About 15 years, it’s all about who you know not what you know. If you have the right connection, you can have any business or project even if you do not possess a corporate entity. You can just get project, and act as the subcontractor to let project run by itself. there will not be any liabilities or hassles. even if the project failed, you can just refinance it. Today, while it still helps if you have the right network, but you have to also have the capability to execute, and have to have the capability to deliver. If something happens, there will be liabilities, and even if one doesn’t get into that mess again, but one may have burnt that bridge forever.

Still, to some, the sort of network and the relationship one possesses that gets access is a strategic advantage in the business world, it’s something that is intangible and yet is so exclusive that it was somewhat decided when you were born. A birth right.

For example, if you are born into a family of bankers, your immediate family friend may be families of lawyers, business owners or at least bankers alike. Your network value, per se, would be of much higher than if you are born into a family of regular mom and pop shop owners. One’s starting line was determined at that point.

However, the beauty of the society is that it would have allowed the ones with low starting point to reach to the top, and for the top to drop to the bottom. Yes, lately, when i look around the world, I fear that system slowly being destroyed; opportunities are less on a domestic basis, education is now a commodity, and unless you have the courage and the guts to explore the world, your chances are limited. And even if you are able to explore the world, your success is not guaranteed. Likewise, if you look into the professions of most if not all direct relatives of the high ranking officials across the world, you won’t be surprised to see them in either private equity, banks, venture capitals, or government owned corporations. They are eagerly exploring the rest of the world, just like the rest. But their starting stage is higher and that the stage they possess is of less risk and higher return.

We could argue that they may also fail, but the likelihood of them becoming successful? I would say that it would be significantly higher.

Is it me,or is the world really getting smaller?

Time to start climbing again.

Recently watched a few episodes of “innovators of America” on the History channel, and am definitely hooked (if only I can spare those hours every Wednesday night).

Anyhow, it’s really funny how history was made. In this part of the world, riches were made following generally the steps of manufacturing/services to real estates to finance. while some of these business founders remain their focus in one stage rather than divesting, in the end, most if not all family businesses became private conglomerates with smaller operational force, and more liquid assets; with operational businesses sold or listed on the public exchange.

I am not sure if this is the same path I want my family to go through as I am still pondering on the pros and cons, i am not sure my kids will want my businesses nor do i want to force them to do something they don’t want to do. anyways, maybe this is a bit too early for my retirement planning, but I wonder, how will the life of a financier be differ from a business operator? Do I want to leave a legacy?

In a span of less than 6 months, I have transformed from a bachelor to a husband, and now a soon-to-be father. Needless to say, the changes are quite drastic.

Perhaps because I am the only child within the extended family that actually bears the family name, I started to receive pleas and sometimes pressures from my relatives on settling down and, most importantly, have lots of kids since I turnt 27. I didn’t mind that, but have resisted settling down for the sake of settling down.

I wanted to know what is out there for me, and what is it that I look for.

In all honesty, I had no idea what kind of characteristics I should look for within a girl during all those years, nor do I know what I need. Every lady is unique and exciting to be with, and at my late 20s, equipped with a not-bad look, and a pedigree of business success, dating is easy and truly enjoyable. However, I was lost. The looks no longer hold great appeals to me, they are now just the basic entry criteria. I wanted more, but I didn’t know what.

But experiences do help in solving this issue. With all these encounters, I started to know what I am not looking for in a girl; instead of making emotional decisions on lust, I begin to utilize some fractions of my brain (not a lot) and my heart at more at peace with my own view.

Then she appeared. Well, not really, she’s been there in my life for sometime, as a friend, an underclass lady fom my college. I knew she was pretty, but I never liked her in that way, but then, lightning struck, we started dating and within a year, we are married.

Since marriage, I have yet to sense lots of changes to my life but maybe that’s because my wife is extremely smart, she took absolute control of me in stealth mode. I used to spend weekends in various different countries and cities, and now I just want to go home and spend time with her. I don’t go out that much anymore (maybe the occasional cigar, or poker). The weekend now is peaceful and enjoyable in a way that I couldn’t appreciate before. The only constant struggle that I have is how to balance my time for my family and work (but that’s another post)

And now, I will be a father… I can’t wait, I already have her name figured out, and I truly, deeply hope that she has her mother’s look.

