Chapter 2 Chapter 1 The Low-key "Madman": Who Knows Ren Zhengfei

A tree that grows in the forest is bound to be destroyed by the wind, so Lao Tzu said: "The husband is the only one who does not fight, so the world cannot compete with it." The one who does not fight wins the world.Ren Zhengfei is well versed in this truth, and has always kept a low profile in his life. Ren Zhengfei avoids all kinds of interviews, conferences, and selections. Whether it is a promotional activity that directly benefits Huawei's image, government activities, or media events, he refuses all of them.He issued a death order to Huawei's top management: "Unless it is an important customer or partner, other activities will not be discussed, and whoever comes to lobby will be dismissed."

"Doing careers, doing high-level careers" is Ren Zhengfei's consistent pursuit.Only by practicing internal skills well can you compete with masters.His low-key handling, perhaps only the former CEO of IBM Gerstner can be compared with it.People have hardly seen him appear on the TV screen, and have hardly heard his passionate speeches in Yunnan dialect.However, "Peaches and plums don't say anything, but things go down by themselves."That's it, maybe only low-key people can achieve big things. "Time cannot be turned back. If people can live backwards from the age of 80, life will be more exciting." This is what a powerful person said.

In 2000, he ranked No. 3 on Forbes magazine's list of China's richest people, with an estimated personal fortune of US$500 million. In 2004, "Forbes" magazine launched a list of the world's top 100 largest private companies outside the United States, and his company became the only Chinese company on the list, ranking 79th with an operating income of 2.7 billion US dollars. In mid-April 2005, the well-known American magazine "Time" named "100 Celebrities Who Influenced the World in 2005".He was included in Time Magazine's list of "Top 100 Builders and Giants" in the world. He is the only one selected from mainland China, and he is on a par with Microsoft Chairman Bill Gates, Apple Computer CEO Steve Jobs and other multinational corporations.

He has also profoundly influenced the contemporary Chinese management circles, and was selected as one of the "15 people who have had the greatest impact on Chinese management in the past 15 years" selected by "World Manager" in 2007. Even the always proud "giant" Cisco CEO Chambers also claimed that he is the real opponent. He is the founder of Huawei Technologies Co., Ltd. and the "spiritual godfather" Ren Zhengfei, a retired soldier who was unemployed and wandering around, a businessman with "German-style" paranoia and determined to be "China's IBM".

Ren Zhengfei, a small person, was born in a large family with seven children. His parents were both ordinary teachers. A shameful "political charge".Decades later, no one would have thought that such a person from the bottom of society would become a star entrepreneur in China. The great "father of physics" Newton once said that the reason why he could stand tall and see far was because he stood on the shoulders of giants.However, it is hard to believe that a poor "grassroots" can become a powerful figure, it is hard to believe that a poor boy without any background can become a star member of the World Giants Club, it is hard to believe that a "wandering" youth with nowhere to work can achieve success Brilliant career, and it's even more unbelievable that such a humble person can make the big names restless.

Although he was born in the wilderness, he has great ambitions.He aspires to "in 10 years, the world's communications industry will be divided into three parts, and Huawei will take a share." The mainland swept across the Caucasus and shocked Europa. "Arrogant and high-spirited, crossing the Pacific Ocean" shocked the international IT community.Now, his wish has finally come true. He, the "Big Mac" of Greater China, started an era of being on an equal footing with world-class figures and joined the "World Giants Club".Today, Ren Zhengfei joined the "World-Class Entrepreneur Club" as an observer.

Once upon a time, "Super Girl" was popular all over the country, and many people dreamed of becoming famous overnight, but Ren Zhengfei was different.Great opportunity, he ignored it.Facing the temptation of "Forbes", Ren Zhengfei "faced the cold opponent directly", neither showing off nor arrogant, and everything remained the same. July 17, 2000 was a day to be proud of, both for Ren Zhengfei himself and for everyone in Huawei.Ren Zhengfei, the respected old president of Huawei, was ranked third on the Forbes rich list.Facing this dazzling halo, he made an extraordinary decision.

If someone else had taken this opportunity to "be popular" and made frequent appearances.But the old president has a "stupid spirit". He doesn't seem to like this honor very much, but is very unhappy.Later, he negotiated privately with Hurun, so that his name would no longer appear in the "Forbes" list of China's richest people.This move is simply "unreasonable" in the eyes of ordinary people.But a rich man is still a rich man!Even if you want to "escape", you can't escape. However, "Forbes" magazine spoke highly of him, believing that he has a very high realm and pursuit, not only "Fortune 50", but also has a strong sense of social responsibility.

