Music: ZhouZhou, an artist like no one else

I was clicking on my remote control of my TV when my eyes suddendly was attracted by a Chinese movie. The title of this Chinese movie was ZhouZhou. It is the story of a boy who becomes a chief conductor.

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Zhouzhou borned 1st of April 1978 in Wuhan. His father Hu Houpei - 胡厚培, musician in the city in the orchestra gave him the name of Hu Yizhou - 胡一舟, which mean boat, who drives smoothly his life. One month later, the doctors detected his trisomie 21.

When he was young, he joined his father to one of his repetition. Overthere he was imitating the chief conductor and have a real try with the group, and he was successfull.
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In 1997, Zhang Yiqing - 张以庆 a journalist from Hubei TV discovered him and made a 60 minutes documentary on him named: "The world of ZhouZhou".
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End of 1998, Liu Li - 刘理, the President of the Chinese Disable People Association watched the documentary and was very impressive by Zhouzhou. The same day, he contacted Zhouzhou to join his association to perform in the Spring Festival Gala. His excellent performance moved all the audiences including some important political leaders. In September 2000, he successfully conducted the world's top orchestra: National Symphony Orchestra and Cincinnati Pops Orchestra. Then he became successfull and world famous as we know.

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He is the only chief conductor who can't read music. He moves his arm when he hear the synphony of the music.

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I found people like Zhouzhou does not have any chance in our society since they always depend on someone for their whole life. His life can be an opportunity for these people to open the door to our society especially in China.

Zhouzhou experience also shows that anyone have an opportunity to be good at something, famous or not, and we just need to discover what it is, whoever we are, whatever our skills are.

China & Christmas

Today is Christmas, and I do not feel as usual. I have been spending the last days in Asia until now. I have been missing, to spend this moment with my family, the snow, the decoration, candles, all the christmas trees outside, and most important the food. All these elements which make me feel the Christmas magic period.

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In China, few cities have few decorations in their buildings but it will never be has in our Western countries. More and more Chinese people celebrate Christmas in the cities. In the villages, they do not even know what is Christmas. I just feel something uncompatible between the Chinese or Asian culture and the Christmas celebration. But I guess only Chinese kids really appreciate this moment getting their gifts. It may be a new way to consume in China during that period.

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It could be interesting to know how Chinese people celebrate Christmas: like a new year ? with their friends? just give gifts between them? whereas for us we focus on the family moment and meal, and exchanging all our gifts...

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Then I guess for Chinese people how hard it could be to celebrate their Chinese New Year in our western countries: missing family, foods, the famous CCTV show. For us, we just have a quick intention on that but do not really focus on it and have just a party! Maybe this is how Chinese people do during Christmas...

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Merry Christmas to everyone of You

Chinese Society: Chinese Parents and their Childs

When I was talking to my friends from China about boyfriends, girlfriends, wife, or husband, I found many of them were having a difficult time to deal with the relationships between their parents and their love ones. It is either the parents do not approve their partners for the relationship/marriage or their partners do not get along with their partners.

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My friend A is with her boyfriend for 3 years, but the parents of her boyfriends disapproved her after viewing her picture. Now, many of us have gotten married, she is still waiting for her boyfriend to persuade the parents for the marriage though they are living together already.

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My friend B, got married for a few years, but was not able to get pregnant. The mother in law was always accusing her for this, cursing her to die so that her son can marry another woman. They had a serious fight before the mother in law finally left my friend's house.

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There are many of such cases which made me to think why the Chinese parents are trying to intervene their child's life so much.

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On the otherhand, the western parents are much more relax on the child issues once they are considered aldults. A few days ago, a chinese lady in USA wrote about her American friend accepted the boyfriend of her 15 years old daughter lives in their house. The reason is because the boy's mom are always shifting as she is not able to pay for the house rentals and the boy is tired of changing schools everytime. Many of the Chinese mums are shocked after hearing of this story. Not only because it is the relationship between two only 15 years old childs, but the boy's family background. In China, no parents would not accept a boy from a such family background to be their daughter's boyfirend.