I just got married two weeks ago

I just just burnt my pants with a ciagerratte burn…. Now there’s a hole near my flies….. Not cool ….

I got very drunk drinking with my local staff in Xi’an…. Not cool

Going back to my wife tomorrow for a week of vacation… Can’t wait

it’s been more than a year since i last visited xanga, this place sure look likes a ghost city nowadays (and it’s a plus since i want to be able to write anything and everything anonymously..  i hope the VC backing this site won’t take the plug off anytime soon. )

so, here’s some updates:

• closing in onto my mid-30s, and finally may consider settling down and start a family, hopefully having a kid or two in the next couple years
• traveling around the world several times during the past 3 years (expansion continues and my ambition to conquer the world in my own way marches on)
• some of my personal investments has failed miserably, including a real-life Farmville; but there’s one notable success (a movie i invested in won the best director’s award from last year’s Venice Movie Award) even though i have yet to received a dime from it.
• am a part of YPO, and now sitting on the board of one of its chapters (too much work, not a lot of appreciation)
• have had done some dirty deeds prior to my current girlfriend (not something to put onto writings)
• lots of new white hairs

Have you ever heard from others say that in the future, things will be easier for you? in either your personal or career?  well, don’t believe it, the more you achieved, the more you have to worry to maintain at that level, both personally and career wise.  each new stage means a new sets of problems, and things will only get more complex as we go forward.

anyways, all the best..

During my birthday party a few weeks ago, in my slightly sober state, i have had a discussion with some friends over a simple but interesting topic.  ”before you enter IKEA, do you need to set out what you are getting and things to look at?  What is the objective?”

Reason behind this was that i actually asked this question before entering IKEA everytime, and I didn’t want to spend an unlimited amount of time just walking around, i don’t like uncertainties.  However, as you may expect from a few females, they are quite shocked to hear that from me.. their view is that IKEA is an experience, although one may have something in mind when arriving the place, one can find other things as well. It’s the discovery that is fun about IKEA.

needless to say, i couldn’t comprehend that rationale..  in fact, i still can’t….  Why???

Another year past with a blink of eyes.

I travelled across the continents (literally, but with the exception of Africa for obvious reasons); broke a lovely and tender woman’s heart (which till today still haunts me); started another line of business which now gives me a discount from Chanel, and has grown some white hair (ok, that’s now an understatement).

Life my envisioned 5 years ago are now slowly becoming a reality;

professionally, i am quite comfortable with where i am and where i am heading, without some unforeseeable surprises, i should reach my goal in 4 years.

personally, that’s where the enigma continues……

I’ve just finished watching the movie “wall street” in union square, nyc.  and am gonna flying off in a few hours.

anyways, there’s this one scene that a question was raised of one’s target number? One that i’ve heard people asking me as well.

so what is your number? the number that you know you would absolutely be content and happy with? one that would make you walk away?

mine starts with a number 6.

in recent years, I start to realize that there is a growing gap between me and my parents. It’s not a gap that was formed because I don’t love them anymore, but rather it’s because of the difference me and parents view how love is defined and the personal space that is required by each other.

It comes with my dissatisfaction with how involved they want to be in my life, even after all these years of independence on my own. I knew that there can not be “life as it used to be” ever again, after all these years and all these things. I need my personal space and I am used to do things on my own with my own terms. Whereas for them, i am always that little boy that needs their every attention to live.

Such disparity is what causes tension, they wanted what’s good for me, and their definition of “good” is based on their own value system that was formed through their life and experience. And I, I just want to be able to be free of any possible constraints and restrictions. If I was to fail, I want that decision to be made by myself rather than someone else.
I want to experience life in my own terms and my own discretion.

anyways, it’s another year, and witnessing the aging of my parents is rather heart breaking. I wished I could spend more time with them, and wish that I could give them that grand children that they so desperately wanted, but I can’t; at least not at this time of my life.

happy mother’s day to you all