Falling flowers are intentional, flowing water is ruthless.Ren Zhengfei didn't appreciate it, but Hu Run still didn't give up. In 2006, Hurun's "Strong List" was released, and Ren Zhengfei was pushed into it, ranking second on the list.What should Ren Zhengfei do this time? Psychologist Maslow believes that after people's basic needs are satisfied, they begin to pursue the realization of self-worth, that is, they begin to yearn for "flowers and applause".Isn't Ren Zhengfei not eating fireworks?Does he hate "flowers and applause"? Ren Zhengfei, the president of China's largest telecommunications equipment manufacturer, has been appointed by state leaders to visit abroad many times, but has not officially accepted any media interviews.Reporters from many media complained that they had interviewed many corporate celebrities, but they couldn't interview him.

Only once, a weekly reporter "coincidentally" met with him in a Huawei restaurant. The reporter lost no time in asking a few well-prepared questions, barely "filling in the blank", and was passed down as a "good story" by the industry for a while. As the head of a large company, Ren Zhengfei is slovenly, dressed like an old Red Army, and the most common sentence he says to his subordinates is: "Do you want to be famous, or do you want to have a full stomach?" How authoritative "Forbes" magazine is!Many companies can't wait for it, but he doesn't even want it when they come to their door.No wonder "Chinese Entrepreneur" called him "almost the most calm and determined entrepreneur in China".

If the economy is to be at the forefront of the world, the IT industry is the "mouthpiece", and its level of development represents the core competitiveness of a country.Who is the "leader"?Who dares to break through the difficulties and create a future living space for themselves, the group and the society?Who will regard social responsibility as their own responsibility and fulfill their vows with actions?Who is the most charismatic... In 2003, a sudden SARS shocked the whole world, but China also ushered in the "Year of Information Industry". Jointly initiated by 10 domestic famous media such as Yahoo China, Sohu, "Southern Metropolis Daily" and "The Beijing News", the "Top Ten Rising People in IT in 2003" was finally announced in the first round of national netizens' direct participation in the selection. Ding Lei, Yang Yuanqing, Chen Yongzheng , Zhang Chaoyang, Chen Tianqiao, Ma Huateng, Guo Wei, Ren Zhengfei, Wu Ying, Wang Yan and others are on the list. The classic evaluation of Ren Zhengfei by netizens is: In 2003, he was too famous, and he could not criticize him if he wanted to. "People's Daily" commented, how far is the distance between Chinese enterprises and multinational companies, and how long is the road for enterprises to go global?Huawei's practice shows that as long as you don't wait or rely on it, and go out firmly, the seemingly unattainable goal may be in front of you. "Chinese Entrepreneur" magazine commented that Ren Zhengfei is almost the most calm and determined entrepreneur in China.In the inevitable confrontational competition with multinational corporations, he has repeatedly won and won the pride of China. "China Business Journal" commented that the reason why Huawei has become the leverage of Chinese private enterprises is not only because it has expanded its assets by 1,000 times in about 10 years, not only because it has gone from imitating to following up to leading in technology, but also because Huawei Unique corporate culture and management style. Thousands of years ago, Alexander led his invincible army to unify Greece, occupy Egypt, defeat Persia, and approach India... He spread Greek culture to the whole world. Ren Zhengfei often said: "Do careers, do high-level careers." For this goal, he led "a pack of rebellious wolves" to fight north and south, gallop east and west, sing triumphant songs, and build influence around the world. Huawei is stirring up the world and causing shock in Western society.The British "Economist" magazine commented in 1998: "The rise of Chinese companies like Huawei will be a disaster for foreign multinational companies." The British "Financial Times" even exclaimed: "China's Huawei is rewriting the global telecommunications industry. rules of survival." In mid-April 2005, Time magazine of the United States named "100 Celebrities Who Influenced the World in 2005".Ren Zhengfei was selected into the list of "Top 100 Builders and Giants" in the world. He is the only one selected from mainland China and stands shoulder to shoulder with many well-known multinational companies. "Time Magazine" commented on him: Ren Zhengfei, 61, has shown amazing entrepreneurial talent. He founded Huawei in 1988. This company has repeated the outstanding global companies such as Cisco and Ericsson. Now these telecom giants regard Huawei as the "most dangerous" competitor. In 2005, among the top 50 telecom operators in the world, Huawei ranked 22nd. Huawei has entered the mainstream market and competed head-on with major mainstream companies. Regarding Ren Zhengfei and Huawei, in 2006, the US "Newsweek" further believed that although the founder Ren Zhengfei has kept a low profile, Huawei has already stood on the same level with several major international giants in the telecommunications industry, such as Northern Telecom, Lucent Technologies, Alcatel, and Cisco Systems. compete, and it can often win more network-operating business from them. If Haier and Lenovo were the flagships of Chinese companies in the past 20 years, then the leader in the next 20 years is likely to be Ren Zhengfei's Huawei.He led Huawei to the world, leaving Huawei in every corner of the world.It is such a low-key person, a poor boy, who has become a "big boss" in China's communication industry.