Another early leave on Friday, different from before, before, my wife will pick me up from the office, and we go from there to a dinner or enjoy new showing movies; this Friday, it was the family gathering, we go for a quick dinner -- I bring kids to a local dim sum restaruant and ordered the sticky rice cake; my wife waiting us as the therater where we are going to see the " Harry Porter 3 " -- we pick the Mandarin dubbed film in order for the kids to understand, well, it's a so so film, maybe becaurse of the fashion, you have to be a pilgram. kids were happy, notheing great then go to movies and forget the homework.
Saturday morning, when wife drove me to the sports club, we were talking about the outing in the afternoon, we plan to drive the Lexus to Diaoliu and stay overnight, the following day to visit my father who owns an orchid and live there once in a while, cause I have a pluse to visit the White Horse Temple the other day, we were thinking takeing the opportunity, we may visit it as well; it was a wonderful planning until I finishing playing ping pong, I don't feel like going anymor, the journey is long, and my wife need to drive round trip for more than 7 hours, kids have no place to run..... so I quick the idea of taking this trip.
of course, kids were disappoint, but I didn't change my mind back again, at night, we went out for dinner, I manage to find a famous old Shanghainese restaurant in Shimengting area, it was located in front of Chung Shang Hall and it established for more than 50 years, for consective 2 weeks, we were eating in old reastaurant, I told my wife if we begin to appreciate European movie and enjoy eating in old / legent restauraant, it means we are getting old; the intepretation may be right; we suppose to go to another artistic movie, as the window it too long, we finished our dinner by 7:00 pm and the showing time is 9 pm, we decided to go home and pick one europen moive from my collection. tonight, we began the red wine treatment, we take it as good medicine to the heart, so I bought 24 half-bottle red wine, and I am planning to drink them on weekend with my wife.
I feel very sleepy these days, COO asked me to arrange another follow up meeting with Chiarman of the dominate carrier; his pushing ambition sometime lays a uncomfortable feeling to co-workers, moniter on every detail may bring the results, but to text every one's limit required a smart understanding of human behavior; the oter way around, if we don't have a very demanding COO, we may stuck in current situation and getting no where, this is a text : set a higher stander, you may reach the normal achievement. I don't know and I have no idea what's the limit of the Chairman.
In order to follow 21 days rule, I make an erlier blog this aftenoon, acturall, blog is for you to free writing anything anytime, the lunch with Miss Lin is interesting, she had a strong personality and direct the topic to totally business enviroement, well, which is fine with me as I have no other intention, it seems that I gave her a homework and she is preparing to attend the examination, as we are talking while eating, the topic can't be so rigid, graduatley, we come to a pool of thinking the possibility for new business model, new ideas and new world, this gave her a new aspect to me, as I am not in line with other ISP executive -- maybe this is my weakness point -- no teconology background, but my dream and strategic thinking moved her, so, III -- her institution entity would like to conduct a monthly base think tank session in our software park.
Eagles seems go alive, hope everything is great.
Trying to catch up my 21 days of routine; as I am too tired last night, when having shabu shabu with my wife, we went home at 9:45 pm, then I slept on the sofa, it's like 2 hours later, wife woke me up, I walk up the stair and take a quick shower, then, reaching my bad immediately, the good night sleep keep me away from all the works, including the blog documentary.
yesterday, I fly to Chayi for a " summer music festival " event presentation, I was invited as the judge for choosing the company who bid for this campaign, fly a long way there ( this is the first time I took airplane to Chayi ) and stay for less than 2 hours, the event in Chayi is quiet interesting, in a county like Chayi, to host an Asian event is not so easy, as a music festival trying to reach as many participant as possible, the demographic of Chayi didn't prove to be an idea hosting county; how to drive local resident to attend ( the highest rate for citizen older than 65 )and appreciate Asian music and attract tourist ( the accommodation is a question ) and to be heard, these uncertainly seed the lower performance expectation from my view point. But, it doesn't matter, local government try to place themselves in a bigger seat and to be seem in a higher ground, when talking with the chief of " art and culture promotion dept. ", he told me to promote art in Chayi is difficult not only culture need decent time to change and educate, but the performance of art and culture are not well appreciated by politicians as it is an intangible assets, to compare the hardware development such as building bridge, park , museum, festival is a different approach, the dept. head have been a government official for 18 years, when graduate from university, he passed the entry examination for working in governmental entity and according to him, he was the youngest dept. head before,he was promoted to dept. head by the age of 29, this is a tremendous achievement when working in governmental body, but he hold the same position for next 12 years, until now. I can't image 18 years of working in public sector, but he seem to enjoy his life.
