America's Road to Wealth

In fact, Abel personally doesn't care whether he can be the chairman of the board of directors.

This position is mostly an honorary position and is a mascot.

Many celebrities have served as the chairman of the board.

Abel knew one of them. For example, Herbert once served as chairman of the NRA Association.

Abel had just turned twenty-one.

Being a director at such a young age is already very eye-catching.

If you become a director, you will be elected chairman immediately.

This could go down in the history of the NRA Association.

Abel thought for a moment, and it seemed like it wasn't a big deal.

The most important thing is this position, which is an honorary crown.

Apart from adding a few more credits to your resume and increasing your influence in the NRA association, it doesn't have much use.

Thinking of this, he acquiesced to LaPierre's approach.

But he reciprocated the favor, or he knew what LaPierre's real purpose was.

Abel also smiled and said: "As the boss of Rock Security, I think PMC companies like Rock Security should strongly support the NRA."

Rock Security has many guns, even cannons, and some retired US military equipment.

Security guards who play with guns all day long can also be associated with the NRA.

Since last year, Abel has donated most of his donations to the NRA through Rock Security.

Hearing what he said, LaPierre immediately understood the young man in front of him and understood what he meant.

Lapierre smiled happily.

The three of them chatted for a while. As the de facto chairman, LaPierre couldn't just stay here.

LaPierre soon left to mingle with other NRA executives.

Abel chatted with Richard Lugar.

"Mr. Smith. I heard you are receiving NBC television network?" Richard Lugar asked curiously.

This, Abel thought, was about to become a question that anyone involved in the political world would ask himself when they were talking to him.

Abel knew that was normal too.

NBC, a public television network, can be said to be one of the most powerful tools for politicians to conduct elections.

This made this group of people, of course, more concerned about this matter.

Abel smiled: "For now, yes. It's just that it's not that easy."

"It's GE after all," said Richard Lugar. "It's not going to be easy to get NBC from GE."

Abel nodded, and suddenly his heart moved. After thinking for a while, he said:

"By the way. Richard, oh, may I call you that?"

"Of course." Richard Lugar responded with a smile: "Then I'll call you by your name too."

"Of course no problem." Abel said with a smile: "Richard. What is the most influential newspaper in Indiana?"

Richard Lugar was startled, thought for a while, and replied, "It's the Indianapolis Star."

"Who is its boss?" Abel said directly.

Richard Lugar raised thick, bushy eyebrows, already graying.

The senator didn't know what Abel was asking this for, and what Abel meant.

But Richard Lugar said softly:

"It's currently the Simon family, but the Gannett Group has already made an offer for it. The Simon family already has the idea of ​​selling it."

"I want to buy it." Abel said bluntly.

"Oh?" Richard Lugar had a playful smile on his face: "Why?"

"I think I need a mouthpiece to speak out in Indiana." Abel smiled and looked at Richard Luger, "That way, when necessary, I can help my friends in Indiana."

"Hahaha~"

Richard Lugar laughed out loud.

He also gave a thumbs up to Abel: "Abel, I think this is a good idea. I will be very lucky to be your friend."

"I don't know if I have this honor?"

Abel expressed his grievance: "Dear Richard. I thought we were already in love."

Richard Lugar smiled even wider.

One old and one young had a pleasant discussion.

The topic of discussion quickly turned to the Indianapolis Star.

The Indianapolis Star is called the Indianapolis Star.

The newspaper was founded by industrialist George McCulloch on June 6, 1903.

Currently in Indiana, its circulation is approximately 400,000 copies per issue, making it the most influential local newspaper in Indiana.

But it's only limited to Indiana.

Its out-of-state circulation was low, just over 10,000 copies.

Prior to this, this newspaper and several other local small and medium-sized newspapers had always been the local Simon family industry in Indiana.

But at the end of last year, Gannett Newspaper Group came to Indiana and launched an acquisition request for the Indianapolis Star.

