When Disney made a big noise in Los Angeles, Simon was playing golf with Jack Welch, the head of Ge, on the east coast, accompanied by Denise and some senior executives of Ge.
In March, through the merger and acquisition audit, Ge began to implement the merger and adjustment of Time Warner. Within three months, the two companies were basically integrated. After several games, Terry Semel, the former CEO of Time Warner Group, became the general manager of GE's media and entertainment business, and took charge of Time Warner, NBC TV network and other assets. Bob White, the former NBC TV network manager under Welch's direct line, was the deputy of Terry Semel.
Jack Welch, who was well aware of Time Warner's internal problems, resolutely swept out Gerald Levin, Robert Daley and other executives this time to ensure that GE's media and entertainment business would not be affected by infighting.
If enterprises want to expand steadily, they need a strong enough leader. In Simon's opinion, Jack Welch replaced Steve Ross this time. Otherwise, the new Terry Semel and Bob White could not be harmonious.
This time, Welch also took the initiative to put forward that the executives of the two sides should play together to get in touch with each other.
Different from the situation that GE has been chasing Westinghouse in power and energy fields in recent years, Welch clearly knows that in the media and entertainment industry, all of GE's related assets are integrated together, and it is impossible to compete with Denise entertainment. Even, let alone the media and entertainment assets, the market value of the whole Ge group is not as good as that of Denise entertainment Nellis entertainment high.
Simon just shows a certain tendency to hope that danielis and Time Warner will stand side by side, and knows that this pattern is beneficial to both sides. Welch actively promotes this situation, including Terry Semel, who is close to danielis entertainment, to take charge of Ge media entertainment assets this time.
In a golf course near the affluent north suburb of Greenwich.
Jack Welch is a senior golf enthusiast, almost reaching the professional level. Simon, who has inherited more than ten people's memories and skills, happens to be a short board in golf. However, no matter Welch or Terry Semel, Robert egger and others who accompanied him expressed any opinions on Simon's skills. Instead, they all tried to accommodate Simon's rookie level.
This is very rare in professional golf enthusiasts.
In a similar circle, people who have too much difference in golf handicap index can't play together at all. If they try to get together, they will be ignored or ridiculed. As a result, many people want to enter some circles and spend a lot of money to invite professional coaches and spend a lot of personal time to practice golf ability.
All in all, the status gap is not to a certain extent, do not think others will accommodate you.
On the golf course, Jack Welch swung a shot at Simon's will, looked at the golf ball slanting out of the hole not far away, walked over with Simon with a smile, and said: "I've seen the anti overseas corruption law you asked someone to hand over to me recently. It's very enlightening, but it's hard to avoid rebound if this method is used too much."
Simon held the club in his hands and subconsciously tried to try his hand. He did not expect that the expensive titanium alloy club would bend down directly in his hands. When Welch saw that his eyes were slightly surprised, he just laughed and attracted a beautiful girl not far away. He changed a club and said: "actually, what I want to express is an idea, Jack, not just the bill, but the future Decades will be an era of high-speed globalization. The global economy is integrated, but each country has different rules. If we want to be the winner as much as possible, we need to drag our competitors into our own rules as much as possible, and then use the advantages of rules to defeat each other. "
Jack Welch thought deeply, then laughed at himself and said, "I'm 61 years old. I've started to plan my retirement schedule. I may not have the chance to participate in these games in the future."
Simon shook his head. "I'm sorry about that, too."
Jack Welch felt the difference in Simon's tone and asked, "Simon, what do you think of Ge after my retirement?"
Simon looked at Welch. "Jack, do you want to hear the truth?"
"Of course."
"I'm very, very negative," Simon said
When Welch saw that Simon used two "very" in succession, his pace slowed down a little subconsciously, and his tone was serious: "why?"
"Because what I just said is globalization," Simon said, slowing down. "Under the trend of globalization, many of GE's businesses at this stage, such as power, lighting, transportation, water and so on, are bound to be replaced by relatively low-cost enterprises in Asia, Latin America and even Eastern Europe. Only a few of the most cutting-edge aviation, nuclear power and other businesses can be retained . Oh, yes, and the media, which is a relatively strong cultural industry in the Federation, will never be out of date as long as it is properly operated. "
Jack Welch simply stopped and stood on the spacious lawn. He also attracted the attention of Robert egger and others who were not far away. They thought that they had some problems. However, the two bosses didn't call, and the others didn't come together unwittingly.After a moment's reflection, Welch said, "Simon, I think you're exaggerating. At this stage, the global economy has shown the characteristics of globalization, and Ge still maintains its strong position."
Simon is not interested in golf, see Welch stop, simply pointed to the outside: "Jack, why don't we go to have a rest."
Welch, eager to know the answer, nodded.
They called in a battery car and soon came to the reception villa outside the stadium. They sat in a coffee shop and waited for the waiter to deliver coffee and desserts. Simon then said, "globalization, as I just said, is just one of the reasons. In addition, there is the problem of your successor. Jack, without any inquiry, I can be sure that no matter how carefully you choose, your successor will not have the authority and strong control over Ge. This will inevitably lead to another result. Without strong control, GE's operation will inevitably be interfered by external factors. "
"External factors?"
Simon pointed to himself: "like me."
Welch subconsciously produced some vigilance: "Simon, what do you want to do?"
Simon shook his head with a smile and said, "Jack, I am one of the major shareholders of Ge now. You should believe that the interests of me and Ge are consistent."
The expression on Welch's face was still not relaxed.