Recruiter didn't response yesterday, although I know the answer and preparing my " reaction speech "., but they didn't call, well, I don't mind. This is not what sure concern me and I should not put it on top of my agendas.
Finishing reading the book " Perfect Career ", I like Max, the way he lead and paraphsing his idea through writing, I am going to place order today, buying some of his books.
This is the second day that I handling all the business activity out of the office, thanks to the GPRS access to internet, I manage to retrieve all the mail and message with no fail; advance communication technology realy pay off when you become the mobile groups; in the early morning, I went to the " Taiwan Business Leaders' Forum ", through Michael's arrangement, I enjoy this once in a month training / educational seminar in Sherwood and making myself to a totally English environement, I need it hungry as now I don't have Foreign colleage to talk with and I am not into the global issus actively.
the morning session if dealing with the Asian ecomonic forecast, speaker from Singpore and his predition for global and Asia is positive, as he mentions 3G ( US, Eurpoe and Japan ) all recovered from the resession, the global economice climate shall be healthy for the next few years, numbers and figures full of the presention slide, it help to understand the meaning of figures but the side effect is it bring me headache.
I was invited by Rotery Taipei Lungman branch as guest speaker for their lunch gathering, I was invited by other branch before, so, I am familiar with the rules they follow, a weekly gathering is too much,really, how can business man get together every week and in addition to the regular gathering, sub-group will conduct varies activities, then, you need to join some interest group, by the end, you find yourself drawn in the social activities, terrible, YPO make me feel too much already, how can Rotery members can stay so long and keep the hundred years traditions. as I told myself, once routine develop to the habit, people lost the interest of excitement and passion, so, I understand half of the listener will falling asleep and I understand they won't be interested in the topic I brought to they, but " the best way to learn is to teach ", I value every training opportunity, so I am happyly convey my presentation and enjoy the lunch in Grand Hotel; before lunch, I take the opportunity of visiting Grand Hotel and buy on box of red bean cake -- it is Madamn Chiang's favorite desert, accoording the the flyer, she ate it even in her 100's.
afternoon session is the " knowing each other " meeting, I bring Jean to see Mr. Yu, Jean bring her investing group to show up, it was nice, I didn't know if this marriage will go on, but I think the combination is good enough to handle Eagles Live in Taipei, hopefully, the match maker role I paly satisfy both party.
with the speaker's reward, I bought myself a pair of new sport shoe, it is make of leather and I am so sure this is a great tool for my ping pong playing, then I change the plastic rubber to Striver G2 Max, yes, this is a very professional approach, today, I am the champaign and I win most of the games.
tomorrow, I will be in CharYi for the summer music fesival bid , I am invited to act as the judge , it's a long journey -- geogrofically, so I have to take the airplane....
Taking the opportunity of picking up Chairman last night, I talked with COO about the company trip this year, I do believe incentive is essential for motivation, he favor my idea, we may pick Okinawa as the site for farewell committe to choose, COO join me in picking up Chairman is for briefing him the meetings scheudled today and would like to provide him the topic and position before the negociation take place. on the way to Hotel, all I can hear is the back and forth discussion of a lot of things -- all in Japanese, I fall asleep , I was home late.
this morning, the meeting engagement start from 9:00 am, I brough foreign visitors to Japanese Exchange Assosication -- a non official ambassdor in Taiwan, since the deputy will join us to MOT, as a tradition, we need to brief to them before, the conversation last for 40 minutes, I was blined as well -- it's in Japanese.
the MOT meeting is a shock to all the guests, the presure comes when the deputy raised the issue of unfair compeititon and the potential of escalate it to WTO, the Vice Minister's face turn green, he is so upset and response with 2 strong stand : first, if there is a Taiwanese firm facing the same problem in Japan, will a equivelent position in the goverment body will raise his hand and volunterly solve their problem ? second is if everything followed by the procesure, then he can easily assign a dept. head to act as the contact window and won't care about the development of our situation, he is so angry -- well, the duputy of Japanese Exchange Assocaiton is speachless, he didn't expect the " role " he perform on behalf of us will create such a tubulance; we were speechless as well, I knew that we are pushing too much and pushing too hard. this might be the last chance to see Vice Minister in person in next few months.
Ting Tai Fong is good, but I don't think the delegation are in the good mood, after the accident happened in the morning, the Japanese colleage is thinking how to solve our problem and how to send our gratitude to the Deputy who sort of taking all the blame on behalf of us. I told them if the commercial negocaition mixed with political terms, then is will be very complicate, I enjoyed the crab egg dumpling, the pork rib flied rice and chicken noodle soup. we had coffee next door after the quick lunch.
