Chapter 6: Meeting the Team

**Los Angeles – Monday, January 17, 8 a.m.**

Karl arrived on time, as always, to pick me up in his discreet black sedan. On the way, he gave me some practical advice for the day.

Karl: William, today is a crucial day. Remember that first impressions are very important. Be confident but also listen. Employees may be skeptical because of your age, but show them you are capable and determined. Ask questions, show interest in their work, and above all, make them understand that you are here to support and revive the company, not the other way around.

I nodded, taking his advice to heart. We headed to Majestic Publishing, which occupies a massive six-story building, a former factory converted after a bankruptcy. The company currently only uses the ground floor, where the reception and printers are located, and the first floor, dedicated to administration. The rest of the building is unoccupied but offers enormous growth potential. My father had bought this building during a foreclosure, seeing in it a promising future for Majestic Publishing. This speaks volumes about the hopes he had for this company.

Karl: Also, remember that this building represents a colossal investment and a bet on the future. Your father had a long-term vision, and now it's up to you to realize it. Show the employees that you respect this legacy and that you have a plan for the future. Show them a bright future awaits them, give them hope, that's what they need the most right now.

Upon arrival, I couldn't help but contemplate the company for a few seconds. This building symbolizes the hope and possibilities of my dream. Karl and I entered, and I felt the curious gaze of the employees on me.

Karl: Take a deep breath, William. Smile and be yourself. You have everything it takes to succeed.

I took a deep breath, adjusted my suit following Karl's advice, and walked confidently into the lobby of Majestic Publishing, ready to meet the team and begin my ascent in this world.

Conference Room, 9 a.m.

We headed to the conference room for a meeting with the heads of the six essential departments: Editorial, Production, Marketing and Advertising, Sales and Distribution, Rights and Licensing, and Accounting. The atmosphere was both professional and slightly tense. I was aware that my young age was an obstacle, but I was determined to prove my worth.

Karl, always by my side, spoke first.

Karl: Thank you all for coming. As you know, William will be taking the helm of Majestic Publishing. He has great ideas and ambitions to get us back on track. I leave you in good hands.

I stood up, feeling all eyes on me.

William: Hello everyone. I am delighted to meet and work with you. I know these past few times have been difficult for each of you, but I am confident that together, we will turn things around and reach new heights. Today, I would like to discuss our priorities and hear your thoughts on the challenges we need to address and fix.

I started by calling Linda, the head of the editorial department.

William: Ms. Linda, could you tell us about the editorial department and the ongoing projects?

Linda, a woman in her forties with chestnut hair pulled back into a tight bun and glasses that accentuate her sharp, analytical gaze, stood up to speak. She had a reputation for being a tough but fair editor, with a knack for discovering promising talent. She paused for a few seconds, then responded with great seriousness.

Linda: Of course, William. Our editorial department is responsible for selecting and acquiring manuscripts. We currently have a team of eight editors who evaluate submissions, work with 42 authors to improve their manuscripts, and oversee the publication process. We have a few promising manuscripts, but nothing that truly stands out. In the past two years, all our talents have turned to competitors. Therefore, we need to find works with bestseller potential and start rebuilding new author talents and strengthen our team to improve the quality of our publications.

William: Thank you, Linda. I am confident we can attract exceptional talents if we strengthen our presence at book fairs and literary events. It is also crucial that we produce a bestseller as soon as possible to give us leverage; we can no longer rely on our past achievements. I believe in your ability to find talents. Can you tell me how many manuscripts you think you can publish this year?

Linda: About fifty, sir, but I could increase that number if you wish.

I could see a glimmer of determination in her eyes despite her professional and measured tone.

William: Good. Among these fifty, how many do you honestly think truly deserve to be published?

Linda, initially troubled, then responded sincerely: About ten at most, but we can't limit ourselves to that, it's very few.