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Loving the childs is one aspect, interfering the childs' life is another. Really hope the Chinese parents could distinguish these two and make both their lives and the childs' one easier.

Freeze-frame: My little Red Panda

My little Red friend - A Red Panda in Chengdu Panda Breeding Research Center

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Take a Break: Chengdu Panda Breeding Research Center

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Located just 10km (6miles) away from downtown Chengdu in Sichuan, China, the Chengdu Panda Breeding Research Center has been created and imitated the pandas' natural habitat in order that they might have the best possible environment for rearing and breeding. The Center cares also for other rare and endangered wild animals. The Research Center covers an area of 560 mus (92 acres), 96% of which is verdure. Giant pandas, lesser pandas, black-necked cranes, white storks as well as over 20 species of rare animals are fed and bred there throughout the year. Verdant bamboo, bright flowers, fresh air, a natural hill scene and a beautiful artificial view are merged ingeniously at the base.

Singapore: Ministers ready to decrease their Salary

Salary of the ministers in Singapore, one of the highest in the world, is going to decrease next year due to economical crisis by 20%.

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Prime Minister, Lee Hsien Loong, who earned 2,46 millions of dollars this year (2008), 5 times more than George Bush - President of USA, will get his salary decreased to 1,99 million.

Singapore is a city-state, 707.1 km2 small island only, with 4.8 millions people!

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The salary in Singapore is the highest in the world, in order to avoid corruption from politicians. And it works, because Singapore is the 4th country in the world for the countries less corrupted in 2008. Click here to see the general table.

This is a good idea from Politicians who needs to give a good example of themself and their actions, especially during this period of crisis. We are waiting now for our own politicians to do the same thing.

Carnet de route: EmeiShan or the Beauty under Heaven

My trip to Emeishan was made at the same time as Leshan Giant Budha site. Emeishan is one of the Four Sacred Buddhist Mountains of China, which is similar to Taishan by its temples and stairs but also different being classified as a Taoism mountain (The group associated with Taoism is known as the Five Great Mountains, whereas the group associated with Buddhism is referred to as the Four Sacred Mountains of Buddhism).

Emei Mount is located southwest of Emeishan City and 200 km southwest of Chengdu in Sichuan Province, China. EmeiShan was made a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1996 thanks to its breathtaking scenery, mysterious natural wonders, and historical Buddhist sites.
The full day's hike to the summit is an unforgettable experience undertaken by many, but minibuses and cable cars make faster alternatives for travelers short on time. .

Since ancient times Emei Mountain has been described as "Beauty Under Heaven".
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On the top, you will find the Golden statue of Puxian at Emei Shan summit, clouded in mist.

My story

When looking the tourism map, you will find that everything is closed and seems easy. This day, I decided to treck on Emeishan with nothing except my bag of clothes. I knew that I would be able to visit on my way many temples, where they offered food, drinks or bed to sleep. So I had nothing to worry about except climb thousands of stairs once again. I met on my way to the top, a young couple of Chinese student and another student. Four of us, went on the half way to the top together.

We decided then to separate and use different way to reach the top. I was faster and I arrived before the night to the top. I could finally find a room to sleep for the night but it was difficult for me to bargain as usual since the hotels were already full. When I was back from my diner and it was really cold outside, I met my young friends sleeping in the lobby of the hotel. They arrived late in the evening. Many of them could not find a room that night and they decided to sleep inside the lobby. Outside was too cold to sleep. I kindly invide my 3 friends to share my room for the night. We played cards and have fun to talk stories. We woke up at 5 am in the next morning day to try to enjoy the sunrise. Unfortunatelly the clouds were too high to enjoy a wonderfull sunrise! Nevermind, the Golden statue of Puxian at Emei Shan summit, was shinning.

Another trip to heaven...

Freeze-frame: Human force to move things

This is also another way to move things. This picture was taken in Shenzhen while we were waiting to go inside our customer facility. It shows again that with little thing we can move a lot of things. No truck, no petrol, just human force...

China: Hard time for fresh graduates

This is the next step of our story regarding the thousands of companies closing in China and also unemployment for Chinese People.