No high hope for meeting with the dominate carrier, surprisingly, Chairman of this carrier reaching out his hand and trying to save us from the drowning situation; he win all of our respect during the almost 2 hours discussion, he involved himself in details and figure our what's the best practice to handle it; he said it a few times that I am " very effective ", and willing to invite my opinion, I think I deliver a decent and appropriate statement , this is what I said : I am not a foreign investor, I am only the local employee of this company, what concerned me is how to provide job secuity for 300 local staff who have a dream to pursue the world of internet, I wish they can work happily and fulfill the goal they set. I can't be too harsh or too tough, initatilly, I don't want to say anything, but as Chairman asked my opinion, I need to speak up.
attending the YPO rehearsal at Mint -- the lounge bar which were famous by the unexpecting VIP Michael Jordan's visit 10 days ago; YPO book this venue for kick-out party on the 12th, I am helping to locate the performing artist ( thanks God, we have a guitarist ), I promise the Lady chairman to be in the rehearsal with the artist, this is the first time I met Greg, the feeling is good.
dinner at Flesh Fish -- it doesn't disappointing anyone again, Chairman and foreign visitors rank it the best restaurant in Taiwan, this is the first time our manager obtain the opportunity to have meal with him, this is a wonderful night, now, I am thinking of stay, stay longer, I can't betray the people who work with me and belive I am the one guiding their future and point out our direction, if I join our competitor, then the nightmare will come and I will never be a decent person anymor.
the keep the 21days rule is not easy, I am trying to let it happen.
Lunch with Singtel at Shaing palace, I don't treat it like another interview, but to enjoy a casual meal with a telecom expert and executive, as I am easy and calm, he talked more than I response, when touch upon the issue of " why I consider the position " and " Who they are looking for ? , I send a message of " what they should looking for is an executive with concrete telecom back ground ", I think he understand what I means, so, to me , this is a farewell to the offer, recruiter follow the step and call me, they inform me the final decision will be made by this Thursday, I have the answer in my heart already, I am not hope for any news, Harold's opinion echoes to what my wife said, don't be insulted before the offer, otherwise, you will be insulted for the entire tenure; as I am free to choice who I am working for, I shall keep this precious moment to digest what I really want.
Harold is always the inspiration to me, try to catch what he said like : thinks in 10 years from now, not only 3 years, looking for China but with an uniform which everyone recognized; finding the niche to provide your service, then fame or fortune will come; public media is a political position in Taiwan as well, be a entrepreneur someday. The PBS potential is not in line with what he mentioned, but, shall I telling the white lie.. Do I follow my heart or do I follow someone else's?
He urge me to integrate my " everything " and be the leader in business world. I bring the pine apple cake for him, me and my wife bought from Keelung yesterday, he likes it, the quarterly mental shower rich my soul, yes, the direction is open, don't be too stupid to look for answers, this is the reflection of mirrow, in the end, you have to control your own destiny.
They changed the tone and attitude toward the neigociation with Carrier last night, the reason is we don't comfortable of presenting the beef before the " fair treatment " in place, the other factor is, we can't really leverage the parent company's resources as freely as possible; if network business initiative become the unpopular item and don't win the eye balls from the HQ, then what we did may all in vain.
Japanese colleague have it's priviliage, they come / learn / transfer / go, if the service business experience is important to them, they learn it in hardway, but they may transfer to other business entity and climb the corporate ladder as usual, but the domestic employee who devoted their everything here may suffer if change of the policy or change of the mentality; this is why I raise my hand for the IPO approach, this will provide a new hope for talent people in our company and make believe that they are doing the right thing, you may then keep instruct them to do the thing right.
Singtel want to see me , this is like a Panda arrived in new city , a lot of strangers want to see you in the zoo, Panda don't speak, probably they can think, but I can , do I need to rush preparing the " tech knowledge " in order to cosmetic my worried about the " technology shine ", I would rather to take this opportunity much easier, if " making a different " is what they expect from me, then, this is fine, if " making an improvement " is what they searching for, then , I don't see a good reason to check my background so many times. I like Alex, this give me a good reason to change my schedule and to accommodate their wish.
I love the book Max Eggert wrote -- The Perfect Career, I thinks this is a timeless work he made for modern day people, logic, systematic, organized and easy to read, I love the phases he quote, even quote his own word, " 21 days " to complete a routine or habit is what I learned last week, I shall keep blog for continually 21 days before I tell anyone I developed a new habit , I am thinking to buy other of his books, I will check it now in Amazon.
