6.the business plan

Alexander's feet padded softly on the wooden floor as he made his way home from school. The evening air was cool, and the sun was beginning to dip behind the horizon, casting long shadows across the dirt road. His thoughts were still heavy with the conversation he'd had earlier with Thomas, the man who owned the local newspaper. Though their talk had been brief, it had sparked something in Alexander—a sense of purpose that felt almost foreign yet strangely familiar.

At home, dinner was already laid out on the table. The smell of roasted chicken and freshly cooked pasta filled the air, but Alexander wasn't particularly hungry. He ate only a few spoonfuls of what was there, his mind elsewhere. His mother, Jane, noticed his distraction but didn't comment. She simply smiled and gently reminded him to finish his homework, though she likely saw he was preoccupied.

Alexander excused himself and hurried to his room. The door clicked shut behind him, and he quickly moved to the small desk by the window. The soft light from the streetlamps outside bathed the room in a faint, amber glow. He sat at the desk and opened a fresh sheet of paper. His fingers hovered above the surface, and then he called upon the AI in his mind.

It had become second nature now, the way the system helped him think, analyze, and strategize. The AI was an invaluable tool, and he knew it could help him with this business plan. He had to impress Thomas—make sure the man saw the potential in his ideas. Alexander had already spent the afternoon reflecting on the conversation they'd had, carefully piecing together the information he'd gathered about the newspaper and the community.

The first part of the plan was easy. The newspaper needed a broader reach—more readers, more engagement. Alexander had already gathered from his time spent in the library that the town was filled with people who were somewhat disconnected from the broader world. The paper's circulation could be expanded by targeting their deepest desire: making money. More than just a regular newspaper, it could become a vital part of their livelihood, education, and local updates for everyone—not just those in town, but it would reach every corner of America.

He scribbled quickly, outlining how the newspaper could diversify its content. A mix of local stories, agricultural news, and personal columns about the struggles and triumphs of the local farmers would connect with the people. But that wasn't enough. He could also suggest innovative ad spaces—small business ads, event listings, and even community-sponsored sections that encouraged civic involvement.

Then came the expansion of distribution. Alexander noted that to truly grow the paper's reach, it needed more delivery methods. He wrote about using delivery boys or, even better, small trucks to cover the surrounding areas until the business could handle itself well. The future was coming, and innovation was the key.

Alexander paused and thought carefully before writing the final part of the plan—his proposal. He could see Thomas in his mind, sitting at his desk, reading through the pages. He needed a call to action that would be bold yet inviting. With that thought, he wrote:

If you find this plan helpful, I would appreciate the opportunity to meet with you at the school library at 3 PM tomorrow. I'm certain we can discuss the future of the paper further.

Satisfied, Alexander put down his pen and stared at the paper in front of him. It wasn't just an idea—it was a path forward, a way for Thomas' business to grow, and for Alexander to start carving out his own future. He folded the plan neatly and slipped it into his pocket before getting ready for bed. There was no use in waiting; tomorrow, he would deliver it.

The next morning, Tuesday, Alexander woke early, still full of energy from his late-night brainstorming session. He went about his usual routine, then, before heading to school, he stopped by the small newspaper office where Thomas worked. It was a modest building on the main street, with faded paint and a small sign above the door that read Thomas' Daily News. Alexander walked up to the door, his heart racing slightly, and pushed it open.

Inside, the office was quiet. The walls were lined with stacks of newspapers, and the air smelled faintly of ink and paper. A few desks sat in the room, but it was empty except for the sound of a typewriter clicking in the back. He approached the front desk where a secretary sat, her hair tied back in a neat bun.

"Excuse me," Alexander said softly, "I need to leave this for Mr. Thomas."

The secretary looked up, her eyebrows raised at the sight of a young child carrying a piece of paper.

"Mr. Thomas is out for a moment," she said, taking the paper. "I'll make sure he gets it."

Alexander nodded politely, then left the office and headed toward school, the rest of the day ahead of him.

The school day passed slowly for Alexander, as always. His classmates' voices were a blur of noise around him, but his mind was elsewhere. He couldn't help but wonder if Thomas would even consider his plan. He'd put so much thought into it, but the doubt lingered. The thought of the meeting in the library later that day brought a nervous thrill to his chest.

By the time school was out, Alexander was ready. He made his way to the library, his footsteps quick and deliberate. As he entered, he saw Thomas already sitting at one of the tables, scanning the paper. The man's graying hair and weathered face seemed more tired than usual, but he looked up with a hint of curiosity as Alexander approached.

"Mr. Thomas," Alexander greeted, standing in front of the table.

"Ah, there you are," Thomas said, his eyes twinkling with amusement. "I've read your plan. It's... well, it's certainly unexpected."

Alexander felt a rush of pride but held his composure. "What do you think?"

"I think you're a bright kid, Alexander," Thomas said, leaning back in his chair. "But there's a lot more to consider when it comes to running a business. The ideas you've outlined—there's potential, but the most important part is predicting the future of the business. Did you perhaps make a mistake in your stock prediction?"

Alexander chuckled, his gaze steady. "I understand why you're asking that, but how about this: I'll provide you with stock predictions that are going to rise by next week. If I'm right, you give me a 45% share of the business. If I'm wrong, we can forget this ever happened."

Thomas taken aback looked into Alexander's eyes. . There was no hint of nervousness or pressure, just the quiet confidence of someone who knew exactly what he was offering. Thomas wasn't stupid and knew how many readers the newspaper would garner if he included a part that included stocks analysis that were accurate. "Alright, go ahead. Tell me which stocks are going to rise?"

Alexander asked the AI in his mind to look for stocks that would rise from April 5th to 12th, 1951, and the system instantly displayed five options. He shared them with Thomas:

"Standard Oil of New Jersey, General Electric, Procter and Gamble, Coca-Cola, and U.S. Steel. These five will rise," Alexander said, explaining the reasons behind his choices, with the AI guiding him through the reasoning.

Thomas tried hard to avoid showing his shock, but he couldn't hide the surprise in his eyes. He nodded, stood up, and said, "We'll meet here next week Monday. I'll need to think about how many shares to give you—45% doesn't make sense to me." He walked out quickly, clearly avoiding further discussion with Alexander.

Alexander smiled, his mind already focused on the next step. His eyes were staring at the door but his mind was looking into something much deeper .