Introducing to you: www.ChinaRepOffice.com

Today January 3rd 2011, is the soft launch for my new website www.chinarepoffice.com.

What do we do?

China Rep Office is a full-service company that can help prepare you and your company for conducting business in China. If you have thought about doing business in China, but don’t know if it will succeed, we can help you test the market to see if your company has potential thrive in China. We match our clients with manufactures that fit the strategic and operational needs of their company. China Rep Office provides you with a local Chinese address, phone number and all the support you need to solidify your Chinese presence.

Why do we do it?

China is gaining speed in its reputation for getting things done faster and cheaper than other parts of the world. China Rep Office can act as a cultural and business intermediary for your company. Partnering with us allows you to focus on your core business functions while we are your “on-site” contact, giving you unbiased, up-to-date information on manufacturers, production quality, and market trends. Since we have a team of staff members composed of both east and west, we are able to meet your needs and handle the communication effectively between you and the factory or business. We do not own or have any affiliations with any of these companies. This protects your interests in dealing with negotiations, quality assurance and delivery.

How you can help.

For the time being if you can take a look at the website and let me know of any suggestions to improve it that would be an amazing start. Add your friends to our facebook fan page. Most of all you can help yourself-- read through the content and learn more about business in China!

Life lesson from the Banyan tree

In my last post I talked about the importance of Guan Xi in our lives. I would like to expand on that idea by talking about the importance of developing strong support systems. I was walking through Wanshi Botanical Gardens the other day, and noticed this tree, it was no ordinary tree, it is called a Banyan tree. The thing that attracted it to me was its branches-- it had vines reaching the ground that would slowly twist together over time to create a thick vertical branches that is meant to give the horizontal branches support in order for the tree to grow wider and taller.

We as human beings can learn a lot from this tree. If we compare ourself to the tree, we would be the main trunk and the horizontal branches that expand out is the knowledge and experiences we gain over our life -- as we grow our branches become longer and thicker. How can we as human's grow our branches thicker and longer?

Surrounding ourselves with people who are going to lift you higher and help you grow in every aspect of your life. If we learn from this tree, the people we surround ourselves with will become the vertical branches (like he Banyan tree), that can expand our develop our growth. When creating the "support system"  or vertical pillars remember that we need different types of pillars that help us grow in every aspect of our lives. You should have spiritual, intellectual, social, emotional, physical, and  professional pillars.

Our support system needs to be nurtured, we take from it and we give back to it to maximize our growth as human's. Think about growing your support system holistically like the Banyan tree, don't only fill it with groups of people from one area of development, if you do, you will miss out on opportunities in life and will limit your growth.

Guan Xi

Guan Xi is probably the most important word for you to know when you're living or working in China. What does Guan Xi mean? You all know it if you're in business -- it is something we all do. For those of you who are on LinkedIn-- you do it. It translates into "networking" or "connections". The Chinese have a high regard for Guan Xi, as the basis of it's culture revolves around it. It is a little bit more then networking it is formed around relationships, consideration, honor, and respect.

Let me give you a scenario. Say: I have a Guan Xi with Jen and she is selling some low quality pens for $1 each and I have another supplier let's say Brad and he is selling better quality pens for 80 cents each. Since I have a Guan Xi with Jen, (even though the pens are of lower quality and more expensive) I will buy them from her because I know her and we have a connection with one another.

So when they teach you in business class that quality and price matter-- it's not always true.  To 1.3 billion people in the world, it's all about the relationship you have with the other person. So when you or your company decide to conduct business in China, it is very important to develop a strong Guan Xi with people you plan to conduct business with. Business is personal!

Next time you meet someone, try to build a relationship with them that is mutually beneficiary. Don't think to yourself "what can this person do for me" rather, build a relationship based off of affection, consideration, and respect. See where your Guan Xi takes you!

Leading in today's multicultural world

In the world of globalization with technologies such as Skype, easy access to other countries resources --leadership will need to take on a new form. Leaders will no longer be expected to lead a small group of people who are from the same social background as themselves, but to lead groups of people from a variety of backgrounds and cultures.

Leadership--the process of social influence and the ability for a person to enlist the aid and support from others to achieve a set goal. Many of you who are reading this have done this is some form, through student groups and associations, at work, or even during class projects. Leadership is a great thing, but if you are an effective leader in one cultural domain does that automatically mean you are an effective leader in a different country?