Let 's take a look in Guangdong: in Guangzhou, for example, fresh graduate queue 3 hours for submitting 1 resume as you can see on the pictures. This day there were 15000 trying to submit their resume.

This year, Guangdong arranged 44 career faires only! As the students need to queue a long time to submit resume, one day, they are only able to submit 2 and after submission, majority could not get the interview chances.

The past 2 years, there are 4.8 millions students who didn't find a job. In 2009, there will be 5.6 millions. So, in year 2009, there will be more than 10 millions graduates from University who will need a job.

All over China, a lot of them chose to take the exams for being a government servant. They said, till 26th of October, there are 1.04 millions students registered for the exams, and the government will only need around 14,000 people. So the reject ratio will be 98.7%!

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Now we can wonder the future for them. Going back in their hometown may be possible, but they may move in other provinces where there will be able to find a job. China anounced a stimulus plan, it will be more than urgent to help this young people to find a job and to prevent any crisis in China.

For my Chinese friends or fluent Chinese, you can watch the news:

For more details, click here or here.

Freeze-frame: New way to move merchandise...

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.Once again, use motocycles to move merchandise have some success these days. Well, this is a new way and cheaper one to move the meat now! We've better to never know where the meat come from!

"The mountain is a Buddha and the Buddha is a mountain"

Take a Break: Leshan Giant Buddha - 乐山大佛

Today, I have named the post "The mountain is a Buddha and the Buddha is a mountain" from a local saying of Sichuan in reference of one of the most curious place of China, the Giant Buddha in Leshan (aka Dafo). This is partially because the mountain range in which the Leshan Giant Buddha is located is thought to be shaped like a slumbering Buddha when seen from the river, with the Leshan Giant Buddha as its heart.

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The Giant Buddha is located 2 hours by Bus, South of Chengdu (exactly 162km far from Chengdu), in Sichuan Province, China. In 1996, the location of the Buddha was included by UNESCO on the list of the World Heritage sites.

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Facing the river, the Buddha has symmetrical posture and looks which have been beautifully captured in its solemn stillness. It is 71 meters (about 233 feet) high, higher in the world, and has three-meter-long (about 11 feet) fingers. The eight-meter-long (about 27 feet) instep is big enough for one hundred people to sit on and the 28-meter-wide (about 92 feet) shoulder is large enough to be a basketball playground.

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The construction was started in AD 713, led by a Chinese monk named Haitong. He hoped that the Buddha would calm the turbulent waters that plagued the shipping vessels travelling down the river. Construction was completed by his disciples ninety years later. An it worked, apparently the massive construction resulted in so much stone being removed from the cliff face and deposited into the river below that the currents were indeed altered by the statue, making the waters safe for passing ships.

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This is a place we should not miss.

Freeze-frame: Dog for diner!

One thing I like when I go outside in China (wherever it is), it's that you never know what you may see when you walk on the street. Eat dog in China is something normal especially during winter where dog is consider to make your body warmer while eating it. So be careful when you order some meat in restaurant, you never know what they can serve you.

Bon appetit!

Freeze-frame: Street lamp made in China!

Firstly, our Apologize for the street lamp we have damaged today outside our customer's facility (Shenzhen, Guangdong) while opening the door... Secondly, we do believe this street lamp was a copy made in China; so easy to be damaged!

Take a Break: Taishan or another way to Heaven

The Mount Taishan is in Shandong Province in China, where famous Confucius borned, located at Tai’an (the town at the foot of Taishan), South of Jinan, capital of Shandong.

Taishan is the most revered of the five sacred Taoist Mountains in China. It’s also the most climbed mountain in the world. The mountain is 1545m in height and has 6660 steps to the summit. It epitomizes splendid Chinese culture and was listed in the World Natural and cultural heritage list of UNESCO in 1987.

Taishan also played an important role in the development of Buddhism and Taoism. Its spiritual significance attracts Chinese and foreigners in their droves and it’s also said that if anyone who climbs Taishan will live until 100 years old.

