First and foremost, thank you, Mona. Without you, I won't be able to access this site from within China, you are a star.

Speaking of which, it's funny how I work in the IT industry but I haven't gotten to know how to setup my own wireless environment until four months ago (considering we OEM some of them here in China).  I used to pride myself as a tech geek, but as time goes by, I am probably becoming less trendy??

Even more ridiculous as examples, an elder relative of mine, who has started and accomplish so much within the same field of IT,  still doesn't know how to respond to emails (he finally gotten to know how to read emails on computers two years ago),  instead of typing, he would write down a response on the paper and then ask his secretary to type it.  Hahaha,  I guess that is indeed another way to get things done. 

In my case, I often have products that I have never used or even tried.  I am a telecommuncation service provider, but I don't even download ringtones to my phones.  I make Lexus parts, but I don't have a Lexus...etc.  You get my point. 

From the modern day management theory, these actions (or lack of) are to be intepreted as out of touch with target consumers.  Should I be worried? probably, probably not.

Regardless of what you do, I wonder, are you a consumer of your own services/product? 

finally, it's great to be back..   =)

For some odd reasons, China has decided to block the access of xanga from within its border.  Thus, at least for the near future, I won't be able to write or comment anymore.

my sincere apologies..

In chinese lunar calendar, this year is the year of the golden pigs and it happens only once in 60 years.  It is said by fortune tellers that the children born this year would be blessed with forune and luck.

Unfortunately, I guess some of my friends are taking it too seriously; my three best friends are now "working" really hard to produce their offsprings with their wifes this year.  One of them is already successful, and the other two are still trying...

To think that I would be the godfather for three kids, I just don't know how to react to that.  Am I that old already? damn.. this is a really shocking realization to me... next thing i know, they would be asking them for pocket money.. 

God, I really don't like this at all..

I have always believed in the theory that a successful business relationship requires equal benefits between equal parties for it to endure the test of time, and I always choose who I deal with before any collaborations.  I am rather old fashioned in that way.  The old asian practice of friend first, business second.  Contrary to the western practice, businesses are much dependent on trust and equal standings in Asia.  If you can't trust someone in person, how can you trust him with your money or resources. Maybe the venture may be a good investment, but if you don't feel comfortable with it, it doesn't really worth the investment.  Sometimes the process of making something happen outweigh the results.

Anyhow, I had a meeting with one of my partners last night. Before the meeting, I found out through backchannels that he did something that betrayed my trust, and he was doing this while I was helping him to get something that he won't be able to attain through normal channels.  Of course, one can easily understand my fury upon hearing these things. Amazingly, I kept my cool and basically told him that I knew of this thing, and I do look forward to collaborate with him but what he's doing is hurting my feelings; perhaps as a result, he may suggest how we can solve this little issue. Of course, he told me that he didn't know, it was not his decision, and called his staff to fix the problem else he will fire him...etc. Basically, he did the whole show to make sure that I believe him. 

I don't. But for the sake of business, I accepted his explanation and promised to continue with our collaboration.  However, I shall gradually scale back my involvement with him, perhaps even to assist his competitors to compete with him a bit, just so he has the urge and the need to continue to work with me. It's hard to build something, but it's much easier to destroy something.

On my way back, I let my fury run and cursed him in my mind (I can't always be under control, I am a human afterall)

That's the cold reality of business in China, we can't take it too personal, but at the same time, once the alarm was sounded in our mind, we have to make appropriate adjustments to adapt to it.

There's no right or wrong, it's just how business is done.

Hi guys, happy new years, hope those who were married didn't have to give out too much red pockets, and those who aren't, received lots of those..

as for me, my married friends are all in exodus, going holidays somewhere...  I wonder if they are doing it on purpose, so that they don't have to give out any red pockets.

by the way, I am in Seoul now, and I have to comment on the following:

• Koreans are the best dressed country in my eyes
• Korean girls are beautiful
• I can't seem to get drunk drinking those souju (??) drinks
• Its hard to start a new business here, as everything is owned by chaebols (did you know that Samsung even make door locks??)
• Secluded market with extremely expensive living conditions.. (average income is about 40k per year, but decent rents is about 1800 per month, talking about tough life)
• I walked 5 hours around the city, and I've never been this tired in my life..  did all the tourist stuff, and tomorrow shall be a working day

I shall update more pictures and stories once i get back.

