Diary of a CEO

LC

Dao Liu local

China life CSR CEO

LCPC day 2

A very early breakfast at the hotel, we were told it can be serve by 6:00 am, so I became the first customer, however, the kitchen not yet stated until 6:30 pm, this is a basic communication breakdown issue. take the window retruning to my room and wash hair. be at the restaurant again and everyone move to Lutu factory by 6:45 am, we arrived around 7:20 pm, and prepare for the Quaterly Review - Leeling is nice to me, as the head of IT, she join the company slighterly over a year, from the late dinner we did last night, I learned that Bengo is organize his new management team - a new cabinet to run the empire in the future - Leeling share with lot lot of information, of course, some are bias, some are fair, to learn as many information as possbile in a short period is critical to my success in the manufacturing industry - especially in such a traditional firm - paper manufactuer - it last for thousands of years.

Doing the psysical exercise with all the manufacturing people and factory employee by 7:50 am, this is anothe routine I learned, according to Leeling, this exercise format is developed by Bengo himself, and after the 5 minutes more strech, everyone need to read -- Monday is Bengo's management belive, rest of the week, everyone should read the message from the founder - Bengo's grand father, it's like the credo of the compnay.

Joint the pilot Quality 9 am meeting - another routine developed by Bengo himself ( or Toyota Consultant ? ), at Luthu factory I learn a great deal by Tech head's input and leeling's question asked, it really arose my curiosity a big deal, as I know I can learn, understand, and to contribute, it really make me think to relocate to Luthu factory at least for 2 weeks after Chinese New Year, without hesitation, calling wife for this brighten decision, to make myself available in the factory and relocate for 2 weeks can make a difference.

Leeling continue share with me some dispute occure between China operation and how the margin erode due to lower margin product was asked by the customer ( the same parent company, from paper mill to corton maker ) what interest is the mill didn't making profit and the corton company loss money - 78 cutomer out of 80 are not profitable, in Taiwan, if the gross marfit is less than 7%, the company will lost money. and some power play also, my observation is Leeling is relatively new but win some trust from BOSS, those old guard and or senior executive are batteling - all the company are the same.. and talent are shame or hide away, according her opinion, no talent in the company is the critical issue.

Accompany Manger Chen Lung Chen to his prepartion check, this is for finding the safty inventory and the re-ordering machenism, check the sales office at Luthu factory, eyeing at the wall with the sales / customer map - curious about the black - dot / half black -dot / circle , asking the sales manger, he didn't know what it means. it posted just behind him and he is no new to this factory, something intersting also.

Strolling the carton production line - intersting, one senior employee - an aged one see me as a stranger who join the reveiwing crew, when approching him and check the monitor he is watching, he told me this is not corrent meter or figure, he said Boss is coming today , and someone should tell him about this, follow the line, the noise level is very hight, I should watch my hearing also.

Have the desire to raise or asked question, good and bad, good is I do have some interesting in this company / industry, bad is it may break the rule of " Crude but fast is better than Beauty but slow ", I should RESERVE, LEARN MORE, KNOW MORE, PREPARE MORE, FINE MORE ,before Bengo - be prepare, think hard, much harder than him.

Now, I should do :
1. collection Impoving Team Head's document and check / ask.
2. don't re-assemble job to myself, have the bottom taking care of their own issue.
3. find a qualified secretary to follow my steps. or have someone to share it with me.
4. welcome by the new mangement team while gaining the respect from old staff.
5. build the trust from Technology Heads

Lunch box is no good -- the rice is too hard to swallow -the restaurant provide lunch for employee and ' Forigen Nationality ' in one corner - I didn't know if the price is different, maybe only the taste.

Attending the weekly sales meeting now, this is a weekly sales meeting islandwide using the tele-conference, this company use is at the ultmost - Tawian, Cross Strait. it can scale up and saving a lot of time and money, now I am wondering is they are in an IP base soultion.

VP Wei is concerning about BOSS's unhappy with the meeting room layout - he asked to re-shape it and it delay the sale meeting for 20 minutes, everything have to follow SOP is good, but to think how the BOSS think maybe wrong, there's no GOD in the world except God himself, all the space can pre-think how to accomodate all the meeting function and have the layout.

