Third Entrepreneurship: Reflecting on Lessons Learned
In 2007, Zhuge Feng joined a supermarket company to develop POS systems. Originally a technical researcher, he volunteered to work at the company's Guangzhou branch. Within a year, the Guangzhou branch had established its dominant position, surpassing the Xiamen branch. "At that time, I was willing to be a follower rather than a leader, provided that the boss offered me some assurance," Zhuge Feng recalled. He had repeatedly inquired about his future career prospects, but the boss never gave a clear response. Although the boss verbally promised a redistribution of profits, an excited Zhuge Feng neglected to sign a written contract, and by the beginning of the following year, the boss went back on his word.
"When I left, the boss looked at me like an enemy. However, I have always believed that in the Chinese market, one must learn to share with others," Zhuge Feng said. Since then, whether through collaboration or independent operation, he has been committed to maximizing the interests of others. "I once promised that boss that I would never become his competitor." During his third attempt at entrepreneurship upon returning to the industry, he struggled with what business to pursue, eventually choosing to develop a cash register system.
The development of the cash register system was also not smooth sailing. In October 2008, as the company prepared to launch the R&D of relevant products, Zhuge Feng engaged a long-time friend from a university to handle the development, having agreed on terms and paid a deposit. However, the product, which was originally scheduled to be completed within nine months, had only a design framework at this point.