Chapter 988 Back to Campus
"Mike, what do you think of my project?" Jerry couldn't help but ask a key question at the end. After Netscape became successful, Jerry always hoped that he could achieve great success like Zhang Hao. Although he and his friends have now developed an Internet navigation guide, the actual results are far from what he expected. This made Jerry, who had great confidence at the beginning, a little disappointed.
"So? Are you asking whether the project can be successful? Is there a future for it? Or can it become the second Netscape?" Zhang Hao keenly understood what Jerry meant and asked back.
Jerry looked a little embarrassed, but he still nodded: "Yes, Mike, I admit that my friend and I have been aiming for Netscape from the beginning, but the current website is not very effective, which makes me very embarrassed now. You also know that I just graduated not long ago. With my education and ability, it is not difficult to find a suitable job, but I didn't do it because I want to be the second you, to be as successful as you!"
Zhang Hao sighed in his heart. Jerry's idea actually represents the ideas of many young people nowadays. Especially when Netscape achieved such success in just about a year, countless young people now have the same expectations, thinking that since Netscape can succeed, they may also have the same opportunity.
Compared with traditional industries, the Internet is an emerging industry, and its entry threshold is not high. As long as you have the technology and ideas, the possibility of success is very high. In addition, the Internet has unlimited possibilities, and there are precedents such as Netscape. These days, Zhang Hao is very aware of the changes in the industry.
If it were someone else, Zhang Hao might just smile and say something insignificant, or give Jerry some encouragement. Anyway, it's easy to say such things, and it won't offend people, and it can even make the other person more grateful and favorable to him.
But Jerry is different. On the one hand, he is Dongfang Ze's junior and they are both members of the Committee of 100. Dongfang Ze is also the specific person in charge of Zhang Hao's entry into the Committee of 100.
Secondly, Jerry is Chinese and about the same age as me, so we are compatriots.
Given these two reasons, when Jerry asked Zhang Hao this, Zhang Hao hesitated for a moment, but after thinking about it, he decided to tell the truth.
Zhang Hao did not say yes or no. He changed his way and told Jerry about the past when he, Mark and Jamie founded Netscape together.
He told Jerry that when they founded Netscape, they never thought that Netscape would achieve such success. The reason they founded Netscape was because the three of them had similar aspirations and a strong interest in the Internet. Also, because of some problems with the Internet at the time, they intended to use their own ideas to create a more suitable and convenient browser, which led to the founding of Netscape.
At the beginning, Netscape had nothing to do with capital in terms of products or technology, let alone pursuing the interests and success of the company. Whether it was Zhang Hao, Mark or Jamie, the only goal of the three of them was to perfect the browser they designed, update and promote the functions of the browser from the user's perspective, and hope that more Internet enthusiasts could use their browser to conveniently use the Internet.
From the founding of Netscape to its later years, all the expenses and expenditures were raised by Zhang Hao and others. Even though the company later added a technical team due to business needs and began selling and promoting browsers, these goals were still based on further upgrading and improving the product.
At that time, Zhang Hao and his team had never thought about the huge success that would follow. However, it was precisely because of this that their browser was completely designed from the user's perspective in terms of usage and functions, and gained advantages with powerful technology, which is why it was supported and loved by many people.
With these, Netscape Navigator defeated many competitors and occupied an absolute advantage in the entire browser market in such a short period of time. At this moment, capital began to notice Netscape, a new company that was rising, and extended an olive branch to Netscape. At that time, Netscape did not immediately accept the advice of capital and still maintained the original development steps. Until the end, due to the problem of funds, it had no choice but to introduce capital, and then it was successfully listed under the promotion of capital.
"I tell you this for no other reason than to remind you that although the Internet is a new industry with huge potential and unlimited possibilities, if you want to gain a foothold and succeed on the Internet, you should not first consider the future and returns, but the product itself."
“Internet products are for all users. When users are interested in your products and support them, you can demonstrate your value. If you only focus on success itself, the end result may be moving in another direction.”
Listening to Zhang Hao's words, Jerry couldn't help but fall into deep thought. After a long while, he nodded and said with a little frustration: "Maybe you are right. We are indeed a little eager for quick success. We didn't consider this when we started this project. After Netscape's success, our mentality changed from the beginning. It was this change that made me become a little impatient..."