LCPC enrollment Day 2007 Dec. 17

Day after YPO X'mas party, to me, I take it as a farewell party to me, playing the circling for gift at the belcony Saturday at Charles Chen's Private gardon, the venue where YPO party take place, I win 5 bottles of red wine, which is abnormal to me, and surprise to many others. I cut off the party and returning home by 8:30 pm, it's inconvenience to get taxi outside the private gardon, I am the ONLY members who don't have a driver-car and car, this is abnormal too, however, beening drifting for 2 years, this is how my situation is. so, when the decicion made, I annonced my commitment at my Forum meeting, a lot of commets and opinons flowing - in, today, all the comments realized one by one, I am not saying everyone's prophet or genius, but I believe most of them going through what I am expecting to experience or learn now.

Do my housekeeping on Saturday morning, this is a behavior change the first step, as a change agent or promote myself, but now I have to be the changer, or the person sitting on the hot seat, the growth should be significant and should be impactful - for me especially.

Taking the second earliest THSR to Taichung on Sunday morning, a pre-caution and alert in mind, I didn't falling in sleep quite deep, so, woke up by 5:30 am without any alarm, clean up and washing, taking taxi to Railroad station -- the taxi to station wan't a good start - going the wrong route, bumping to a big hole and had my head bang to the roof, and terriblly the driver don't keep any changes with him, I need to pay additonal 65 dollors and his tips ...

Arrving at the Sheng Kwang Papar Manufacture by 8:00 am, one hours earlier than the meeting time, I was told this is a monthly technology committe meeting, but when the meeting started, I find it is a " Monthly Reviewing meeting " based on TPS ( Toyoto Production System ) or the Toyota Way - from finanical performance review, productivity review, machinecal performance review , man power review , JIT project review and Kaishen case presentation, in the morning session is for the Paper Product portion ( cartoons so to speak ), the afternoon session is for the Industrial Paper Mill, both lead by the technology head, Bengo is a belivers in Toyoto Way, I was giving the bible ( book ) the first day, the envolope of my package shows how prudent this company or this boss is ( everyone call Bengo's name - BOSS ), since I am here to learn , to grow and to change, compensation means less than before, however, the machnism make Meiling so upset, she advise me how to take a proactive attitude to this learning process, to win everyone's truth and to earn my value from Bengo.. I know this is a taugh mission. as I am volunteering to take it, I should be inspired to the change, but force to be changed.

Thanks God for my six sense, it warning me to resign from the Shung Shang Fundation borad member seat, because on the last course of the meeting, Beng accuse YFE for not response for a good paper company and bring everyone to hell from Nov. this year, and he curse the company firiencely. so, every boss perform exact the same, If I run a factory, I will one day turn myself to the person I hate maybe.. how to balance my inner heart with the enviroment outside is a learning ahead.

The meeting ended by 6:30 pm, we - the delegation were late for our train to Tainain, Bengo sent his first SMS to me by 7:00 am, appreciate my staying for a day, my response is positive too, the only problem to me is how to get rid of the " Sleeping warn", no coffee at office, bad air in the meeting room, very long and non experience related topic, no matter how concentrate I am, the sleepoing devil keep calling my name, this is the bug I need to fix and bail my out of this unprofessional situation. we arrvied at Tainan Station by 8:15 pm, arrving at a good new hotel - Justwin Grand Hotel around 9'oclock, everyone's hungry, so gatheirng by 9:10 pm and go for a very simply dinner, taking with wife for the first nigh. she cry for me, for the fortune in front of me and for the unfair ( this is too early to judge ) treatment from BOSS - now I shoud never call him Bengo , but Boss.

I won't write down too much of the technical process from the orientation, but more address on the nature of manufactor, the mindset of a BOSS, the people work on the company, the trend developing to a paper industry and my mental and physical changing in the process... a very rare and unique journey stared.

