The bottom-line on making money in China
By Xiao Hao (China Daily)
Updated: 2009-08-20 10:09
 |
Large Medium Small |
As soon as we met at the shiny Terminal 3 of Beijing Capital Airport, my American boss Richard told me: "This airport has the fastest customs I've ever experienced!"
It was Richard's first time in China. During our cab ride into the city, his eyes were glued to the window - the busy Sanlitun bar street, the chic Village mall, and the glittering CBD high-rises. He could not stop commenting on how modern the city is. Yes, he had heard about China's hyper-charged development, but "this is like any other Western city with just a different alphabet!"
Such statements used to make me proud - finally Beijing is firmly on the world's stage as a cool cosmopolitan city. There is something to impress everywhere: the airport's dragon terminal, the CCTV tower, the National Center for Performing Arts' egg house, the Bird's Nest, the Water Cube, and the thousands of fancy restaurants and bars, effortlessly blending the latest chic from East and West.
Yet lately, I have been growing wary of the same old oohs and aahs. Call me fickle, but is Beijing only this skin-deep impressiveness? More importantly, I want Richard to see more of Beijing, of China. If he buys into the myth of 1 billion customers, he might set me a sales target impossible to meet.
After his tour of the Forbidden City, Richard messaged me on Skype: "Great time today! Crowded, but really cool to see the Forbidden City and the sheer size of the Square, the city, and the Summer Palace."
I replied, "Glad that you were not intimidated by the crowds. Usually I get a headache from seeing the crowds."
Richard: "Wouldn't want to do it again on such a busy day, but wouldn't have missed it for anything! Not dissimilar to NYC during rush hour, and at least people were smiling here."
Me: "You are such an optimist. I'm glad that Chinese people are leaving you with such a nice impression. Meanwhile, we can be loud, pushy and spit everywhere!"
Richard: "NYC or Beijing? Which were you talking about."
On our way together to the Great Wall, I pointed out the drab buildings in Huairou. "The small towns in China are pretty much like this," I said purposely. But the tour guide immediately added, "Ten years ago there was nothing here. All empty."
I saw Richard nodding, impressed.
We were then in the countryside. I said that the rest of China is not that rich - like here, the people are mostly just trying to get by. There's this big wealth gap.
Richard listened attentively.
The last night Richard was in town, I gathered all the staff for a dinner with Richard and his family. I told the staff beforehand not to be shy. You'll have to impress our big boss from America, I said.
But my staff turned out helplessly bashful in front of the American guests. They giggled, with long silences in between. Finally, I had to whisper to Richard that usually they are not like this. In the office, they are lively and laugh constantly. They work hard and try to learn as much as possible in their spare time.
They are a young bunch who have so much hunger to learn, to grow, and to work hard in order to make their lives better. And that, I said, is what I found most impressive about Beijing, about China.
Finally I ran out of steam and Richard said: "I see you've built a great team; I know China is a complex and difficult market; so take your time, grow, and I don't expect you to make much money in the first three years."
That's all I needed to hear.