I went home last night to have my usual dinner prepared by my staff. Then, all of a sudden, my staff asked me whether I will be having dinner in the villa tonight.  My response was "of course, why wouldn't I?" and it wasn't until they asked me again with their hopeful eyes did I realize that today is valentine's day and they are hoping to have dinner with their lovers.  As a nice person as I always have been, I told them that I am going golfing tonight and will be having dinner there instead.  I think they are gleeful to hear that from me..

so, my fellow readers, please have a nice valentine's day, enjoy the moment..  As much as we may consider this day to be a bit overrated by the evil commercial world, but it did serve one single purpose for us, that is to create an environment and a ligitimate occasion to share this day with your beloved one.

have a great night and enjoy..

Upon reading one of subscriptions from xanga today, I suddenly started to worry about my own blogs.  As you may appreciate, the reason my profile has always been vague and limited  in my personal information is because I want to remain unknown, I do not want to attract attentions and I do not want to recognized.  This is the one place that I feel that I don't have to hide anything that i think or feel.

However, throughout the years, 3 to 4 years actually, I did have some readers who knows who i am in real life.  Yet, because of the fact that when I write in this personal space, I write with my exact feelings and thoughts, I lack the protection nor the insurance actions that I usually take in real life.  Thus, maybe I will become victims of my own words in future..  hmm...

speaking of which, I think I have a distinctive different image in reality than I have in this little space.  In real life, I may be considered as the party animal, the workaholic, the sunny boy, the intimidator, and the one who is surrounded by girls.  Maybe all these images of me are true, but I know that in reality, sometimes these are just masks that I have to put on in different occasions to avoid putting myself in a position that I am uncomfortable with.

Someone close to me once said to me that I am a forty years old in minds, and a fifteen years old in heart, the unfortunate thing is that I tend to only use my heart whenever it's not work related..

have a great weekend

it's that time of the year again, for those who are single, this is the time we dread the most.  While we will never admit it to the public, but inside our heart we all know we want someone special next to us on that day.  As much as we would like to comment that this day is overrated and those flowers are the product of the evil commercial world, but at least once a year, we won't mind paying premium to make our woman gloat in front of her friends and colleagues.

However, as for the single ones, we like to consider this day just another day, we try very hard not to think about it, and probably organize some singles dinner for those who lack the significant others to mock at those who really wanted a partner on that day.

isn't life just interesting?

Speaking of interesting, a college buddy of mine did something truly unthinkable in my view.  He has always been a golden child, someone with good looks, money, and charisima.  He never needed to worry about money because of his own capabilities and family background, and finding a girlfriend is like a walk in the park for him.  Yet, he has just decided to become a monk, a faithful follower of buddhist belief, permanently.... being the only child, the only male in a traditional Korean family, that is unthinkable.  You can expect how his fiancee think, and family reacts.

As a result, I will be going to Seoul in two weeks to check up on him and hopefully talk with him, not about asking him to change his decision but to understand his rationale; for I, also, am a lost child.. too many things confusing me and too many troubles in my mind 

Perhaps after my visit, you will never hear from me again as well.. =) imagine me working out a grand plan to popularize buddhaism, with a detailed business plan and execution team.. perhaps

*i am not sad, just trying to see things through a crystal ball, as an outsider rather a participant

Beach and Buddha; you have to admit that it's rather nice (and i have to admit I was pleasantly surprised by the quality of the sand there, silky...)

And this is what I call someone that really knows how to enjoy life

Greetings from Hainan; the hawaii of China, where the beach actually has sands, and the weather is pleasant.  I guess if this trip isn't for vacation, i would be having a much better time.  Ever since my last visit to Bali, I have had a craving for Jet Ski, and I would love to be able to enjoy the thrill of speed again.

The purpose of my visit here was to meeting couple guys from a large GOC in China to talk over some specifics of a project. From the way they act and talk, you would have never thought these guys are in actual charge of a company that makes some 1 billion per year, and their profit contribution per person is an amazing $2.6million per head.  Talking about an incredible company..

Unfortunately, much of its incredible profit margin were created through certainl government regulations, and as a  result of the gradual coming of deregulations in different industries in China, Its competitive and monopoly power will eventually disappear.  As a result, that's where I came in, we are forming a strategic partnership in a new field, that with our combined effort, we should whip out some existing majoy players; mostly japanese; and of course, I will definitely profit from it, and so will they.

However, after all the talks and the final hand shake, I wonder to myself, "am i creating a monster that will eventually swallow me?"  With their existing capital and cash, once they understood the know-how from us, they will have the capability and potential to be my biggest and strongest nightware.

At this point, everything is too early and I can't make any rush assessment.  But I just wonder..

P.S sometimes, I wonder how it would feel if I can take my significant half everywhere I go? such that when I am working, she will be able to do some sightseeings, and once work is done, I will be able to meet her for dinner.. would be pretty sweet, but at these times, i think very few girls would be willing to give up their current life for this kind of life..

Have a great day!!