To expand the scale of Nicholas Express, the current shipment volume from the Nicholas Shopping Network isn't sufficient. The most recognized express company among Americans is FedEx. If Nicholas Express wants to catch up, effective publicity is essential!
In Henry's previous life, the movie "Cast Away" established a highly positive image for FedEx. Following the film's release, FedEx experienced an 8% increase in its business! While 8% may seem modest, the scale of FedEx makes that increase substantial. The difference between a company with an annual sales volume of $10,000 and one with an annual sales volume of $10 billion yields drastically different figures, underscoring the immense impact of effective publicity!
If "The Legend of the Lost Island" achieves similar success, Nicholas Express's popularity and performance will undoubtedly rise. Even individuals who have never engaged with online shopping will become aware of Nicholas Express through the film. As a result, the film's success will signify a duet between the Nicholas Group and Galaxy Film!
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When Henry arrived at Cisco, John Chambers, Geely Hutt, and Jonathan Jackson were discussing the development strategy for Williams Bank. Upon stepping into the meeting room, everyone stood and greeted Henry. He nodded slightly and walked straight to the main seat before asking, "What progress have we made regarding the development plan for Williams Bank?"
Geely Hutt replied, "Since we have just acquired the bank, we need to thoroughly reorganize it from top to bottom and train a significant number of reserve talents for future expansion."
Jonathan Jackson added, "Securing management talent is our top priority. I've contacted several headhunting firms to recruit senior management for Williams Bank."
Henry nodded in approval. "Excellent! We need to ensure that we have the right talents in place quickly so that we can pursue expansion! Williams Bank must provide adequate capital support to the major companies in the future. I want to avoid a repeat of the Citibank and Morgan Bank debacle!" His tone was stern and commanding.
Everyone nodded in agreement.
Henry then turned to John Chambers and said, "Although Williams Bank doesn't have any immediate M&A plans, we need to identify potential targets first! Chambers, you'll oversee this effort."
"Understood, Chairman!" John Chambers acknowledged.
"Additionally, I need you to coordinate something else," Henry continued, his voice dropping in intensity. "The Nikkei index has been skyrocketing, and I believe it has already formed a bubble that will burst soon! I want a team assembled to head to Japan so that I can initiate large-scale short-selling of the Nikkei!"
Henry was frustrated with Japan's arrogance. The Japanese boasted that merely acquiring land in Tokyo would establish them in the U.S. Moreover, wealthy Japanese nationals were spending lavishly in the U.S., purchasing land indiscriminately! Sony had even acquired the Hollywood giant Columbia Pictures! Were Americans just watching this unfold?
Henry concluded that it was high time to capitalize on their folly!
If the gods want to destroy a nation, they first drive it mad. The Japanese had followed this mantra, throwing their money into the stock market until the Nikkei index soared above 30,000 points! It would not be long before Japan faced a disastrous reckoning!
The Gulf War in 1990 would cripple Japan's economy, which heavily depended on oil imports, sending their stock market plummeting. After the war, the Japanese stock market briefly rebounded but couldn't reach its previous heights. By August 18, 1992, it had collapsed to just 14,304 points.
If Henry let this opportunity slip, he would have only himself to blame!
"It's the best way to extract Japanese money!" he thought.
Previously, Henry had refrained from entering the stock market for fear that his actions could inadvertently trigger a crash due to a butterfly effect. If he invested, only to see events take a different path, what good would it do him? But now, with the Gulf War imminent and a bubble formed in the Japanese stock market, not taking action would be unjustifiable!
So Henry decided to act decisively.
While everyone was surprised at Henry's intent to short-sell the Nikkei index, his track record over the years had proven consistently correct, instilling confidence in his team. They recognized him to be a genius among geniuses. After a moment of hesitance, they all agreed: "No problem at all! We'll mobilize our resources immediately!"
Henry nodded and then concluded the meeting.
After determining the Gulf War's start date, Henry visited the Blackwater headquarters, where Sean Houston had constructed an impressive militarized base. It boasted various training facilities, and Henry was invigorated by the sight of hundreds of bodyguards tirelessly sweating on the training ground.
What excite him the most was the array of weapons and equipment showcased in the warehouse. For someone who had never shot a gun before, seeing AKs, bazookas, and sniper rifles made Henry's heart race with curiosity!
Under Sean's guidance, Henry had the opportunity to handle some of the less dangerous items. He especially enjoyed using a sniper rifle. Sean led him into a wooded area where they practiced shooting at birds. Henry hit targets with surprising accuracy, impressing Sean significantly! Henry's marksmanship seemed almost innate for someone who had never previously fired a weapon!
"The boss is a born sniper!!!" Sean mused in awe.
That evening, the base's higher-ups gathered for dinner in a show of respect for their boss. Henry recognized only Sean Houston and the chief instructor, Nelson Goss. Sean had shared that Nelson had earned the nickname "Iron-Blooded Instructor" due to his relentless approach to training, never relenting until participants had pushed themselves to the brink. The rigorous training had produced extraordinary results, as each bodyguard had once been a retired soldier. Combined with their special forces training, their skills had been significantly enhanced.
Although Blackwater had been operational for less than a year, it rose to prominence as the leading bodyguard company, thanks to Henry's being instrumental in its rapid growth. Their workforce had exceeded 3,000 members, and most were retired soldiers alongside a few retired police officers. Blackwater maintained excellent relations with the military. Henry directed Sean to keep connected with the military's top brass, ensuring they were attuned to military movements. If the U.S. prepared for action, Henry would be ready to turn his sights toward Japan!