Last Saturday, Ping Pong exercise is so in tense, Sam and I were tie for so many round, in the 5 round 3 wins game rules, I lost the first 2 round so many set, but to fight and wind back the last 3 round and win the final set happened many times, Sam told me this deal nothing with the skill but will; I agree, whenever I took new assignment or new business, I will make it best before moving somewhere else; C. told me that recently her friend sign up our ADSL service more and more, she feel proud and I feel excited. I am ready to take up another challenge.
Turbulence occurred after the lunch with Jean, I almost pass the torched of " emotion and logic " when the PBS opportunity proposed in front of me; as my wife is so against the idea of my considering taking this dramatic career switch, she told me, this is the interpretation of " Retire in early " or " Withdraw from the business battle filed " and this message represent it that way; I am not so sure if her opinion is right, but I value her weights whenever making decent decisions; I thought the up and down of my mind will last less than 24 hours, as I briefing told 2 of my classmate and they are sore of favor my wife's comments ( or instinct ), it coming back when Jean told me her opinion about it, she strongly convince me to accept it, she told me this is once in a life time opportunity, no matter how I set my goal to take it on 50 or not, it may not knock on my door by my 50th, and advise me the " Public Platform " is much greater than any private sector, this experience will ultimately help me transfer to a larger scale of media executive position in next few years, because I need the training in other media arena and PSB service this purpose for me, I can easily ride on it and take full speed and be the greatest PBS executive ever; I told my wife at night, it seems she don't want to response immediately, she had a dream to emigrate somewhere in the near future and making room for free air, making herself in the environment without surveillance shadow and to breathe the flesh air of " living with her own family ", my swift career to stay longer in Taiwan will break her dream, even it is only a dream, by to take the PBS offer will definitely need me to stay in the island for another 4 years, since I make an appointment with my meteor Harold, I need his honesty advise on Monday, will I lie to my wife if Harold ask me not to take the PBS offer ? I don't know, my heart keep telling me this is my final destination.
I understand the process of applying for this position take time and take risk, I am not 100% confidence about the lobbying party who plan to escalate me to the position, I am not sure if the challenge is clear and all director in the board share the same vision as well, as I know it once I accepted it and it approved by Executive Yang, then I will lose my private life little by little and I will measure my life in different rule and think bigger ,think others, think people in Taiwan and think deep. tonight I elaborate this subject with my wife again, she didn't react so emotional this time, I told her if everything goes as the lobbying group planed, then I will pursue doctoral degree in the PBS tenure.. the idea of working in PBS is firmament and the it influence me little by little.
Last Friday, wife pick me up after work, we went for the movie " The day after tomorrow ", I knew this is a disaster movie and knew there must be some human point in between, yes we know the earth will divesting and we know human being will no longer existing, but we don't know when and we don't know how, the glory of human nature is the light helping us gone through all the difficulty, I brought my wife to this Hollywood typical " Genre movie " is because I was depress for about a week, the thing to cheer me up is to know " we will all die someday ", then no problem I should eat and no frustration I should not overcome.
Saturday evening, we bring the family to the old restaurant " Silver Wing ", the restaurant establishing for half century, we order a lot of food, I was thinking of the " Crispy Duck " for a week since I had it last week, I can't forget the philosopher said " those who eat for a living is wise man, live for eating is fool " I shall be in top of the fool notch, but I can't help enjoy good meal in varies occasion. went home earlier, before Sound's TV time, mother and son have a big quarrel again, this time, the emotional level raise up to what I can't ignore, but it also reflect to a buried memory that was the days when I have a big fight with my wife, the game we play is repeated in front of us; I smiles when saw they fighting the same way , after this , I told my wife what I see and why I laughs, it glue the relationship much quicker, the reward is a family DVD time - we watch the Discovery special " Future animal " ( this is a wrong title, I make it up to finish my writing ), it deal with the future animal and species when the earth in no longer a place for human beings and how it developed in 500 m and 1000 millions after.
Sunday is a Sun day, we bring the little one to a Keelung / Coast Highway trip, eat sea food and watch a lot of seas; after it, I brought my wife to a second run movie " Runaway Jury ", this is my second time saw it, I saw it before on the airplane, as I know this story will satisfy my wife, so, we did again, of course, she didn't know that I watch it already.
next week will be another week battling with Dominate carrier, Chairman of the board flying over on Monday night for the negotiation, we scheduled meetings with governmental body and with the carrier, I believe we have a strong case, but I know the triumph will not come so soon, I am in between -- between Taiwanese and Japanese, I don't have a solid ground to prove anything.
Steve Vai sponsorship confirmed, I like Space -- the promoter and I like Steve, hope he recall the memory that we present him a PIPA as a souvenir when he made his first visit to Taipei.
Reconnected with C. over the phone, she win her degree from Beijing University, it's been a long time since she got married and so on... I need to asked her about th PSB,I need to talk to her.