First morning at LCPC

Taking the earliest THST to Taichung this morning, we arrived at the SengKuang Factory ( Paper ) by 8 am, one hour earlier than than the monthly technology meeting, on the train, one of the senior diretor from the company greeting me with GM, I am a little bit confused, taking a nap, then gathering by the platform with greeting of director of the boards, it ease me better, Kay - the lady next to Bengo send me an envelop with the package from the company, I take a glace and learn the nature , a very slice feeling, however, it won't change my mind of working and learning here.

Kay send me the TOYOTA way in the office, the bible from the company and I am access to the net for my first blogging.

YPO Xmas Party

Learning from Forum Pals

This is the take home value from the meeting last night, it help me to clean up my mind in regard to the LC development:
1. 2 great suffers when take up the manufacture role in local public company : The call for decision making ( it's tougher if you are not in the same industry, there's no paralle knownedge transfer, most of the time, newly on board executive from outside will be expected to bluff ), second is to make up laspe when execution take place ( even you make the right decision, your people didn't equip the capability to deliver result, you should take his postion and get the job done )-- From J.W.W
2. Your role in complimentary position with chairman, in experice, in funtion, in age, if you are at the same age group, it's tough to perform because the complimentary synery won't exercise. -- From J.WKC
3. Attitude is everything , yours and others, to equip skills in factory knowledge do have degree of differences, it depends how deep you need to dive and the expetation from others, manage manufacturing business is not so hard -- From Daniel.
4. People are different - in Manufacure segment, people are more like tools, to perform the feasiable result, in Service Industry, you are driving the potential of people-- J.W.W.
5. Working in multi-national as executive, leadership is key, you only need to push the botton, and it will automatically run, in local firm, you push and it won't work, you have to drive , lead, handon with problem solving talent-- J.W.W
6. Your power position - to win respect and to building value in manufacture is important, it depends on the time your boss willing to give -- JWW
7. Calm down, step by step, like mountain climing, you will reach the peak finally -- A. Chio

sending my package to Bengo yesterday as promised, it's difficult and I don't want to repeat my mistake again, the letter is just fine, express my appreciation and to elobrate the time I need to smooth transfer role from csr Community and to let him know some of the addressing package - such as car and chauufer is no longer necessary to me. cut my salary half and willing to take the chance to grow and to be the changer , instead of the change agent... I joke about my feeling - to be an entreprenure, like running marathon, but there's no ending line, and to fit myself to manufacture, like enroll in milltary, but you can't see the day of retiring from army. well, this is a chanllenge for mind and body -- how to follow the displine -- a more like cult in LCPC and to free my spirit inside, keep my creativity as rich as before, a major task. how to perform just right and appropreate for keeping friendship with Bengo, I can't expect everything will be taking cared by him, then my role is a burdon to him and I can't get rid of the bad habit of overly relying on others -- my fatal point.

my first time not to telling the truth to Eugenia, I only tell her I am going to take Zan meditation for 3 days, to me, this is the materpore of accomodate to, how I can see and learng from the future organization I am going to service and survivie.

if people see me from the talent of specturm, I am in the creative / service / trend spot end, how to make it work in the dark end? A very good lesson to take. not only adopt the Canon training and TOYOTO way of Kaizen, I should create value other than giving.

Changing from the midset, from the behabior and from the attitude, but not to abondan what others values you..

Like what A. mentioned -- not to be too vocal, too vocal, Language is the key to understand different culture, what JWW said,TAIWAN is going through another Culture Revolution, a debt to history, it will take 10 years, and we have another 2 years to go.

I am here

Am

Hey Pal

Yes. I did send my photo blog these days, but not text, too lazy and complain about the melfunction for my desk top at home - I need to get it repaired, really.

Headline news for today, by noon, Candy annouce her company - Alexzendar Health Club will temperory close immediately due to the incapable of support it's opperation financially. I receive the SMS from Sean, who I engaged year ago for providing scynological consultancy to Candy, I didn't think much but to send her a message : Gear Up, this is not the end, only a process in life. checking the web news after lunch with Lawson - his voice is up agian since the decesion of returning to Sony group was made, I feel happy for him. the webnews disclose limited information about Candy's press announcement, I knew she handle this difficulty for too long, mentally and phisically, it's time to call it an end, but how to reslove the complain from customer, members is the big challenge ahead. I arrange flower this afternoon, this is the least I can do, really. and I hope to chapter 11 is a good rescure to her. Wife called and inform me this news, what about the rights to the members? I asked her to join my preyer to Candy, but not to think of the rights for keep exercise. we do hope the storm will pass quickly.

