Diary of a CEO: 05/15/2005

2005/05/21

Angel

Yes, you are my angle, let me speak to you; I want to share, I want to make you feel, and I want you to know exactly how much I feel; in this world, in this life, we are identical, identical in the mind and in the soul, in the way we observe the world goes round, in the way we experience pain and sorrow.

Yes. you are my angle, with no wings, you can't fly, but you can still take me away from where I am; you are the priority on top of any priority, with a smile , with a heart throbe, I can feel, yes, I can; I never see you laugh, I never see you cry, I am only one of them, those who treat you as their angel, the private angle of their own; no one's superior, no ones' higher up; you are the only perosn who knows who you are guardian; or maybe you make it no difference because angle can be everywhere, can be anywhere , and can help anyone.

Yes. your are my angel, you don't have to admit it, cause I won't let you know your are THE angle, no question, answer don't exsited; you are my angle, until the day, the day I can't even dream about angle, think about angle.

It's deep, so deep, you can't really tell why Angle is so important to me, why she have to be my angle; man need what kind of shouders to cry on? only wings can help, only wings can help. no matter its invisible or not; there's wings somewhere in his heart, shadow of angles somewhere in his mind; he will always playing innocent, always behavior like a child, because he is infront of an angle, in front of his angle.

Yes. you are my angle, my angle, my only angle. you know who you are, Angle know who she is.

Brave and Courage.

From the TV news the day before and last night, I witness and follow the story of bankrupcy of " Cha-Chin Health Club "; the dramatic story reflect to a few impression which I would like to touch upon, and these element will circle around " Brave " -
the bankrupcy of this 29 years old history health club was due to over-expension and non-efficient cash flow management - the major contributor to the falling of any corporation; this is no exception. what touched me is when the news highlight the son of the owner standing still in the center of its Flagship shop - the 101 store, those angry employee who were mad and losting control of their behavior, yell and shouted at him, not to mention in the end, one very mad employee approching him and taking his neck by 2 hands, she had the intention to strangler the young man. and he stand still, no bad face, no bad talk and no back up; news repeatly hightlight this episode, I am impressed about this young man, taking all the blame from her mother and facing this uncomfortable situation alone with calm and mature manner -- This is one angle to observe " Brave "

His mother show up by 4 am in the morning, joined with her son, they take a deep bow and show their apology to the employee -- all of them didn't receive their pay check for 3 months, some of them even lent their money to Teacher Tsai - they used to be respected founder of Cha-chi and now being accused as a liar. His son stand still with her mother, holding her hand so tight, mother said, she's being watching the news and checking the development and then decided to turn herself to the angry audience. -- the second phase to check " Brave "

Taipei City Government - Labor and Social Section conduct a meeting for the empolyer and employee for a day, the meeting break up after first 4 hours of negociation, employee asking owner to announce the bankrupcy of the entire businee and to shut down the last resort - 101 Flagship shop immediately, in order for them to claim the unemployment conpensation from City Government'; Teacher Tsai resist to do so, she want to hold on to the last land and to consider a come back in the future, she won't surrender even under such a pressure. a spirit of entreprinureship - never give up, this is the third angle to watch " Brave " - she didn't committe suicide, in the process of negociation, she still calling all the friends, associates asking for immediate cash injection, to solve the urgent problem. all the effors were in vain, she must losing all her credit now.

Lessons from this ture and vivid story : cosmetic your business will lead you to a land with no return; borrowing money from your employee who trust you is the least thing executive should do; over-expension is the killer for man / woman with ambition; never over-estimate the political-relationship you build if you were a pure business man.

