Chapter 19: The Shaping of the Plan and Internal Rehearsal
The morning dawned like a delicate veil of soft silk, filtering through the towering glass facade of the Hongyu Group office building, casting a gentle golden glow that bathed the entire market department meeting room in a warm halo, as though preparing the stage for a grand performance about to unfold. Inside, the tables and chairs were arranged with precision, the new projector emanating a faint aura of modern technology, and the large screen stood like a blank canvas, awaiting the brilliance to be painted upon it.
After the turmoil and reconciliation of the past week, the team members appeared renewed, their eyes sparkling with confidence and anticipation, having emerged from the struggle to overcome obstacles. Gathered here, their efforts culminated in a project proposal that had undergone countless nights of brainstorming and hard work. It was now ready to take shape, like a butterfly breaking free from its cocoon, each page and each word imbued with the team's collective heart and the burning desire to "reverse" the market with their product.
Dressed in a crisp white shirt with a perfectly knotted tie and meticulously combed hair, Zhang Liang exuded a sense of professionalism and determination. He stood before the projector, took a slow, steady breath, and subconsciously clenched and released his hands, trying to shake off the ever-present tension. His mind quietly whispered, "This is the moment that will make or break us. I must hold steady." On his laptop screen, the meticulously crafted PowerPoint slides flickered, filled with charts, graphs, and text—each piece of the "secret weapon" forged by him and the team after thorough market research, competitor analysis, and user insights.
"Colleagues," Zhang Liang cleared his throat, his voice calm and strong, breaking the brief silence in the room. His gaze swept over each member of the team, his eyes conveying trust and unspoken understanding. "Today marks the internal rehearsal of our proposal. This journey has not been easy, but through sheer perseverance, we've honed the proposal. Now, I will take you through how our product will carve out a path in this fiercely competitive market and stage a glorious comeback."
The first slide of the presentation lit up, revealing a high-definition rendering of the product—its sleek, flowing lines and meticulous design. The unique appearance shone with a blend of technology and modernity, shifting subtly with the play of light. "At first glance, this product may seem similar to others on the market, but there is a hidden brilliance beneath its surface," Zhang Liang said, his laser pointer landing precisely on the product image. "Through our preliminary research, we found that while most mainstream products cater to mass-market needs, they overlook a highly potential niche market—the high-end business travelers and creative professionals who demand extreme portability alongside personalized product features. This is where we make our move, entering a 'differentiation war.'"
With a click of the mouse, the next slide appeared, showcasing detailed charts and graphs. The bar graph clearly depicted the year-on-year growth of this niche consumer group, while the line graph revealed the rising trend of unmet needs and pain points among them. "Look here," Zhang Liang continued, his hand gesturing animatedly, his voice filled with conviction, "While this niche group may seem smaller than the mass market, they possess strong purchasing power, high loyalty, and extensive social influence. Once the product meets their needs, word of mouth will spread like wildfire, turning small sparks into a blazing force in the market."
As Zhang Liang spoke, his posture slightly leaned forward, eyes alight with certainty, resembling a strategist at the helm of a campaign, analyzing the battlefield and determining the way to victory.
At this point, Li Qiang furrowed his brow and raised his hand to ask a question. "The idea is good, but the requirements of this niche market are demanding. How exactly are we going to fine-tune our product to hit the 'bullseye'? We can't afford to alienate both sides," he inquired, his tone, though still skeptical, lacked the usual sharpness and hostility, now replaced by a more pragmatic concern and a focused, exploratory gaze.
Zhang Liang smiled and nodded, unfazed. "Great question, Li Ge. Let me walk you through our product's two main innovative selling points." He switched the slide to a page dedicated to these selling points. "First, in terms of portability, we've used a new lightweight material that reduces the product's weight by nearly a third while optimizing the internal structure, shrinking its size by 20%, making it easy to fit into a briefcase or a creative bag—perfect for their travel needs. Secondly, for personalized customization, we've developed a smart modular system that allows users to mix and match functionality based on their work scenarios—be it business presentations or outdoor sketching—providing them with a truly bespoke experience, allowing them to say, 'This is my product, my way.'"