Every stair seems to have a story to tell, that it was stepped so many times by monks, boudhists, Chinese, foreigners, ... Anyone of us who climbed the peak left behind a bead of sweat, the best testament of our way on Taishan. We feel like this way have no end... but we still continue because there is this strange feeling which is always pushing us to view the grandiose temples, the numerous stone inscriptions and stone tablets, the landscape that give us the strengh to go ahead. Our body want to stop but our heart doesn't give up. So we still continue to climb, stop and climb until we can reach the end. Sunny or rainy, whatever happen, we always enjoy the place, because we feel in another world, another earth.

We feel tired of thousands of staircases climbed during six hours, but we never give up because we all know we will reach the Heaven at the end. The next morning we will admire a sunrise as never we could see before, oh no never. This is Taishan, another way to Heaven.

The Big Secret... of Quality Service

This is our today's lesson for Customer Service: to make your customer love you, you have to start with a Positive Attitude!

* Print the card, keep it with you and read it everyday...

Carnet de route: Trip in South East Asia

In 2002, during 6 weeks, in November-December, I was travelling in South East Asia, in Thailand, Lao, Vietnam and Cambodia. This experience changed my life discovering how much things can be real and unreal, and discovering the true nature of life. I completely opened my mind during this trip and it was for me, one of my best personnal adventure. Today, I want to share this experience I had seveal years ago.

Many of you or my friends are always curious to hear about this experience because I always start to tell them that firslty we had to focus on our budget: 10 US$ per day for accomodation, transports, food, visit,... I took, at that time, most of my saving (since I was still student) to realize this project. Our mind at that time was: if we like we stay here, if we do not like we leave.

Our trip started in Singapore since we were undertaking an exchange program for one year for our Engeering studying. Three of us was participating to this trip. We flew to Bangkok (Thailand) where, from here, we decided to take a night bus to reach Chang Khong (North of Thailand), borders with Lao.

We took a lot of time to prepare this trip, and especially, took seriously the case of malaria by taking daily medecine. Usually, people get malaria by being bitten by an infective female Anopheles mosquito (Stupid mosquito!) - where it is widespread in tropical and subtropical regions like in Lao, Vietnam or Cambodia (especially in Lao).

Lao

Lao is one of my favorite destination. I got a good souvenir. Lao is one of the poorer country in this world but people are so simple, relax, enjoyable. They do know how to live happily that most of us forgot in our modern society (just a personnal comment).

Our first goal was to take a boat during two days on the Meikong river to reach Lang Prabang. We stopped for the night on the half way at Pakbeng. We spent then two days in Lang Prabang to visit temples, to trek, or to swim below a water fall... Then we went to Vang Vien and stop for the night where we cycled around the mountain.

We reached then Ventiane where we spent a day and then took a bus for the night to reach Vietnam. The only thing we could regret in our trip in Lao is that we could not visit the South of Lao, since our plan was to travel in Lao for 1 week. The food was great and it was quite easy to control the spending since things was quite cheap.

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Vietnam

Vietnam was one of our more challenging trip. Vietnam is firstly a country which open more and more to tourism and insdustry. A lot of Vietnamese want to go inside the tourism business and some of them have the only target to get as much as possible money from you (taxi, hotel, travel agency...). These people are sometimes completely annoyed and make sometimes your trip not enjoyable at all. That is really a pity because Vietnam have a lot of good things and nice people. Moreover, this country has still the souvenir of its war with US, that it becomes also a part of our trip: disable people hurt during the war, musseum relating to the period,....

With the bus taken in Vientiane, we reached Hanoi, capital of Vietnam. We spent some times over there to visit the city and take advantage to go to Halong Bay. We spent 3 days over there enjoying the wonderfull landscape. We then took the train to Hue where we spent one day to visit around. We then took a train for Danang. Danang has nothing except maybe one museeum. So we took a bus to reach Hoi An, one of my favorite city, which you really feel inside the Vietnamese culture. After two or three days to enjoy the shop, trek, musseum,... we left for Ho Chi Minh city. After few days there we decided to take a tour inside the Delta of Mekong and cross the border by boat between Vietnam and Cambodia. We totally spent two weeks in Vietnam with good and also bad time!

