Diary of a CEO

Reading associated press's report on world population is a shock to me, 1.2billion of our work population ( one fifth ) is between the age of 10-19 and half of them live in poverty dealing with AIDS an poor issue. this is why during the dinner when everyone forecast the future in developing country is to match with what we see already developed countries ,or so to speak, the western modernization. if the growth of youth are in poor situation and suffering from the disease, the issues ahead from us shall not be buying a good and rich land grow the grape and brew the wine, this worried me......

posted by Roger @ 10/11/2003 12:19:00 下午

I am in HK airport lounge now, to sum up my last few days in Shanghai is like back to the old days, a few things can be marked, Let's me list them down below:
1. Met with Vivian in the HK airport and met Michael there, continue a dinner with Michael then follow the second round seeing Shao and Daniel were bonus to me, 2 long lost friend in the entertainment industry, Daniel used to work in China as the representative to the company , when the company set up it's own operation, he left and establishing his own vent, Shao is our guild to the entertainment world in China, whenever there's artist visit / tour / holding event in Shanghai , Beijing, Shao is the best guild to the trendy scene in this 2 metros, it's really a small world, talk drinking until wee hours, this is like back to the old days. Antonio accompany throughout the course.
2. the greeting to TMSK -- the sub-brand of Newmanwork and visit Director Chang and Miss Yang is a great experience, introduced by Peter, I brought Ben and his wife to the restaurant, we've been treated like the real VIP, fusion cuisine with great ambience, new Chinese folk music combine with light and southands of crystal glass; the New Manwork is the global brand new for crystal glass from China, Director Chang who was the prestigious movie director turn to the new business 10 more years ago and develop the new career represent the " New China " TMSK is a fusion place , mixed with all kinds of experience, east meet west is only a small part, Director Chang himself is an artist who we respect very much, the cuisine designed by Peter -- GM of the restaurant was excellent, music supervised by Peter Change definitely will improved day by day, the late coming friend -- Mr. Su who was the writer famous for traveling writing share his how to play and travel with us in person, this is like the " Master Class ", the dinner and talking last for 4 hours, we left by 11:30pm and thought of carry on the conversation next round.
3. met Tom twice and learn the mobile market scene, any new initiative here need time and space, it will never be the case to sit overseas and learn what's going on here, push and reaction is the working model in China, they don't really develop the motivation to work and perform correctly, so, it take a lot of effort to educate co-worker.
4. Harvest for DVDs, especially for the European films from varies critical acclaimed film award, it will ultimately enrich my spirit and love for the movie.
5. Identify one new restaurant -- the Jessie restaurant, one of the best Shanghai cuisine I ever had. so great. and knows where to stay next time -- Western Garden Hotel recommend by Miss Yang shall be the place I go, and to check the restaurant Ding ding mentioned is on my next visit list.

I am more and more into China now, keep the monthly visit pace is a good way to explore and grow the knowledge about China.

posted by Roger @ 10/11/2003 12:14:00 下午

Interviwing with Common Wealth bi-monthly magazine is kind of fun, the subjet they design for the coming issue is " Meeting revoluiton ", it focus on how the enterprize revamp meeting to cope with the fast pace buisness environment, again, I thinks I win the jourist's heart, before closing the interview, she asked my backgroud and surprise to know that I was from entertainment and now leading a high tech / IT / Internet entity; I do hope the history won't repear itself, as least, I shall not looking back, no matter how I miss the music days, I can still enjoy music, but no longer put myself to the business.

posted by Roger @ 10/08/2003 10:17:00 下午

On the road again, taking the 7:45 am flight to HK, I have to wake up by 5:20, flight to Shanghai is so inconveniince, if there's a direct flight, then the rout will limit to 2 hours. via HK then, it will take 5 more hours to Shanghai. I met V. Chen at HK airport lounge again, the coincicent happend twice and they all happened at the international airport; on the plane, I read through all the Chinese manazine and collect English magazine as ususal, I rationalize it as the " Business Class fair inclusive ", the the plane landed at Putong airport, 2 old friend pop up in front of me, Michael, a record executive who is now in charge of China for another multi-national record company. and Direct Wang Sheng-Stu who recently produced our TV commerical in Taiwan. chat with Michael and found he is still exciting in the music industry and seems very happy to see me.