Since then, Gannett Newspaper Group has entered into five price negotiations with the Simon family.

According to Richard Luger, the Simon family has begun to show interest in the last offer of US$215 million.

If the deal can be done.

Simon Newspapers, which owns the Indianapolis Star and has seven daily newspapers and two magazines, will become a subsidiary of Gannett Newspaper Group.

"I don't like Gannett much," said Richard Lugar veiledly:

"Their management's political philosophy is too radical."

Abel smiled and said nothing, and did not comment on Richard Lugar's evaluation.

After the reception is over.

Abel had just returned to the Conrad Indianapolis with little Laura.

He let little Laura go to rest first, and asked David Jones to call several members of the advisory group who followed him to the largest VIP box in the executive lounge on the fourth floor for a meeting.

As soon as everyone arrived, Abel changed his mouth and said, "I'm going to expand the scale of Smith Newspapers."

The boss's first words set the tone for this brief meeting of the advisory group.

"Let's start with the Indianapolis Star. Does anyone know about the Indianapolis Star?" Abel looked at everyone.

There are eight members of the advisory group in the meeting room, plus David and Alan Baker.

The configuration of eight people is also the standard configuration of the advisory group that Abel carries with him when he goes out.

Generally, it is a panacea configuration organized by David and Allen.

Members will make appropriate deployments according to where Abel is going.

When Abel has a clear business travel goal, he will choose the most targeted staffing.

For example, if he wants to acquire an energy company, his personal consultants are elites in the legal and energy industries.

Like tonight, Alan Baker and David don't count.

The other six members all have their own areas of expertise.

This is for every possible situation.

"BOSS." Reed, a member of the advisory team, raised his hand, "I'm from Indiana. I'm familiar with the situation here."

"Okay. Then you can tell me." Abel nodded.

"The Indianapolis Star, with a daily circulation of about 300,000-400,000 copies, is the largest newspaper in Indiana."

Reed said: "It and its parent company have a market value of about $220 million. Gannett Newspaper Group is currently trying to acquire it."

"That's right." Abel nodded, "My idea is to get ahead of Gannett Newspaper Group and win this newspaper. But my goal is not limited to the "Indianapolis Star". I realized one thing about Star News."

"That is Smith Media, which should not be limited to television and the entertainment industry." Abel said:

"For the newspaper industry, we are also going to start planning."

After thinking about it, Abel spoke again:

"Can anyone tell me how many regional newspapers like the Indianapolis Star there are in the United States?"

This question is a bit abrupt.

Because Abel had not paid much attention to Smith's newspaper before this.

Answer the employer's business questions, collect various business intelligence for the employer, and make complete plans.

These things are themselves the work of the advisory group.

These guys also do a great job.

Even this was an issue that Abel didn't show much concern about originally.

Alan Baker answered on their behalf.

As of 2001, there are 11,000 newspapers of various types in the United States. Among them, there are more than 1,600 daily newspapers, including morning newspapers, afternoon newspapers, evening newspapers and Sunday newspapers, and more than 8,000 weekly and semi-weekly newspapers, as well as countless street tabloids.

There are more than 10,000 magazines in the United States, and more than 60 have an annual circulation of more than one million.

Among them, there are 113 newspapers with a daily sales volume of more than 100,000 copies in the United States as of December last year.

There are 35 newspapers with a daily sales volume of more than 200,000 copies.

There are 17 newspapers with a daily sales volume of more than 300,000 copies.

The number of newspapers with a daily sales volume of more than 500,000 copies is 9.

There are only two newspapers with stable daily sales of more than one million copies.

After hearing the number, Abel made a decision directly and made a big job for Smith Newspapers and the advisory group.

"The next main job for Smith Newspapers and you is to start buying newspapers with a daily sales volume of more than 100,000 copies throughout the United States."

Abel stated clearly:

"I request that the areas where these newspapers are located should be dispersed as much as possible, and they should not be gathered together. At the same time, I request that at least 20 or more copies be acquired within two years."

