622 Boss Pei Broke the Vicious Cycle of Zero-Sum Game
August 18th, Thursday…
Wu Bin and Cui Geng came to Halo Workspace to see Ruan Guangjian. The interview with Ruan Guangjian was already scheduled when interviewing Teacher Qiao.
However, the induction and summary work after the interview took more time, which was why it was delayed until today.
Wu Bin knew very well that Ruan Guangjian was also one of Boss Pei's friends and long-term partners. He must possess a unique interpretation for Boss Pei.
Ruan Guangjian fell into deep thought. "My first impression of Boss Pei…
"Should be a very special client."
"How so?"
"I've met clients on the internet with some problems such as…
"Unclear needs… and wanting everything under the sun or 'feel everything is wrong'. Some do not have any concept of what they want in their mind; neither can they express it. However, they'd asked you to make something that even they could not imagine.
"Change for the sake of changing, did not have any useful comments… after changing so many times, they would finally return to the first edition…
"Totally ignore the situation with the freelancer. They would rush the construction period as much and delay the payment for as long as they can. They would also raise very unreasonable requests at times.
"However, Boss Pei is completely different from other clients.
"He has never put forward any specific needs and does not interfere with your creation. However, he would guide your creation through some other methods so that the work and his original intention could be further integrated.
"Have full trust in the freelancer, give sufficient time and money, never pick on the work, and request for rework. However, the freelancer would receive a lot of money and would diligently work on everything in fear of losing this big client.
"Moreover, in most cases, the first version from the freelancer is usually the best because he would usually be filled with inspiration and energy at this point in time. The later versions would generally be mental and physical exhaustion with the client's interference and would not be as good as the first edition.
"Therefore, the client would usually say: let's still use the first edition. The first edition is generally always better.
"That should be the biggest difference between Boss Pei and the other clients."
Wu Bin noted it all down and nodded frequently.
"Then, Big Boss Ruan, why do you think is the reason for this difference?"
Ruan Guangjian replied after much consideration, "I think the main reason is in philosophy.
"Why does the client want the freelancer to make repeated amendments? I think the biggest problem was the natural conflict of interest between the two parties.
"The mutual trust and foundation between each other had been severely damaged. Therefore, most of the clients and freelancers regard the cooperation as a zero-sum game.
"Some irresponsible freelancers might feel that they should try their best to cheat as much money as they could and give a garbage plan to the client. If the client did not comment, then they could earn this amount of money easily. It would save time and effort.
"If the client wants to modify it, then it would be easier for the freelancer to modify it than to do it seriously from the beginning.
"Such behavior destroys the client's trust in the freelancer. Many clients would think that all freelancers are irresponsible.
"Since the first version you give me is definitely rubbish, then I have to make you revise it. I'll pick the most satisfactory one after revising it many times so that my money spent is worthwhile.
"Furthermore, the client is the paying party and is already in a stronger position. To show the results of their work, the personnel responsible will continue to propose more amendment requests. If they passed the first time, they would appear negligent so they had to pick their fault.
"If the department responsible has a few layers and there was one layer they did not pass, they would seem to have no sense of existence, which would be a disaster for one party.
"Therefore, in the end, because the client and the freelancer regard the cooperation as a zero-sum game; the client would feel like it was a loss for themselves if they were to use the first version by the freelancer; the freelancer would feel that they were at a loss if they were to give the client the best solution at the first round.
"Both sides were reserved and entered a vicious circle. The more the client wanted revisions, the more the freelancer wouldn't be serious about the first version; the less serious freelancer is about the first version, the more the client would want revisions.
"Over time, it would become the current situation.
"The reason why Boss Pei was able to become a special client is that he did not regard this cooperation as a zero-sum game… but as a win-win situation, breaking the chain of a vicious circle!
"As the client, Boss Pei was very sincere. He gave the freelancer a far higher price than the industry standard, fully respecting the freelancer's professionalism, and strived to integrate his own ideas with the freelancer… so that the freelancer could unleash his full potential.
"Therefore, the freelancer produced something that is far above his usual standards. Adding to Boss Pei's idea, the product became an instant hit.
"Not only is Boss Pei's project a great success, but the popularity of this project gained a high degree of attention and won recognition from more people.
"Therefore, it created a virtuous circle. The client and the freelancer trust each other and use their best efforts to complete every small detail of the project.
"The client can give a high price and not be worried about being cheated by the freelancer; the freelancer can design with his full inspiration without worrying about being interfered by the client and for his work to be repeatedly modified.