Cambodia

I could call this country Cambodia or the horror of the civil war. If you go to Cambodia, you have to be prepared to face the true about what was the Khmer Rouge regim and the horror of what they could do because you will see completely disable people hurt by mines or hurt during the civil war or you will visit a musseum regarding all torture made by Khmer Rouge. I advice anyone to read about this period because we have all something to learn from this country, its history and from its people.

Our trip was quite basic. We first reached Phnom Penh to visit the ciy, capital of Cambodia. We then spent three days in Angkor. You can't miss it, because Angkor is the face of this country, a wonderfull city from an older time civilisation named khmer.

Regarding the mine in Cambodia: as long as you stay in the tourist area there is no danger for you to be hurt by a mine. But you must know that Cambodia the country with the most number of mines.

Thailand

We finally reach Thailand where I spent some days in North to trek and finally spent times to South of Thailand, in one of this wonderful Island. My stay there last during 2 weeks: beach, treking, temples visit...

To be concluded

My first feeling when I was back to Singapore was someone lost, someone who did want to come back to this modern society, someone who wanted to continue discovering and traveling. But the life is sometimes crual and bring you back to your reality.

This trip was one of my best trip, maybe because it helps me a lot to understand other cultures and be more open to others. Anyone should do such a trip, wherever and whatever he dreams to do it and with people or friends we love.

Movie from Korea: My Sassy Girl

We have to give to Caesar what is Caesar’s regarding the originality of some movies made by Asian countries. Then I like to introduce this korean movie, one of my favourite movie, My Sassy Girl.

My Sassy Girl - 엽기적인 그녀 - literally, That Bizarre Girl, is a 2001 South Korean romantic comedy film in which the lead protagonist's chance meeting with a drunk girl on the train changes his life.

It is based on the true story told in a series of love letters written by Kim Ho-sik, a man who initially posted them on the Internet and later adapted them into a novel.

The film was extremely successful in South Korea. When My Sassy Girl was released throughout East Asia, it was well received in the entire region. I was told that an American remake, starring Jesse Bradford and Elisha Cuthbert, was released in 2008.

I still believe the original korean version of My Sassy Girl will still be the best because these two korean actors are really FANTASTIC (best and most famous Actors in South Korea), and the romantic comedy effect directed by Kwak Jae-yong is great.

This movie talks about two students, a story about a girl and a boy, where the girl gives a really hard love lessons to what she calls and want to be: her boy friend. A love story like no others'. It is at the same time funny, touching, romantic, with dramatic scenes touching all our emotions. We do not end this movie without be touched.

Trailer My Sassy Girl - English Subtitles

Watch this movie, you won't regret!

Take a Break: Weekend in Singapore

Weekend is coming, it's time for you who is living in Asia to have a short break far from your usual living and working place.

Plan a Singapore Trip. It is a good place for such weekend: Singapore delivers Southeast Asia’s best shopping and innovative, stylish restaurants, plus a swathe of top-notch hotels. You can, according to what you like, enjoy either a city or shopping time, or like me, enjoy a treking or cycling time.

Ticketing
* Book your air ticket on Tigerairways.com or JetStar. These two low cost companies ensuring flight all over South East Asia (and also from/to Australia).
* From Bangkok, you can flight also with AirAsia.com.
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Your first step in Sing'
* You will arrive to the airport (where you can't get loss): Changi Airport. With a taxi or MRT (close at midnight) you can reach any point in Singapore.

** Do not hesitate to use CouchSurfing to find someone to accomodate you (if your budget if your primary focus) or to make new friends.

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First Day (Saturday)
* I would start to enjoy the Bukit Timah Nature Reserve (164ha with trails through primary rainforest and Singapore's highest hill) or Pulau Ubin Island.