Now let's go to the courage part : RAY band release their debut albume on May 20th, they promises to their fans on the day President Chen making his anniverserly speech, with be the day their album born; they keep their promise and Yan overcome a lot of obstacle in the process of making one albume - from production, promotion to distribuiton.

in the night of album lauch, I asked my wife buy me a bunch of flowers, I wish to present my wish with flowers to him, to show my respect and my friendship to an old friend of mine; the lauch party took place in a tiny little pub call " River side ", by 10:00 pm, my wife drove me to the front door of the pub, I walked in with the big flower on hand, the packed audience look at me, how come an mid-age man carring flowers to this " Young crowded party ", they must have lots of question in their mind, when Yan sing his first song after the opening insturment, I walked up to the stage and present him with the flower, the surprise did surprise him, I am not taking this action for surprise him, but to do something I want to do, my heart beat faster, breathe get intense and I am a little bit nervous, this is my first time to present flower to someone on stage, this is courege - for both of us , he live in his believe and perform his belive in the way he believe; I equipped myself with a pleasant I seldom take and exercise my emotion in the way I seldom make; I did stay long, after presenting the flower and his short speach on stage, I walked out the door - I didn't belong here, or I should not be here alone. I can feel those young strange eyes watch my back and they didn't know why I did it; I just want to do it.

The educational session for new Chairman of the Taiwan operation went smoothly, before the presentation, I told him that we have quality of time, this is the last session in the evening of Friday evening, We were not in a hurry to finish the presentaion, then I can tell he is nervous, my physological approch tactic works; we have a lunch appointment on Sat. with the head of music company, when told him I choose another fish restaurant for him, he didn't moved, after the meeting, he came to me and whisper to my ear asked if we may change it to " Dim Sum " What ? an adventure person and culture appricator can't stand to have 2 seafood, this is one month away from our first meal already, and he just can get away from it; or he prefer to be in-control?

Lunch was good, I didn't talk much, he is the explore, he do all the asking, head of music company respone to him and guild him through the music industry in Taiwan', I can feel A. is pretty tired and he must perform some eyelid surgery, I can see the cuts in his upper eyelid - for rejuvilization or for health reason or for the outlook? I am not sure; didn't want to go anywhere, straigh home; wife was not expecting me to be home so earlier, well, I need to prepare for the big night tonigh, one of my colleage is getting marry and I was invited to be the witness person at the wedding ceremony; a honor you can't ignore; I worte down what I plan to say and will leave it as one sovirnier to the bridge and Gron.

COO will stay one night at Spring Park Resort tonigh, calling the GM - considerable a good friend of mine to prepare one bottle of good red wine for the couple; this is what a friend for, don't forget to return the favor on Monday.

A lot of issue wait for next mangement committe, a long debate discussion is expecting. this is how we worked in corporate - make your point, make your presece and make your day - not someone elses' day.

2005/05/20

Corporate Culture Shock

Attending E. company senior management meeting yesterday evening, I was asked to act as the consultant in the first place, thus check if the adapatability is high to fit in the executive chair; Chairman of the company is Forum member, he urge me to take this post for varies reasons, but to be honest, none of the reason was created in my page; as a ferternity, I tried to help with my limited experiece in on line travelling business yet my rich experience in running a company; I devoted 2 hours a week to conduct interactive session with their senor staff.

I was invited to sit in the monthly closing / weekly update meeting , this is my second time to sit on the meeting, the difference is : I see more naked truth and identify a few problem areas; the meeting without Chairman in presence really help me to dig more, I will list down what I saw from the meeting:

1. The monthly meeting begin with the financial report -- it clearly demostrate the top management's will to chase figures as their priority; well, the numbers shows the company was not in a very healthly shape. they are lucky to identify 2 killer product in April : Domestic Peng Hu group tour and the Internatioan Palau Package ( the exclusive line they own )
2. Recuriting in Call / Sales combine staff was smoothly; the sales result were directly impact on shortage of manpower - to be more specific ; the experiece manpower and they didn't figure out a better way to handle it.
3. Consistancy :
- the meeting insturtion wasn't follow through in every meeting, they didn't open a " Action / Action follow up " meeting to trace what's been insturcted from previous meeting.
- No standerdize KPI : Whenever the chairman change or the foucs swift, their measurement changes; from service to product to marketing, the performacne indicator was set or only set in the head of dept.
4. In depth understanding of business : although numbers talk, but whenever finding or research / analysis bring to the table, the analytical point wasn't challenged.
5. Reporting flow : this is the fact happen in almost all the company, the organization chart doesn't reflect the 100% corrent reporting and operation.

