Chapter 3: Trivial
Princess Clémentine apprehends Ferdinand, subjecting him to a stern lecture and dragging him to a series of tedious aristocratic banquets before eventually letting him go.
Despite the ordeal, there was a silver lining – Ferdinand gained a valuable asset from his mother, Franz Kafka.
The responsibility wasn't always on one person, though. Franz Kafka, a Hungarian in his forties, consistently managed the estate for Princess Clémentine with commendable success.
After a deep conversation between Ferdinand and Franz, the former granted initial approval to Franz's abilities and secured his services from Princess Clémentine in an amicable manner.
Ferdinand is now prepared to give him a chance to prove his capabilities. If Franz performs well, he might be entrusted with overseeing the supermarket operations.
In the 19th century, the job market lacked maturity, and family businesses were the norm, resulting in a lower demand for talent and a prevalence of antiquated skills.
In 1881, Austria had only 13,000 students, initially appearing substantial. However, upon closer scrutiny, it revealed that only 2,000 to 3,000 students graduated annually, scattered across various majors. After specializing in management, the pool dwindled to a few hundred or eighty.
Apart from aristocrats and businesspersons, there were scarce job seekers. University graduates were considered elite, with government ministries and major consortia eagerly vying to hire them before graduation.
Recognizing the need to nurture talent, Ferdinand contemplates recruiting from universities to fulfill the demand.
Franz Kafka's initial task from Ferdinand involves recruiting personnel, but progress is hindered.
Later that day, Franz humbly approached Ferdinand with a formal curtsy, addressing him as "Your Highness: Prince Ferdinand of Saxe-Coburg-Gotha, Duke of Saxony."
In response, Ferdinand allows Franz to address him as "Your Highness" or "Duke," finding his entire title cumbersome. Ferdinand inquires about Franz's purpose for the visit.
Expressing regret, Franz Kafka reveals his inability to meet the recruitment deadline set by Ferdinand.
A sense of doubt creeps into Ferdinand's assessment of Franz, as he provided ample time for recruitment, and Franz now admits to facing difficulties without offering a solution.
Franz explains that, according to Ferdinand's requirements, the target is beyond reach, with only 382 people recruited so far. He suggests lowering standards and salaries for the remaining positions, assuring Ferdinand that it won't impact the supermarket's operations.
Ferdinand's initial frustration dissipates, acknowledging his own oversight. He silently resolves to remember this lesson and avoid overestimating possibilities beyond this era.
Recognizing the merit in Franz's advice, Ferdinand graciously accepts it, empowering Franz to proceed as he deems fit.
While the supermarket has its managers, the financial staff remains disorganized in the absence of computers. Ferdinand faces challenges in finding a sufficient number of personnel.
Despite the challenges, Ferdinand finds solace in the profits generated by the first Volvo supermarket. While the other four are still in their early stages, the income is promising.
Realizing that monopolies are the key to business success, Ferdinand anticipates that these prosperous times might last for at most six months before facing increased competition.
After over two months of dedicated effort, the supermarket business stabilizes, with daily management now entrusted to Franz. Two individuals from the initial staff are promoted to assist Franz, ensuring a reserve of talent for future expansion.
As the supermarket venture concludes, Ferdinand refrains from taking a break, acknowledging that the profits, while good, are insufficient for his broader ambitions.
Contemplating Bulgaria, Ferdinand feels compelled to do more, recognizing his role as a traverser with knowledge of future events. The envy of reading about traversers who could amass fortunes with inventions motivates Ferdinand to explore alternative avenues.
While the Koháry family possesses substantial assets, they are mostly nominal, tied up in territories and castles. Ferdinand contemplates the challenge of converting these non-liquid assets into wealth unless he decides to depart from the aristocratic circle.
Ferdinand, unable to create groundbreaking inventions, turns his attention to practical ventures in food, clothing, housing, and transportation. Exploring possibilities like food processing plants, he acknowledges the lower profits but deems them worthwhile, given their lower risk.
In one such venture, Ferdinand explores grain processing, utilizing his family's land. The processed grain can be sold directly in the supermarket, forming a small industrial chain and enhancing his low-risk portfolio.
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