"Such a virtuous relationship becomes unbreakable once it is established which ultimately allows both parties to benefit from it.
"That is the best part of Boss Pei as the client. Not only does he give the freelancer generous economic benefits, but he also gives the freelancer full trust and care about his life. I have personally felt that deeply."
Wu Bin nodded, deeply inspired. Everyone could see Boss Pei's care and concern for Big Boss Ruan.
No matter whether it was to establish the 'Tengda Standard' by increasing the price of purchase from the freelancer or not. He also helped Halo Workspace tide over their difficulties when they moved to Jingzhou. He even got Big Boss Ruan to build the Thriller Hostel according to Big Boss Ruan's own preferences. That showed how much Boss Pei cared about his friends and partners.
Wu Bin suddenly had a flash of inspiration. "Boss Pei seems to have the same relationship with his employees!
"The bosses of the other companies regard the relationship between themselves and their employees as a zero-sum game. They think that they can reduce costs and make more money by squeezing their employees a little more.
"The employees do not trust the boss and feel like they are being squeezed. They would be lazy, not give it their best and think about how to change jobs during work time.
"Boss Pei also broke this vicious circle through his way of 'being the first to show sincerity' and re-established mutual trust with his employees!
"That was why such a magical phenomenon appeared: Boss Pei brought the company originally on the verge of bankruptcy back to life after he took over. The unmotivated and disinterested employees suddenly became serious and worked hard to create value for the company!
"I originally thought that it was the rather mysterious 'Tengda spirit' at work, but now, it seems like Boss Pei's efforts to build mutual trust with employees also played a very important role!"
Ruan Guangjian nodded. "Yes, I agree with this view as well. That showed that Boss Pei had never regarded his employees as his personal property or as livestock he could drive at will like the other bosses.
"Generally, the status of the employees should be lower than the freelancer because the freelancer is often a company with a stronger voice. Employees are only individuals who had difficulty refusing the boss's request.
"Therefore, a chain of oppression by the client to the freelancer is often formed, and the freelancer would oppress his own employees. It would be under high pressure all year round and would collapse if you don't pay attention.
"Therefore, the lower-level employees of many outsourcing companies would be overwhelmed and leave in large numbers every year. These companies could only recruit inexperienced newcomers to fill the vacancies.
"Without talent accumulation, the output would be difficult to satisfy the client so it would usher in more oppression.
"However, Boss Pei is totally different. He treats his employees and freelancers as collaborators. They would be able to reap rewards based on how hard they worked. Under such an incentive, most people would be stimulated. Such efforts would not bring about oppression, but fighting for one's own cause."
Wu Bin was in a great mood. He felt that he really profited from the interview today!
As a member of the HR department and someone who came to Tengda from other companies, Wu Bin could also clearly feel the difference between Tengda and the other companies.
However, how did this distinction come about?
Wu Bin had never found a particularly accurate answer.
The Tengda spirit was indeed a viable explanation, but it was more like a summary rather than a cause. Now, he had finally found the cause.
That was Boss Pei's original philosophy, breaking the original vicious cycle of zero-sum game and establishing a mutually beneficial and win-win community of interest between the company and employees and between the client and freelancer!
The interests of the company, employees, and consumers were now integrated into one… so everything seemed harmonious and smooth.
It sounded very simple, but Wu Bin analyzed it carefully and felt that it could only be done by people with courage and perseverance beyond ordinary man!
Boss Pei transferred out a large part of his benefits, exceeding the imagination of all employees to break this chain.
Under such a huge concession, Boss Pei's final benefits as the boss of Tengda were probably not as much as some black-hearted companies that squeezed their employees dry.
However, obviously, Boss Pei cared more about long-term interests.
Perhaps the other companies that had squeezed their employees were far wealthier than Boss Pei, but their companies would lose and fall out of grace when competing with Tengda.
Boss Pei gave up on his personal interest. That was how he built a fast-growing business empire like Tengda in just two years and still maintains an extremely fast growth rate with rapid progress!
Wu Bin stood up and shook hands with Ruan Guangjian. "Thank you, Big Boss Ruan! Your words deeply inspired me!
"I feel that all the materials needed for the explanation of the Tengda spirit have been gathered!
"Next I will start to retreat into myself and analyze the relationship between these materials and Tengda spirit in depth. I'll also try to make a comprehensive explanation for the Tengda spirit to show the most realistic Boss Pei!"
Ruan Guangjian was very happy. "You're welcome, that is what I should do. However… can you give me a copy of the book when it's done?"
Wu Bin nodded. "Sure, of course!"