As Zhang Liang explained, his words flowed with ease, supported by the elegant animations in the PowerPoint and real-life video clips, weaving the product's features and marketing strategy into an engaging "web" that captivated the team's full attention. In the meeting room, people alternated between focusing on the screen, taking notes, and nodding in agreement, the atmosphere buzzing with energy and purpose, and the previous tension from the morning's conflict having dissolved, replaced by a renewed vitality for the project.
Just as Zhang Liang hit his stride, the system's familiar voice, playful yet encouraging, rang out in his mind:
"Zhang Liang, this performance is like 'governing a great nation, as one would cook a small fish.' You've timed everything perfectly, presenting the proposal step by step with clarity and confidence. Keep this up, and the internal rehearsal will pass with flying colors, giving you solid footing for the real-world execution!"
A smile spread across Zhang Liang's face, and he silently responded, "System, your support and reminders have been a guiding light. I was so uncertain earlier, but now I feel much more grounded. I'll make sure to get this 'performance' right."
"With a precise positioning and innovative selling points, we've also developed a comprehensive marketing strategy," Zhang Liang continued, his tone full of enthusiasm. The next slide appeared, displaying a mind map of the marketing strategy. "Online, we'll leverage social media platforms, collaborating with industry influencers and niche online personalities to promote product trials, share creative tutorials, and directly engage our target audience. Offline, we'll host experiential events in high-end business districts and cultural parks, creating immersive product experiences to let users feel the product's appeal firsthand, generating word-of-mouth buzz."
As Zhang Liang spoke, his colleagues grew even more engaged. The discussion became increasingly lively, with each new idea adding layers to the plan. Xiao Chen, the "data expert," pushed up his glasses and stood to point at a flow estimate chart on the slide. "Zhang Liang, I think we can be more aggressive with the online traffic predictions. Based on recent social media algorithm trends, if we optimize our posting times—targeting late-night and early-morning periods when niche audiences are most active—and pair them with trending hashtags, we can increase traffic by at least 20%. This would be crucial for the early-stage word-of-mouth buildup."
Zhang Liang's eyes lit up with excitement, as if he had uncovered a treasure. He nodded enthusiastically. "Xiao Chen, that's an excellent idea! How did I miss the algorithm adjustment? I'll make sure to optimize this in the plan."
Creative team member Xiao Wu could no longer hold back, waving a marker in his hand and suggesting, "For the offline experience events, we could add a creative touch by incorporating retro literary elements that our target audience loves, like old film cameras and handmade leather notebooks, creating a unique atmosphere that enhances the product's appeal."
"Brilliant, Xiao Wu! Enhancing the atmosphere like that will make the product's charm skyrocket, and the user experience will undoubtedly be incredible. It's bound to generate buzz," Zhang Liang praised, grinning with approval.
The meeting room became a creative "alchemy furnace," where ideas collided and the proposal was refined to perfection. Zhang Liang listened attentively, skillfully guiding the discussion, integrating the scattered suggestions into the framework of the plan.
Meanwhile, at the back of the room, Team Leader Chen Feng had been quietly observing. His initial critical expression gradually shifted to one of satisfaction and relief. He intermittently wrote down key points in his notebook, occasionally glancing up at the team, a smile tugging at the corners of his mouth. His joy was clear as he witnessed the transformation of the team and the shaping of the proposal.
As the discussion neared its end, Zhang Liang returned to the projector, summarizing the key adjustments made to the plan. With a few swift clicks, the presentation displayed the newly optimized product path and marketing strategy in a panoramic view. "After our brainstorming session, the proposal has truly been sharpened, from product innovation to marketing tactics. It now fully caters to the niche market's needs and will ignite word-of-mouth marketing. I'm confident that if we execute this, our product will surely dominate the market!"
The room erupted in applause, louder and longer than before, filled with the energy of a united team and a shared sense of certainty about the future victory. Su Yao, beaming with joy, handed Zhang Liang a note that read, "Great job, let's go for it!" Zhang Liang clutched the note, his eyes reddening with emotion, his heart brimming with pride and ambition, as he envisioned the product shining brightly in the market, the team standing triumphantly at the peak of success.
Summary: In this chapter, Zhang Liang, embracing Laozi's wisdom, patiently explained the refined proposal, gaining recognition from colleagues through precise positioning, innovative selling points, and marketing strategies. The team's collaboration and creativity led to the plan's optimization. Encouraged by Su Yao, Zhang Liang was poised to overcome future challenges.