William: That's precisely the problem. We need quality, not quantity. Our resources are very limited, we can no longer try to cover as many genres as possible nor propose a certain number for each genre. I want you to select the top ten best manuscripts, those that truly deserve to be published, not books that simply cover missing genres. Then, you will select five with the sales department that have the most market potential. These will be the ones we publish this year.

Linda nodded, evidently contemplating this new direction.

I then turned to Susan Carter, the head of the production department. Susan is an organized and efficient woman with red hair and bright blue eyes. She wears practical and comfortable clothes suited to her work in production.

William: Susan, could you give us an overview of the current production capabilities and the challenges we are facing?

Susan: Of course, boss. Our production department oversees everything from layout to printing and binding. We have a team of twenty people. The main challenge is to keep costs low while ensuring high quality. Currently, our printers are underutilized, which could be an opportunity if we increase our production volume. We currently produce 22,000 books per day, but we have the capacity for 100,000 per day, as long as there is additional staff, of course.

She said in one breath, her passionate tone contrasting with her calm appearance.

William: Thank you, Susan. It is important that we maximize the use of our equipment to reduce unit costs. Can you provide me with a detailed report on the types of paper, inks, and machines we use, their costs, quality, and availability, as well as those used by our competitors? Also, let me know what you think is the best type of paper and inks.

Susan: Absolutely. I will provide you with a detailed report by the end of the week, she said with great seriousness.

I then turned to Rebecca Miller, the head of the marketing department. Rebecca is an energetic woman in her thirties with blond hair cut in a bob and sparkling green eyes. She is dressed in an elegant yet casual manner, with a modern and professional style.

William: Rebecca, what are the current marketing strategies and what initiatives can we take to improve our visibility?

Rebecca: We have a few campaigns underway, but they lack impact. My team of eight people is working on innovative ideas for newspapers and collaborations with literary critics, but we need to intensify our efforts. We really need to stand out at book fairs and other literary events, but we are lacking success, which doesn't help. We have also lost a lot of our credibility by publishing many failures, and our brand image is tarnished, she said with a regretful tone.

William: That's unfortunate. For now, make sure to improve our relations with famous critics and stop aggressive campaigns, they can backfire on us. Wait for the editorial department to find good books with potential before spending money on marketing.

Next, I addressed Michael Hughes, the head of the sales department. Michael is a man in his fifties, tall and athletic, with short gray hair and brown eyes. He often wears dark suits and has a professional and friendly attitude.

William: Michael, how are our sales doing and what are the main difficulties we are facing?

Michael: Our sales are down, mainly due to inefficient distribution and a lack of bestsellers. My team of twelve people is working hard to maintain relationships with booksellers, but we need more attractive books and better sales strategies.

William: We need to strengthen our relationships with distributors and find ways to boost sales. For now, stop all books released more than a year ago that sold less than 100,000 copies.

Finally, I turned to David Thompson, the head of the rights and licensing department. David is a man in his forties with light brown hair and gray eyes. He is often dressed in a suit with a casual touch, like a loose tie or less formal shoes.

William: David, where are we with the rights and licenses?

David: We own several strong licenses that Hollywood studios want to buy. But no remarkable license has been created in the last two years. Our flagship licenses are at least three years old.

William: I see, try to sell everything as quickly as possible, within a month if possible.

David looked at me, mouth agape. I explained to him that we needed liquidity in the treasury to finance our upcoming marketing campaigns, projects, and regain the bank's confidence.

I concluded by thanking everyone for their time and efforts, emphasizing the importance of their role in the future success of Majestic Publishing.

William: Thank you all. We have a lot of work ahead of us, but I am confident that with your skills and dedication, we will succeed. I count on each of you to give your best and contribute to our collective success.

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Hello everyone, it's your favorite author. I hope you are doing well and that you enjoyed the chapter.

It was challenging to introduce so many different characters and make their introductions feel natural. I don't know if I succeeded, but feel free to give me your feedback.

Finally, I have decided not to publish on weekends, but I will publish every day of the week. I promise I will do my best, with one chapter per day.

Thank you again for your support. And See you on Monday.