Expanding the newspaper conglomerate, buying the Indianapolis Star, and other big regional papers.

Abel was spawned during a conversation with Richard Lugar.

At first he wanted to buy the Indianapolis Star.

Purely to pay Richard Lugar back.

At the same time, find a way to win over this senior senator, the elephant party boss.

This is the same as his donation to the NRA Association.

In America, everyone does it.

At most, Abel played more directly, and they played more slowly.

During a chat with Richard Lugar.

Abe found Richard Lugar and took the Indianapolis Star seriously.

After analysis, Abel guessed that this should be the "Indianapolis Star", the reason why it is the largest newspaper in Indiana.

Even for senators with more stable positions, they still have to be elected every six years.

At election time, influential newspapers in the constituency. Not only is it important to the House of Representatives, but it is also important to the Senators.

From the Indianapolis Star.

Abel thought of similarly influential newspapers in other regions.

In its area, it should also be highly valued by these senators and representatives.

This opened up Abe's thinking about Smith Press.

What he wanted to do was simple.

That is except for the national and even world-oriented newspapers such as the American Sun and the New York Observer.

In my own newspaper company, I also need to add some skeletons.

These regional newspapers are the skeleton.

That's why he temporarily called the advisory group over tonight and held this brief meeting.

The meeting ended quickly.

Alan Baker and the others will submit feedback from Abel to the following.

Then, it started operations with Smith Newspapers, a subsidiary of Smith Media, to carry out large-scale mergers and acquisitions across the United States.

All Abel had to do was mobilize capital and be there personally when certain acquisitions ran into trouble.

Otherwise, only inspection work remains.

The rest is all the work of the advisory group and Smith Media.

Walking out of the meeting room in the executive lounge, Abel raised his hand to check the time.

It's already half past eleven.

Under the protection of the Four King Kongs, he returned to the hotel living room.

Dorni and Hannah Catherine were guarding the living room.

After Abel came in, he looked at Hannah Katherine and asked Tony: "Where's Lauren?"

Donnie replied softly:

"After Miss Bush came back, she went to take a bath. After taking a bath, she came out and waited for you here for a while. She couldn't bear it anymore and went to sleep. She should have rested."

Abel couldn't believe that little Laura fell asleep so quickly.

But he also knew that it was impossible for little Laura to open the door for him at this moment.

Her aunt was guarding the door with a blood-red rolling pin.

Smiling and shaking his head, Abel turned and walked into another bedroom.

the next day.

Indianapolis Motor Speedway.

This car track was originally built with more than 3 million bricks, so the name "Brick Factory" spread like wildfire.

It opened in 1909 and was paved with asphalt in 1961. It has hosted eleven F1 races between 1950 and 1960, making it a quite historic circuit.

At the same time, motorsports is also one of Indiana's major industries.

Indiana is known as the center of motorsports at all levels in the world.

The city of Polis is known as the "Global Racing Capital".

Indiana has more tracks per capita than any other state in the United States.

The state hosts events such as the Indy 500, Brickyard 400 and Red Bull Moto GP every year, most of which are held at this track.

The auditorium of the track is at the front and can accommodate more than 20,000 spectators.

When Abel and others arrived, the place was already crowded.

Racing fans from the United States or all over the world turn this place into a sea of ​​festivals.

"It's so lively!" Li Xinyu and little Laura hugged each other, and the two beautiful girls looked very excited.

Li Fuzhen and Abel were one step behind them.

"Let's go." Abel said, "Do you want to go to the box, or go directly to the convoy?"

"Of course it's the team." Li Xinyu said happily, "It's the closest distance to watch the game!"

Little Laura also smiled and nodded.

Everyone came to the Prost team, which is the rest area of ​​the MGM team.

The rest area of ​​the Flying Sword Racing Team or the Tesla Racing Team is on the other side, and the angle of watching the game is not as good as that of MGM.