Simon had to shrug: "well, the third and most important reason behind the trend of globalization and the weak successors is that the federal financial capital is becoming more and more powerful. In contrast, industrial capital has been declining for decades because of the increasing hollowing out of the country's industry. With your control over Ge, Jack, nothing will happen as long as you are in office. However, once you retire, driven by various factors, financial capital will soon become a leading force in the development of Ge. As for what financial capital will do, you can see what Wall Street has been doing since the 1980s. Well, in fact, the changes of at-t in recent years are the most obvious reference. "
Since it was split up in the 1980s, although the federal government has been liberalizing the regulation of telecommunications in recent years, at-t has been continuously stripped and dismembered. The fundamental reason is that the financial capital of the United States controls at-t and obtains more benefits in the short term by means of continuous splitting and integration.
This trend for at-t will continue in the next few years. Even Simon, in private, has taken a fancy to some of at-t's businesses and is waiting for the right time to sell them.
As for whether these actions will hurt the foundation of at-t and affect the long-term development of the telecom giant, who cares?
In the memory of the post Welch era, the end of Ge is the same.
After Welch retired, the huge Ge Empire continued to be split and sold for more than ten years. At the most depressed stage, GE's market value was less than one tenth of its peak in 2000.
Jack Welch's face changed several times after hearing Simon's words. He was so smart that he soon realized that what Simon said was true, even an irresistible industry trend. But he still asked, "Simon, why do you want to talk to me about this?"
Simon took a sip of coffee, leaned back in his chair and said, "you can take this as a kind of introspection, Jack. In fact, you don't have to lose. Everything, birth, growth, prosperity, decline and demise, are inevitable. Standing in my present position, I can't help thinking about a lot of things. It turns out that we can change very little 。”
Jack Welch looked at the lazy young man on the other side, and then he suddenly gave a smile: "Simon, I can't believe you are older than me."
"If you've lived hundreds of years and lived many lives, it's the same thing."
"Oh, it's a joke, isn't it?" Jack Welch smiles a little more and says, "in fact, people have been very curious about you all these years, and so have I. However, Simon, I believe you are a miracle, but not a miracle."
Simon just smiles.
Jack Welch pauses, slightly picks up the coffee in front of him, puts it down again, obviously hesitates for a moment, and says again, "Simon, actually, you want to control Ge in the future, right?"
Simon is noncommittal: "why do you say that?"
"Your intention is too obvious," Welch said, releasing his coffee cup. "I've paid attention to the three companies you have set up recently, namely fusion times, SolarCity and SpaceX, nuclear energy, solar energy and aviation. GE has accumulated a lot in these three fields and can provide a lot of help for you. Although you just showed indifference, I can understand that you still want to change some things. Of course, the more resources you can use, the better. What's more, you decide that my successor can't have the prestige I have now. Just as you do, you are also a major shareholder of Ge. Finally, and most importantly, you are young enough. "Feeling Welch's bright eyes, Simon's smile remained unchanged, pausing slightly, or nodding gently.
Jack Welch, seeing the young man admit it, leaned back in his chair and pondered for a moment. He looked up again and said seriously, "Simon, I'll think about it seriously."
"I'm looking forward to your decision."
At this point, neither of them continued. Welch mentioned another thing: "about the negotiation between DC film universe team and Batman actor Adam Baldwin, Simon, I don't think it's too much to ask for a base salary of $15 million plus 10% of the global box office gross profit, do you think?"
Danielis and time warner are quietly negotiating with Batman star Adam Baldwin to increase the film contract, which has been circulating in Hollywood for a long time.
In fact, this is an intention shared by both sides.
Compared with Brad Pitt, who has been designated as the hero of face changing by Simone, Adam Baldwin is more constrained by the role of Batman. Baldwin's attempts to play Bruce Wayne in other movies have basically ended miserably in recent years. In addition, with Denise's booming entertainment in Hollywood, the actor has gradually straightened out his mind and started to seek help Get more real benefits from the Batman Series.
The base top salary of Hollywood has been successfully locked to $15 million by Simon over the years.
The focus of the negotiations between the two sides is still division.
For such a long time, Adam Baldwin no longer seeks to share the profits of the surrounding channels, but insists on getting a share from the global box office rather than the local box office that producers prefer.
Simon didn't expect Jack Welch to talk about it himself.
Not surprisingly.
The general electric leader does not lack the macro vision of running the enterprise, but also often participates in various micro management.
In the original time and space, as one of the pillars of NBC TV network, the main creator of "Seinfeld" was Jerry Seinfeld. In the end, he really didn't want to continue. Jack Welch personally made an appointment with Jerry Seinfeld, and finally renewed his contract for another season at a sky high price of $100 million. NBC didn't lose money either. The finale of "Seinfeld" created a viewing miracle of 75 million people watching at the same time.
Jack Welch spoke in person, and Simon also explained: "I don't think this price is unreasonable. The current dispute is about several contracts. We hope Adam will sign three more. Then the DC movie universe will be distributed to just Alliance 2, but we hope to sign one more. I don't want to see such uncertainty."
According to Adam Baldwin's participation in the global box office of DC movie universe project in the future, the studio will probably get 400 million box office worldwide. The total cost of production and publicity of DC movie universe Series in the future will be about 200 million US dollars, with gross profit of 200 million US dollars and 10% of the global box office gross profit of 20 million US dollars.
For a billion dollar movie, Simon doesn't think it's too much to take away 35 million dollars.
Jack Welch didn't worry about the price when he saw Simon. Instead, he wanted to sign three films at one time, and he also agreed. No more saying, DC movie universe continues to the present. Welch also understands that the stability of the main creative team is very important if this series wants to continue better. In fact, the long-term contract is very important.