely. This was the president of a giant American company, and he actually came to cooperate in person. This was unimaginable for them.
Song Yang nodded, but there was not much joy on his face. "This week, go to Enron headquarters to talk to them!"
"This is an opportunity for us!" said Grek.
You have to know how many companies go to great lengths to get associated with those big groups. If those giant companies slip a little bit through their fingers, it will be enough for small companies to feed themselves.
Not to mention the cooperation with giants like Enron, let alone anything else, no one in Houston and Texas would dare to mess with DoubleClick again. As for the banks, they would probably be willing to lend large sums of money to companies backed by giants. Relying on this relationship, they could also get more orders, etc. These are the direct benefits of cooperating with giants!
"Maybe!"
Song Yang couldn't refute Greck directly. He couldn't just say that Enron would destroy itself in a few years. If he said it now, no one would believe it. After all, Enron was now a giant with annual revenue of over 100 billion US dollars. Who could have imagined that this guy with thick eyebrows and big eyes, who was heavily invested by pension funds in various states in America, would also have his house collapsed?
When Enron held its board meeting, Song Yang, Gleick and others came to Enron's headquarters.
It has to be said that at that time, Enron was the representative of giant companies. The entire headquarters building was quite luxurious. The 50-story Enron headquarters, which cost 300 million US dollars to build, was a landmark building in Houston and even in America.
The luxury of Enron's office is well-known throughout America, not only in Houston. Enron's European headquarters in London is also under construction. It is said that standing on the roof of the London headquarters, you can have a panoramic view of the back garden of Buckingham Palace. The decoration cost of that building alone has cost 30 million pounds.
Especially when he entered the headquarters building and looked at the huge coffee shop of more than 10,000 square meters, which was luxuriously decorated and specially used for the leisure and enjoyment of people from Enron headquarters, Song Yang couldn't help but think of a certain domestic brand, Mouxing Coffee, which specializes in cutting leeks from Wall Street.
Song Yang was stunned by the luxurious decoration of Enron's headquarters. The walls were hung with various artworks, wood carvings and other decorations that were obviously worth a lot of money.
It is said that when Enron's headquarters building was being decorated, all the flowers in Houston's flower shops were sold out. All the flowers in Houston were bought by Enron and stuffed here. Of course, according to rumors, the company responsible for decorating this building was established by an Enron board executive and his wife. It is hard to say whether this is true or not...
After entering the meeting room of Enron headquarters, Song Yang and his group attracted a lot of attention. A group of Enron directors and shareholders all looked at Song Yang with curiosity.
"This is Jeff!"
Seeing Song Yang coming in, Kenneth introduced to Song Yang Jeff Skilling, Enron's second-in-command, his right-hand man, who was in charge of Enron's finances.
"Song, I mentioned to you the technological genius in Houston!" Kenneth said to Jeff.