- Pulau Ubin: This island (perhaps 7 km long and 2 km wide) is a good place to enjoy Sea Food and cycling in the "Jungle" (or forest, I do not know how to call it). It may take you half or one day to enjoy the place. You must take a boat (for 2.5 Sing $) from Changi Point Ferry Terminal. You can reach it with Bus 39 where it start from the bus station next to Tampines MRT Station.
- Some people would prefer to spend time in Sentosa Island (Attractions, beaches, shopping...)

** After this trip, spend some times in Chinatown or Little India to get some souvenirs.

*** Spend your evening in Riverside, to enjoy a drink (Don't forget to enjoy a Tiger Beer) and a restaurant such as Jin de lai Zhong Hua la mian Restaurant my favourite one. Riverside is known for its multinational menu.

**** Mohamed Sultan road is a good place to enjoy a night with all their Night Club's.
- Zouk is one of my favourite night (club located at 17 Jiak Kim Street)
- Ministry of Sound is temporaly closed for renovation.

- Most people would prefer to spend a night in the Night Safari. A night time in the zoo has been one of the most curious and famous attraction in Singapore.

Second Day (Sunday)
* I would go to Singapore River (because it is where the story of Singapore begins). Start your trip at the Merlion Park. Find your complete morning's trip here with parks, museums, Financial Building, Arts for a walk, a look and a visit. Top of the tree is Raffles, a timeless symbol of colonial opulence.

** For the afternoon take a trip to East Coast to walk along the sea side and enjoy weekend with Singaporean. If you prefer to stay in the City area, you can go to Orchard road, Chinatown , or Little India for some more shoppings.

You can find more to visit here. Enjoy your trip!

China: Thousands of companies are closing in Guangdong

This morning, I was reading the news when I read this article on Yahoo and Le Monde (first National newspaper in France): In China, Thousands of companies are closing in Guangdong.

The article is only in French (and I did not find the English version) but you can read again my last week's article China, or the impact of the global crisis or the one posted this week China: a stimulus plan to save the world?. They are writing about the same things that I was telling you already last week regarding some consequences in Guangdong (most products have become more expensive to export), however there are few explicit examples:

- if Guangdong Province was a country, it would be 23rd richer in the world (it shows you how much powerful is Guangdong Province inside China);

- 3 000 companies from Toys industries (60%) between January and July closed already;

- 130 000 people, every day are leaving Guangdong by train (information from the railway autorities)

95% of the companies won't come back to China (too high cost for their product) but they will prefer to be located in Vietnam, Cambodia or Bangladesh for textiles companies. For other companies as Toys, shoes or other industry they may follow the same way or move to other provinces (manpower less expensive...).

A positive and interesting point for Guangdong regarding this crisis: this province will no longer be considered as the supplier of the world but it will be an opportunity for this Province to become an high tech region if Guangdong are able to attract them.

Book: Good to Great

Once again today, we are going to talk about a book for everyone of us who manage a team or a company.

Jim Collins wrote a book several years ago: Good to Great, sold over three millions copies, that could be resume by how to have the right people on the bus (and the wrong people out off the bus) for companies or team. CEO, General Manager, or Managers can't wait to buy it.

The book is based on years of detailed and empirical research made during few years. He shows, and I agree with it, that most successfull Executive are, first only very few (less than 10), and secondly are the ones who "build enduring greatness through a paradoxical blend of personnal humility and professional will". He gives all details for a type of leadership to turn a good company to a great one, and you may be surprised or maybe shocked.

We knows that today, many of Executive or General Manager of big companies fail to manage their company and they unfortunattely showed to us only selfish willing with their salary (increase it when the situation is bad for their company) or run away with golden parachute when they failed with their management. Many examples happened so many times these last two months that we do not need to give any details about that.

So, I recommand this book for anyone who have personnal humility and wants to build great things with people. Moreover, we need now to put back a system of morality and humanity inside our economy model and this book will help to show a lot of good examples.

China: a stimulus plan to save the world?

Last week, we were talking inside this blog about the effect of global crisis in China. On Sunday 9th of November, Chinese government announced a stimulus plan of 4000 billions of Yuan to face this crisis.