Bengo and I had a 3 days interaction, very profound and very interesting, it may end up with my join a paper company in short.. Last Sat. we did the second presentation for the TREE WORKS project, I did it alone, with decent research and prepeartion, I think the presentaion win the trust and appreciation from Bengo, and our team members also. Bengo asked if I may attend the Sunday event - the Young Enterprenure International Campaign's 5th anniversly event. I said OK, then after the 2 hours event, we had a 30 minutes coffee and I agree to join LCPC as the country head in Taiwan-- my function is in a marketing angel to help LCPC transform to a top 3 company in the world for corruage packaging company and help to illustrate the future company. I really apprecaite Bengo's effort and trust and also the risk taking for inviting me for this new future. it keep me thinikng, I have the commitment to contribute and I will take all my energy to learn and to fit in the industry. Wife Bengo is very swift, she is right, Bengo called this morning by 11 am, to confirm my intention and my on board day. yes , there are lot of questions I should ask, but should I? if I have the confidence to learn and to contribute, why bother to ask, but to follow my heart this time ( or every time ), or do I need a crusition for this ? What complicate me is the future of csr Community and the settlement for those unsloved.

Until yesterdy, I didn't know that wife talking to my acsent on the attic everyday, because she has no one to talk to, but the silent ancent she respected, I feels so sorry for her, I am not the person she can even relax and rely. so, LCPC offer is nothing but an important milestone for me. and for my family. I need to learn how to perform the best and be the appropriate person too. Bengo is much more experience than me in the jungle, and in his industry, I will and should come up with value / added value for the company and for Bengo, I wish the combination is a win win situatiion, again, to cote on what he say over the phone : this is the venture we both take and we take the same risk as well. he asked me not to be so stressed. I know I must return to the person I familar, creatvie, confidenct, integrity and hoping for global outreach. thsi is me, Roger, and I am willing to take LC with me this time.

Young Entreprenuship Inernational is a pet project from Paul - after the traumma he encouted yeara ago - one of his partner fauid and take away billion of customer deposit, this didn't fail him, networking save him and Ephoh is the new initative to shap his future, YEI is an elite help elite program, from the 5 years performacne presentation, I can see clear how the elite trying so hard to bridge the young talent, but too many entrprenure business plan competition, to little room for new entreprenuet to be success in Taiwan, this is a catch 22 now, but Youth is your asset, no doubt.

Do I love Tree, Yes, but do I love paper industry? well, I don't know, I don't have time for any career rationale judgement but to go with the flow and to take what my wife advise - I can't afford to let her down, worring about me every moment every day. 2 years on the road. the drifting is long enough.

Now is a hot potato : how to convey the big change with my Key Stakeholders : csr Community / Mr. Harold Han / Key account who helps us and me....

Advacne Tech foundation found me, or Morgan - the executive recruiter found them, I was connected by the foundation today, Morgan told me last week that my Brand / Marketing expertise may connected with ICT industry big shop, because go branding is a very important stategy to take, and Taiwan is on the cross road again..and Morgan mark his word and I get the appointment tomorrow evening. browsing the major task and theme the foundation do, accidentaly I discovered the sudden pass away of it's formal CEO Mr. Su, he is the pioneer who lauch the debut business plan competition among campus 9 years ago, from the memories people wrote, I can sesne the lost of a good guy. no wonder, the foundation is hunting for new leaders. if there are choice between NGO and For Profit position, I will choose the for profit as I am not yet to be put aside as " Retired or Washing out "

Chu Chu - the president of Forest Primary School may success Luis Chen as the Chairperson of TBS , a surprise and not surprise to me, she is qualified and the eco-system may chance since. remember last Sunday, the 5th grade gathering at one of the family's bakery school. we spend the whole afternoon with bread / snacks and lot of talking, how nice to have school fellows like in Forest and how lucky Sound can grow and mature now.