It is my belief that you should build on your skills and knowledge. Sometimes as a leader we are always the ones who are formulating ideas, talking and making decisions. Sometimes it is just better if we temporarily set aside our leadership role when we are in a new environment (in my case a new country, China!) and listen and learn from others. You can learn a lot from others and the environment around you. Always ask questions and be curious about new techniques. It is okay to dig deeper to understand the reason why they are doing something in a certain way-- you will understand their viewpoint this way. At the same time there will be things that both cultures do the same. It's kind of like when you go out on your first date, you look for similarities and differences, "You love Bad Boys 2? Me too!". These commonalities will help each party with accepting new ideas and beliefs.

For those of you who are in school you don't need to travel to a new country to be able to do this. Universities such as Ryerson (disclosure: Ryerson alumnus '10), are a filled with students from many different cultures, next time you do a group project or work with a multicultural team, step back and embrace a new paradigm of leadership.

After you have been able to absorb new ideas, beliefs, and techniques--review, reflect, and compile what you have learned and apply  it as you lead a new cultural group. Once you can do this you will be able to embrace new cultural norms, and become a cross cultural leader.

Trash it!

Garbage. Trash. Junk. Sewage. Waste. Litter.

All of the above should lead (by some means) to one place... a landfill. It is an understandable fact that some people don't have the time to sit and eat and have to consume food on the go. Many of us have been in this situation or at the least know someone who has. If you're saying you don't.. if you've ever been through a drive thru then you're guilty! Don't worry it's ok if you do!

The problem occurs when you're done with that delicious sandwich, or eating those savory fries, or drinking that quenching drink, the wrappers, the containers, and the bottles should be thrown into the garbage and recycling bins. When people toss their litter on the streets, side walks, parks, lakes etc. they are reducing the economic benefit to the rest of society.

Next time you see someone throwing trash on the ground, speak-up and say something to them! This is our planet and each of us are responsible to take care of it.

If you want to take a further step as a conscious consumer then try to reduce the amount of waste you use. Use reusable containers, think if you really need a hard copy before you print documents, be conscious of the amount of energy you use and turn off lights when they aren't needed. These are all just small examples of things we can do to help reduce our carbon footprint.

Will you speak up? Will you be a conscious consumer? Do the right thing and keep our planet clean.

What's your strength?

So the other day I took a ferry to a small island near Xiamen called Gu Lang Yu. While on the island I noticed workers building steps going down a paved path to the ocean. While the supervisor looked on and encouraged workers to make slight changes in their work, the interesting thing was that I saw the men lifting (approx. 300-350lbs) boulders using a rope and a bamboo stick. They had the ability to use simple tools and science to move these boulders.



This made me think today about the topic "What is your strength?". The idea is this: In order for us as humans to better ourselves and to grow, I believe we should focus on our strengths. Some people spend their life trying to reduce their "weaknesses" and forget to nurture their strengths. Some people have the creativity to be an artist. Some have the ability to audit company financial statements and determine accuracy and fair representation and others the ability to lead a group of people to achieve great heights. What ever your strength may be--know it and use it to your fullest potential.

If you are able to answer the question "what is your strength". Then you will be able to foster your strength and grow in that specific area. We all have strengths. Embrace them and use them not only for our personal benefits, but to benefit society as a whole.

So what is your strength? How do you plan to use it?

Sign of Friendship

So for those of you have seen Russell Peters -- in one of his skits he talks about how Indian men walk down the street holding each others pinky fingers swinging their hands as they walk as a sign of friendship.

In China I see signs friendship in a different form then what I've seen in North America. I see boys as they walk down the street or standing in buses arms wrapped around each others shoulders. I see girls always walking with at least one or two friends holding hands (as they did in elementary school in Canada--except they are probably in High school over here) or while sitting on a bus.

I think it's a really compassionate gesture to see close friends do that with one another. It is very common here to see that happen. I guess it is an eastern thing to do. Let me pose a question: If 1/3rd of the world (India and China) has grown up with this sign as an affectionate gesture, why don't we in North America conform to this standard?

Yes, media has to do with it. Some guys might say it's "homosexual" to put your arm around another guy's shoulder and walk down the street, but would it be any different if the other guy was your dad? your brother?

Next time you feel you want to show a little bit more compassion with your good friends of the same sex (or opposite), instead of a hand shake (or props) reach out and give him/her a hug. I think that they would appreciate the extended gesture.