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This plan is the signal, that China is facing seriously the global crisis. That is also the prove that the crisis is now global. 4000 billions of Yuan (or 586 billion of US Dollar) is planned over 2 years which has only one target: have a economic growth over 8%, where this one and the social situation have become worse and worse the last months. The exportations, which is only the engine of the economic growth, decreased suddenly with a economic growth at 9% for the third quarter (the lowest level in five years and a sharp decline from last year's 11.9 percent). USA and Europe have decreased their importation so China face a non-demand situation. China, which has adapted its industry to feed the western deficits, is now hurt because there is neither no money nor credits from its western customers.
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The chinese companies, which works for the most famous brand in Europe, USA, or Japan estimate that 3 millions employment have been lost. For example, six companies over ten, from Toys industry, have been bankrupt. More companies are closed for short period (few weeks to one month) in Beijing, Shanghai, or Guandong Province. Many workers are back in their hometown waiting for their companies to re-open.
This crisis, and all sanitaries constraints, for safety and environment, is not going to make things better. China must change is economical model. China is going to focus now to its internal market. But Chinese people do not consume, because they save money, to plan their retirement, hospital fees, or to face to any social issues. Next year, the economic growth should be 7% to 8%. Theorically it's wonderfull, but in reality it's not sufficient for the government to make his budget balance, and more, not sufficient to avoid the unemployment to increase, and social problem to become worse and worse.
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China may not be affected as much as other western countries, but what we have to understand about this economy which is strong, fast, it's this economy has two caracteristics. The first one, the biggest, is the exportations which go all over the world. The second one, very small, is the capabilty for chinese to consume, from people who is trying to save their money to provide us their products. This big plan - which is going to absurb 15% of national ressources - is going to target, in priority, 800 millions of Chinese outside the cities. This government need to offer them a social ensurance and double their income. That means also, they will need to adapt the industrial needs by their own people's needs. Fewer and fewer companies will produce electronics devices and more industrial productions will have to be adapted for 1 billion Chinese's new needs.

Book: How to make your Customers Love You?

Customer satisfaction is worthless, Customer Loyalty is priceless by Jeffrey Gitomer

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Today is not an advertisement for Jeffrey, but it is more a help given for anyone who wants to improve his patnership or relationship with his customer: serving employee, salesperson, manager, executive or entrepreneur can enact to ensure loyal customers.

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It is the first book I read when I started managing the Customer Service in China and I passed to my employee in order to read it, act positevely to our Customer's side.

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It could be named Customer Service for Dummies, but it is more than that. It is really a bible for anyone who wants to make a true relationship with his customer. There are many examples you can apply everyday for your customers. This book can be read very easily by anyone, even non-speaking english person. So get it now, you won't regret!

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You can find more books relative to Customer Service but this one may be a resume of all books I have ever read. You can read more to this book here.

Connect to Jeffrey web site here to find more books you may like to read.

Movie: J'irai dormir à Hollywood

What a nice story from Antoine de Maximy and his new movie J'irai dormir à Hollywood, or I will go to sleep in Hollywood. This French TV show reporter , has been crossing the world for his reportage and trying to meet people to eat, share experience and life, and sleep in their house.

It's funny, so real and you will learn other people culture.

In his new movie, this adventurer will cross USA and he will try to sleep in a movie star from Hollywood.

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Watch the Trailer

If you want to watch more about Antoine De Maximy and discover all his adventures over the world, go to his website: http://www.jiraidormirchezvous.com/

Make your own Experience

If you want to do the same thing, to sleep in people 's house and make it organized, I advice you to go to the web site of CouchSurfing. This network have thousands of adventurers who sleep everydays in other people's house. Discover it, it's also another way to travel!

China, or the impact of the global crisis

During our visit to few factories last weeks and around several cities in China, it becomes a fact now: more and more companies are suffering and closing in China, and most particurlarly in GuangDong Province. This may be the consequences of several things.