The team had already known that the bosses were coming back and had already prepared the seats.

Everyone chatted for a while.

The first day of the 2001 F1 American Grand Prix officially opened soon.

As the starting sound sounded, the F1 cars of eleven teams galloped on the track.

Today's game is not scored, and today is the driver's familiarization stage.

In other words, it is a friendly match, and the drivers on the field are just running laps to get familiar with the track.

Abel, who is not a car fan, found this a bit boring.

But little Laura and Li Xinyu watched it with great enthusiasm.

With each car speeding past, they can know which racer is on the car, what record it has, and which team it belongs to only by the shape, number and paintwork of the car.

Unlike Abel, he only knows one Schumacher. But even which car Schumacher drove was told by little Laura.

Li Fuzhen was also seen yawning.

Li Xinyu saw the two people who were bored, she didn't dare to talk to Abel, but said to her sister: "Oni, if you are bored, you can go back to the hotel and have a rest first."

Little Laura also reacted, looking at Abel's bored look.

Little Laura expressed apology on her face, and said to Abel gently:

"Honey. If you don't like it, you can go back and rest."

Abel originally wanted to reply that I would accompany you.

He saw Li Xinyu and Li Fuzhen looking at him, his heart moved, he smiled and said:

"It's really boring, but I agreed to watch the game with you, so I'd better stay here. At worst, I'll play mobile games."

While talking, he took out his mobile phone, and opened the Snake in the mobile phone in two or three clicks.

"Ha~" He shook his phone at Li Fuzhen and Li Xinyu, "This is still a phone made by your family."

Li Xinyu and Li Fuzhen smiled at him.

Seeing that Abel really wanted to play Snake at the F1 scene, little Laura smiled and pushed him, "Forget it. My dear, you'd better go back first. We'll watch the game later, and I'll go back to accompany you." good?"

Abel hesitated, but little Laura pushed him with a smile.

Abel stood up and said, "Should I go then? Go back to the hotel first. I have to meet a client this afternoon."

"Well," little Laura thought for a while and said, "Then why don't I go back in the afternoon? There will be a game in the afternoon too. Jessica and I can go back in the evening?"

The track has a lunch break and there is no racing.

But many car fans will not leave. There are a large number of restaurants, cafes, fast food restaurants and other places for them to take a temporary rest.

Little Laura probably wanted to watch the game with Li Xinyu in the afternoon.

"Okay." Abel knew that he would run for a day today, a day tomorrow, and another day the day after tomorrow.

Judging from how much these two little girls love it, I guess they can really watch it for three days in a row.

Abel couldn't stand it. He could only watch it for half an hour.

"That's right." When Abel stood up, he looked at Li Fuzhen and Li Xinyu.

"Miss Anna. I see you are yawning. Do you want to go back and rest? May I see you off on the way?"

Li Fuzhen smiled, but Li Xinyu hurriedly said:

"Unnie, I know you don't like it at all. Instead of sitting here all day, it's better to go back to the hotel and rest."

Li Fuzhen took advantage of the situation and said: "That's fine. If you want me to come over, remember to call me."

"Hmmmm." Li Xinyu responded repeatedly.

Abel left Duoni and a few bodyguards, plus the Secret Service staff that little Laura brought with her, and Li Xinyu's bodyguards.

Even if some commotion accidentally breaks out here, with so many people protecting them, the two of them can still be safe.

Abel and Li Fuzhen turned back to the corridor and prepared to leave the Indianapolis Motor Speedway.

When she was about to enter the corridor, Li Fuzhen suddenly ordered her two followers to also protect Li Xinyu.

"I will go back to the hotel directly. I will also be protected by Mr. Smith's bodyguards. I am safe. The arena is too chaotic. You must watch Xin." She said to her bodyguards.

The two bodyguards were a little hesitant, but seeing the eldest lady's cold face, they nodded and left.