Golden Camposs is not as good as I expected, however, it is a family reunion session for 4 of us, Fruit re-join family activity since this, although her level of patient running out after returning from Tamsui on Dec. 8th ( why I recall the date ? because this is the time radio news 98 broadcast my interviewing - with Mafan, we do had a good time on air - I will check his blog then )

Fail to do my house keeping for week, messing up, I need to get organised. really. and sending my resume to Bengo now...

Yef 5 anni

Very green info month

Best 2

Best ìn Wanhwa

CKS Status at Dashi

Cafe chimai

WBCSD 10 Year

Green Front

CHTF press

Soap Drama

I can't remember how long ago I was addicted to soap drama -- maybe never before, but I did today and the week before, tonight, by 9 sharp, I seat still in front of the Sony TV, watching the third episode of " Sung Mystic Criminal Case " - sorry for the plain translation, this is the soap drama draw my attendtion third week ago, and I never forget my happy Monday engagement with it - with my wife. how funny to addict to it?

Walked up to my room and recieved SMS from Nancy, I called her last Thursday for asking favor , a favor requested by Candy, not because I am her friend, but to save a female entreprenure's business career, so, I relay the message and asked for Coco's help - yes, Nacny response to me with a positive tone, I forward it to Candy and hope she can survive this crisis.

Taking the route 106 to Fulong beach, our first experience by mountain route, 106 to Shuang Shi and connected to Highway Number 2, we spend less than an hour on the road and reach the fulong beach, even we take a very flesh way to the beach we love, but we did the same old trick by buying 2 Fu Long lunch box - the price increase from 50 to 55 NT finally, cause we are wondering how long they can keep the price , and take the lunch box to She Cheng Resting Area, enjoy our lunch box and enjoy the sea view.

Manage to draft the csr Community 2008 goal - a one way goal wait for discussion with my colleage , however , the draft is for our discussion, I know everyone is working in hell but with the happy attitude, but I am willing to share with them the business goal we are going after, wife take her suana at Alexzenda, I was taking a seat at Mr. Brown cafe - for the convience of free wi-fi, spent 3 hours to finish my long awaiting blue print for 2008. the table next me is a middle age man - probabely at my same age, he made appointment with a few person - man and woman to deal with the worthern company financial situation, asked one not to cash-in the check, begging the other to take her house for morgage, Woo, this is very LIVE to me, how come very self-employee must facing the situation of looking for money? I don't know if he can make it today, but the table he taken seems to be a remote office to him, cause when those counter - negociator was gone, he will chat with the shop clerk, and they are familiar to each other, he even share with them his financial crisis.... so, as a stranger who listen to so many inside story of his business and secret. I don't know how to express it, I knew he knows, cause when nobody's there, he will share some of the attention to me - am I a target for lenting him money? this is crazy and I really hope the misearable day won't come to my world..

Wife took me to an eyeware company for making one new pair of glasses, I am happy, it cost some, and I am happy , very happy.

The GIO co-sponser Taiwan People on Discovery Channel run the story of Steve Chang - the founder of Trend Micro - wife is so picky about every shot Steve did at the documentary, I asked Why? so cute she is , response with : He is your competitor, well,veryone only have one life to live, choose whatever he or she likes, My wife - a bias supporter always.

Bengo's tree project cause my concerned, make it -- a great plan, break it -- may jerpodize our friendship, I am in a fifty - fifty dilime and need a well thought check before the second presentaiton - on Dec. 8th.

Diary of a CEO

2007/12/26

LC

2007/12/25

Dao Liu local

2007/12/20

China life CSR CEO

2007/12/17

LCPC day 2

LCPC enrollment Day 2007 Dec. 17

2007/12/16

First morning at LCPC

2007/12/15

YPO Xmas Party

2007/12/14

Learning from Forum Pals

2007/12/11

I am here

2007/12/10

Hey Pal

2007/12/09

Yef 5 anni

2007/12/05

Very green info month

2007/12/04

Best 2

Best ìn Wanhwa

CKS Status at Dashi

Cafe chimai

WBCSD 10 Year

2007/12/02

2007/11/29

Green Front

CHTF press

2007/11/26

Soap Drama

Previous Posts

Archives