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Guangdong has been the richest province in China by exporting goods over the world especially in Europe and USA. Today, everything is slowing down and it's not Christmas which is going to make things better. Production have been divided by two and most of companies in the city such as Dongguan are closing. There are 8000 companies which may be closed in the next 2 months just because there is no demand anymore in USA and Europe for these companies. These companies are producing toys, circuit boards for electronics devices, electronics items...
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Suffering of the product "Made in China"
If the exportation has been less and less for the past 2 months, another reality for Chinese companies has been to be competitive. The "Made in China" become more and more expensive and it is difficult to export due to several reasons.
First, the salaries have been increased during the last 2 to 3 years in some part of China. An example in our company, most salary have been increased from 2 to 3 to keep our Technicians and Managers. More and more worker are leaving their work to earn 10 RMB more and some companies like ours must increased salary to keep their most skillfull workers.
Secondly, the first materials increased dramatically so the final product was 20 to 40% more expenvive with this factor. Now, material price decreased with the crisis because we finally saw that it was due to speculations.
Another problem become the rate between Yuan and other currencies. The high rate of Yuan make an inflation from 10 to 30% according to exchange rate between countries. So the chinese product become suddenly more expensive and have generate an inflation for its products.

If we consider some countries like USA which is going to protect more and more their industry; so we can believe that exporting for China will be more and more difficult.

Companies will have seriously to adapt and restructure themself to face these problems.

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New life and reality for Chinese workers
It's a fact, unemployment become more and more for a Province like Guangdong. More and more people are lay off or suddenly their companies have been closed. China does not have all social protection or retirement plan as in Europe or USA. Without work, a Chinese has completely nothing.

So we can imagine that, for these people, they will return to their hometown such as province of Sichuan, or Hebei. And for what? Simply to get a protection from their families which are farmers or have other small business. China could face a first unexpected migration.

Moreover, most of them I know, save and invest their money to the stock Shanghai Exchange. They though this way could be also a faster way to increase their money and be later a good retirement plan.

But during the last two months, most of them lost, at least, half or their savings, and some rich Chinese lost until 90% of their fortune.

That will have for sure an impact on the consummation and future investment inside China since most of them will feel poorer.

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New Population & Economical map for China

China could face to an internal migration and industry delocalisation inside its own territories for several reasons.

More and more people and companies in China will move to the North or Center part of this country. Province as Shandong, or Sichuan, could benefit to this new reorganization faster than we could imagine: cheaper manpower, cheaper land, cheaper transport, less environment rules for the companies to make their products still competitive.

Chinese young workers will follow the companies move, where there is work and money to make because they won't have other choices.
In Sichuan, government is investing 1000 billion Yuan to rebuild the region destroy by the earth quake last May so it could be one of the most attractive province in the future for tourism and industry.

But, that may not be enough to continue as before. This crisis happens 10 years too early for China since nothing was prepared for such a change and the cake won't be enough for everybody.

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Chinese Government's action

Everything has been growing up so fast in this country: buildings, roads, railways, air transports. And it seems that one thing has been forgotten on this fast grew: Chinese people. Except to earn more money and have to spend more for foods and goods, they will notice that nothing was really changed for them when they wake up without work: no social insurance, no social protection, no retirement plan for this new social life that is for them.

China government is now helping most of the sectors of the economy to avoid an internal crisis and also save their country face. But that will be enough?

The economy grow could decrease from 9% to 6% next year: still a dream for Western countries but a danger for this machine named China.

Changi Airport, an Airport from another World

There are few Airports in this world, we never like to spend time especially these airports in Europe or America: old, not convenient to transit, always the mess, always looking for your way, the toilets, looking for taxi or buses...
But some others, like in Asia, we could spend a whole day inside because we feel like home. My first love is for Changi Airport in Singapore, one of the most convenient airport: easy to transit, easy to check-in, most beautiful duty free... Singapore, and other countries in Asia, has been considered their airport like the face of the country, the first welcome, the first things visitors have in mind when they arrive in a country, their first image.
As my wife use to say, some countries have been considered their airport as "their ass". The expression is maybe too much, but think about tourists have their cliche about a country, and when they arrrive, what disappointment they have when they see the airport.

I am writing this message from here and I always enjoy to take my airplane from Singapore because we always feel like we never have been waited for an airplane