Chapter 354: Focus on Bigger Things
"What's on your mind, Mr. Reyes?"
"Ricardo pointed out a few critical issues that are delaying the Skyway Stage 4 project," Michael began. "The most pressing one is the right of way problems. There are still a few property owners holding out, and some legal disputes haven't been settled. We can't afford these delays."
"I see. What do you need me to do?"
"I want you to come up with a strategy to resolve these right of way issues as soon as possible," Michael instructed firmly. "We need to negotiate with these property owners directly and settle the legal disputes quickly. We can't let this drag on."
Juliet tapped a few notes into her tablet. "Alright, I'll gather all the necessary information and develop a comprehensive plan. I'll make sure to address both the negotiations and the legal hurdles."
Michael appreciated her quick grasp of the situation. "Good. I need you to report back to me tomorrow in my office with a detailed strategy. We can't waste any more time on this. The sooner we get this resolved, the sooner we can get back on track with the construction."
Juliet nodded again, her expression resolute. "Understood, Michael. I'll work on this right away and have a report ready for you by tomorrow morning."
"Thank you, Juliet," Michael said, feeling a bit more at ease. "This project is too important to let these issues hold us back. I trust you to handle this."
As Michael got back into his car, he felt a renewed sense of determination. He knew that with Juliet's expertise and dedication, they could overcome the right of way challenges and keep the Skyway Stage 4 project moving forward. The stakes were high, but he was confident that they could meet the challenge head-on.
Back at the Golden Topper, Michael headed straight to his office. He had a busy day ahead, but resolving these issues took top priority. He settled at his desk, reviewing the notes he had taken during his visit to the construction site.
Juliet knocked on his door, peeking in. "Mr. Reyes, I am here to report to you about the strategies."
Michael looked up from his desk. "Come in, Juliet. Let's hear it."
Juliet entered, carrying a folder filled with documents. She sat down and opened the folder, laying out the plans she had developed overnight. "I've identified the key property owners who are holding out and the specific legal disputes that need to be addressed. Here's a detailed breakdown."
She handed Michael a document highlighting each property and its current status. "For the property owners who are still holding out, I've proposed a tiered negotiation strategy. We start with increased compensation offers, but we also need to highlight the public benefits of the project. If that doesn't work, we can leverage legal pressure, but we must do so carefully to avoid public backlash."
Michael nodded, impressed with her thoroughness. "And the legal disputes?"
Juliet flipped to another page. "There are three major legal disputes. I've coordinated with our legal team to prioritize these cases. We can expedite the process by filing motions to dismiss frivolous claims and pushing for mediation in others. This will require some aggressive legal tactics, but it's necessary to keep the project on track."
"Won't the property owners anticipate this kind of attack? I am sure their lawyers won't be caught off guard," Michael said, his brow furrowed.
Juliet veered off from the topic. "Mr. Reyes, I'm quite curious as to why you are involving yourself in this matter? Like this is a job for someone else, not you. You have a lot of great things that you can do other than overseeing a right of way dispute that can be managed by the contractors."
Michael leaned back in his chair, letting out a small sigh. "Honestly, Juliet, there's not much else for me to do at the moment. I like to stay involved, keep my hands in the details. It keeps me grounded and ensures things move in the right direction. Plus, this project is crucial for our company and for the country."
Juliet nodded, understanding his point. "I get that, Michael. But there are other pressing matters that need your attention as well."
Michael raised an eyebrow. "Oh? Like what?"
Juliet hesitated for a moment before continuing, "The right of way issue is important, but I've received intel that companies like IBM, NVIDIA, Microsoft, and Google are eyeing our Quantum Processor. Their interest is intensifying, and it's becoming a greater concern."
"And I told you, I have expected this. Our Quantum Processor is a game-changer, and it's natural that they would want a piece of it."
"But Michael," Juliet continued, "the pressure is mounting. They're not just interested; they might take more aggressive steps to get their hands on it."
Michael remained confident. "Juliet, I designed the Quantum Processor. Its core technology is something only I fully understand. Sure, our engineers and employees know the manufacturing processes, but replicating the entire system without my expertise? It's nearly impossible. They can try, but they'll fall short."
Juliet looked relieved but still cautious. "I hope you're right. We need to be vigilant. They have vast resources and won't give up easily."
"I know," Michael said, a steely resolve in his voice. "But we have an edge they can't match."
"How about discussing how we are going to sell the quantum processor to the market because I am sure that those huge companies would do everything in their power to mislabel, damage, and tarnish our product. You are aware of it right? Big companies usually do those in their advertising campaigns to protect their market share," Juliet continued.
Michael nodded. "I'm well aware of their tactics, Juliet. But I can see already…"
Michael booted up his computer and opened the stock market dashboard. He quickly navigated to the stocks of IBM, NVIDIA, Microsoft, and Google. His eyes scanned the numbers, and a slight smile formed on his lips.
"Look at this, Juliet," Michael said, gesturing to the screen. "Their stocks are already taking a hit. Investors are getting nervous about our Quantum Processor. They know it's a game-changer."
Juliet leaned over his shoulder, examining the data. "A one percent drop across the board. That's significant, especially for companies of their size."
Michael nodded. "This is just the beginning. As we get closer to the launch, the pressure on them will increase. They'll be scrambling to catch up, but we have the advantage."
Juliet took a step back, her mind already racing with ideas. "We need to capitalize on this momentum. Let's push forward with our marketing campaign and get some early adopters to share their experiences. We can also release more teasers about the processor's capabilities."
"Agreed," Michael said. "We need to stay ahead of the curve. Let's also prepare for any negative campaigns they might launch against us. We need to be ready to counteract any misinformation with solid facts."
"Now this is the job that I love doing, not some fixing right of way disputes," Juliet said with a grin. "I'll get the team working on the marketing campaign right away. We'll make sure the world knows just how revolutionary our Quantum Processor is."
Michael smiled, appreciating Juliet's enthusiasm. "Perfect. Let's also keep a close eye on our competitors. If they start spreading misinformation, we need to be quick to respond. But don't forget those issues because I promised Ricardo I'd be involved," Michael said, finishing his thought. "We need to handle both fronts effectively."
Juliet nodded. "Understood. I'll balance both tasks. The right of way disputes and our marketing strategy for the Quantum Processor will be handled concurrently. We can't afford to drop the ball on either."
Michael felt reassured. "Good. Let's get to work."
The next morning, Juliet was back in Michael's office, ready with an update. "We've made some progress on the right of way disputes," she began. "Our legal team has prioritized the three major disputes and is working to expedite the process. We've also started negotiations with the key property owners. I think we'll see some movement soon."
Michael was pleased. "That's good news. Keep pushing forward. Now, what about the marketing campaign?"
"They're still working on it, but we've got some great ideas lined up," Juliet said, her voice full of excitement.
Michael nodded, feeling a sense of satisfaction. "Excellent. Now I plan on releasing it in July 2030. That gives us a few months to ramp up our marketing efforts and build anticipation."
Juliet made a note on her tablet. "That's perfect timing. We can coordinate the campaign to peak right before the release. It will maximize impact and ensure we capture as much market attention as possible."
"Exactly," Michael said. "Let's start planning the major events and announcements leading up to the release. I want press conferences, demo days, and exclusive previews for key influencers and industry leaders. We need to create a buzz that's impossible to ignore."
Juliet's eyes sparkled with enthusiasm. "We can definitely do that. I'll get the team to outline a detailed plan for the campaign, and we'll make sure to hit all the right notes."
"Good," Michael said, satisfied with the direction they were heading.