Crusing DVD market and collect most of the Europend films. as the Europe film is seldom to see in Taiwan, the less expensive collection rich my film collection and enlarge my imaginaiton about the movie, the habit devleoped , then it's pretty hard to get rid of, collect 50 something DVD, it will accompany me and my wife for a good year.

The Shanghia rib restaurant re-opened at the food street, I remember my last visit is around early Sep. at that time, revonation is under going, if I am right, when I plan to check it out, that's the day the renovation take place, I was so disappointed then, but today, it reopen again, the renovation is speedy enough, as usual, I order the E set menu, a bean curb soup, one noodle, pickled cumcuber and the deep flier rib; the noodls today is too salty, and the rib is too samll, taste remain the same, but the satisfaction didn't reach the same level.

posted by Roger @ 10/08/2003 10:12:00 下午

Every 3 month, we will conduct a strategic meeting , the purpose for the meeting is to setting the quarterly goal and missions based on the voices we heard from our customers -- among them are employees, customers, share holders; we take the 6 SIGMA as the guidance to draw the fishbone chart, and then break down to sub-item which we named " Concurrent Engineering Diagram " by doing so, all the managers gathering for a day and go over issues related to the company goal; this time , no exception but I urge everyone to honesty tell the truth, so the discussion drag for 2 hours and the meeting couldn't ended by 9 pm.

I left the meeting venue earlier to catch up the dinner arranging by one of my EMBA classmate, at the dinner, met with few people in different industry, Jimmy is the one who I am interested is, he joined one of the media group when returning from his study aboard ( before going aboard, he was the chief editor of one of the 2 major business diary newspaper ), then acquired by another media group, according to him, his role is to drive the group to PLC, I heard a lot about him through one of my best friend's son who happen to be associated with him at the first media group; I am very curious to know how a company can trust a person in such a high ranking position developing his own business by exercising the company resource; to me who worked in multinational company for 15 years, this is amazing; I don't like the way he sneak other people, simply a gut feeling.

Read the article about the Heineken story and the person who brought up the ownership at the 30's and surviving from a kidnapped but remain optimistic to life; now the brewer going global and the hero is no longer in the world.

posted by Roger @ 10/06/2003 11:55:00 下午

Friday night is another EMBA night, hosting classmate pick up one hot spring restaurant located in Pei-Tu -- the hot spring area near northern Taipei, as usual, gathering create momentum, when seeing each other, food is not the subject, a little wine and chatting all over the place is the main show, we were party until 10 pm. I took the MRT back to Ching May together with 2 other classmates, on the train, I saw a girl watching me and smile to me, I don't remember seeing her before, then I know we do met before, this is a surprise coincidence, I gave her the new business card and keep the discretion of calling me.

Saturday is a busy day, we change our ping pong Saturday routine from afternoon to morning, one reason because of the J-classes is finished, the other reason is we may save more time for our family activity; Sam won the second round Champaign, he owes everyone a " Squid rice noodle feast ", this is the rule, the winner buying the meal for everyone.

I invited A. for lunch after heard that she will return from UK, she resign and pursue academic study abroad 1 year ago, thanks for her facilitation which made me transfer to the telecom / internet industry smoothly, unfortunately, when develop dialogue with her during our Tepenyaki lunch, I am a little disappoint about her change, I found her to rely on others and don't aware of bothering people wasn't a pleasant experience for everyone; this is purely a courtesy to buy her lunch, not to share the same spirit, well, I shall do it at least once.

Met with Yu at Regent Hotel for Sauna, when I knew that he didn't come along for 5 months, I am really surprise, as this is a good way for him to enhance the body circulation and keep him associated with the society; but , with no motivation, he keep himself in a attic in his apartment, doing radio show, gospel song program and reading bible all the time, no TV, no newspaper, no outside contact, for me, this is isolation and wasn’t a good sign for a man of 60, today, he told me that the sun shining on his heart again, I feel happy for him and invited him for th Busna Vista concert on next Tuesday, he accept it, the good thing I did tonight is chat with an old friend, went for an intimacy event and go for sharks fin dinner, on top of that, the Fukennes dialect translation of "Won't give you up " and " won't get rid of you " is totally difference, it's a 180% direction, this is so close, if I don't correct him this time, the hatred may glow and the family will facing enormous risk

Enjoy another DVD at home with wife, this is a German film talking about Love and Murder, the scene design and story / character were great. My wife seems enjoy it a lot.

posted by Roger @ 10/05/2003 01:11:00 上午