Zhang Hao patted Jerry on the shoulder, and he comforted Jerry in this way. As a young man, he understood Jerry's thoughts. It is not a bad thing for young people to pursue success, but they should still keep their original intentions under the premise of pursuing success. As a pioneer in the Internet industry, Zhang Hao is certainly qualified to remind Jerry. He is worried that Jerry has gone astray in the pursuit of success because of the change in his mentality and original intention.
"Thank you, thank you for your reminder, I understand what I should do." Jerry is a very smart young man, otherwise he would not have obtained a college degree and a master's degree in just four years. Zhang Hao's reminder came very timely. He reflected on his situation these days and suddenly realized that he had forgotten his original intention and became impatient.
"However, if we continue with our current situation, the amount of money we have to invest will increase. I'm worried that we may not be able to succeed..." After realizing this, Jerry also talked about the problems he was facing.
"The necessary introduction of capital is the ultimate choice for Internet companies, but the introduction of capital also requires that your products are attractive to them. You have lived in the United States for so many years, and you should understand that capital is about pursuing profits, so I still suggest that you do your own things well first, and as for the rest, wait for God's arrangement." Zhang Hao calmly suggested to Jerry.
Jerry thought for a moment and nodded, "That's true. Just like when Netscape first received capital investment, only when a certain foundation is reached can it have the strength to attract the attention of capital."
"Yes! You are right to think so!" Zhang Hao smiled in praise.
After talking through it all, Jerry's confusion was solved. He felt much better and understood many things that he had not considered clearly before. He felt that meeting Zhang Hao today was very worthwhile. Although Zhang Hao did not give Jerry much advice on technology, he gave Jerry great help in other aspects.
As the two continued their in-depth conversation, Jerry tentatively asked Zhang Hao if he would be willing to invest in his project if possible. After all, Jerry's family conditions were not very good, and his partners could not come up with much money. Now their project was not progressing smoothly, and they might not be able to support it for too long relying solely on their own support. He hoped that Zhang Hao could help him in this regard.
Zhang Hao did not agree to this request immediately, but told Jerry that he would consider it, but on the condition that he first understood Jerry's project, which was the so-called Internet navigation guide.
After understanding the situation, Zhang Hao will evaluate the project and then tell Jerry the final decision. Although Jerry was a little disappointed by Zhang Hao's answer, he thought it was normal. If he were Zhang Hao, he would do the same. He felt relieved and nodded in agreement.
The dinner didn't last long because Zhang Hao was leaving Los Angeles the next day, so it ended at around eight o'clock in the evening.
When saying goodbye to Jerry , Zhang Hao asked Jerry for his contact information and gave him his own contact information. He also promised that he would take some time to look at Jerry's Internet navigation guide after he returned and give him a reply as soon as possible.
After returning to the hotel to rest for a night, Zhang Hao went to the airport after breakfast the next day. In the afternoon, Zhang Hao returned to the city where his previous school was located, took a taxi, and went directly to the apartment he had just bought and renovated.
The new residence is not far from the previous residence, but the community environment is much better, and the new apartment is completely different from the apartment Zhang Hao lived in before He used to live in a student dormitory, and he and Jamie lived in a two-bedroom, one-living room apartment.
But now, Zhang Hao lives in an entire floor, which is located on the top floor of this apartment. The interior area of the apartment is more than 350 square meters, and it is very beautiful after decoration.
In addition to the bedroom, living room, cloakroom, gym, etc., Zhang Hao also owns a studio of nearly 50 square meters, which is equipped with the best personal computers and related equipment. These things alone cost Zhang Hao a lot of money.
After taking a tour around the house, Zhang Hao was very satisfied with the layout and style here. He rested for a day and went to school the next day to formally go through the procedures for resuming classes.
In the next few days, Zhang Hao was busy with his own affairs. Although he is now a celebrity, few people on American campuses know that Zhang Hao is the founder of Netscape. Because of Zhang Hao's Chinese identity and foreigners' vague understanding of Chinese faces (face blindness), and the local American people downplayed Zhang Hao's existence when promoting Netscape, as well as other reasons such as Zhang Hao's Chinese name and English name, Zhang Hao's return to campus did not cause any waves, and everything was ordinary.
It was not until nearly a week later that Zhang Hao had some free time after finishing all these things. At this time, Zhang Hao contacted Mark and others through the computer and the Internet, and asked about some of the current situation of Netscape. After a long chat, when Zhang Hao was about to turn off the computer and email to wash up, he suddenly remembered Jerry. After thinking about it, he got up and took out the note Jerry left for him from the drawer. According to the information on the note, he used the browser on the networked computer to open Jerry's Internet navigation guide website.