For what I am surprise is the culture of talent raid; they belive - I mean the top management believe to raid the talent from compeitior will get things done easily, I am not favor in this approach, people come and go for the same reason and for the same incentive, if you treat it this way, in return, they will equally treat you that way, then the healthy corporate culture will be hard to stay

Reading the business plan or proposal is easy, to participate on the management meeting is the fun part, you compare the paper and the action and you compare it with your own operation and your own experience, I think I can perform as an excellent consultant. I enjoy learning and observation.

2005/05/19

Don't Try My Patient

I raised my voice and said it twice : Don't try my patient; when chair the operation team trasfer meeting yesterday afternoon, I was upset, the reason why it may me angry ? because I saw 2 department wasting time in trivaial and minor issue, debating on what function should be transfer and why? this task of transfer some funtion from one department to another last for 2 months, this is totally waste of company resource; the internal confrontation in such an attitude reduce the overall productivity; I hate this and really worried about people building the glass wall between department, it getting serious and serious; that's why I am so angry, the only resource we need is speed, but this task drag for 2 month, it shows that we don't sence the urgency of speed and efficiency, if the wall can't tear down, then I don't see the future in this company.

Another surprise finding when conducting the welcome talk; V. the newly on board assistant to one director honestly told me she is facing the serious communication problem between her supervisor; she didn't express in purposely, I trigger her and asked her an open question in the very beginning of the conversation : How are you? how's your working relationship with C? Then she withhold , took a deep breath and told me, the communication wasn't good, my second question followed : Are you afraid of her ? she nod her head and say Yes, then she build up her body and told me how she feels in this new company and this new supervior, then I asked her what she going to do ? well, she said she will resign in a few days.

The newly promote division director is like a Tyrant to lots of people who worked for her,COO advise her about it couple of times, we send people to the 7 habbit class training, she is among the candidate;HR conduct assimilation to collect voices from her dept. and very high turn over last year and almost all the associate managers who reports to her resign, they make up their own reason to leave without hurting her feeling.

I need to find a way to couch her, find a way to let her know if she don't change the way she communicate with people, respect and value everyone in the world, this might be the end of her career, I am not saying she will be fired, but she will hardly find partner to share with and will be very lonely in the top hill, enjoy great dinner along and talking to the wind; I am not saying follow my foot print will make her great, but ... you know what I want to express. don't be too hush, don't be too hardship. don't be too crul. you never know who will help you in the end...

But, she taking care of K. so decent and nice, she had the tendency to perform lady's elegency, caring about people who work with her in deep trouble, so, How should I address this point? or this is the attribuiton of her personality, if this is the case, What should I do? and What should I say? she build the system, we choice her to be the next pool of executive, we should respect her decision..

2005/05/18

Delima in Policy consistancy

Returning office in early afternoon after leaving the beautiful Pule; Me and professor Chuang took an early breakfast outskirt the student actitivy center; we bought our breakfast from 7-11, that's the only place woke up in the early morning;

Profossor was right, the first sun light shining on my face before 6 am; the wake up call with no sound, I didn't sleep much, but wish to take the morning breeze at the green; washing and dress, I walked around the guess house, different kind of birds flying and singing, I can't tell each of them by their names, mountain ahead are so clear, no wonder have been chosen as one of the best place to live on earth.

arriving Taichung Railway station 30 minutes before my train, the platform re-decoration by comtemporary artist; all the resting seats are different, with its own shape, character and spirit; a very colourful platform, next to the platform is the famous Number 20 warehouse, the first warehouse turn artist studio in Taiwan; it recall me my first trip to the mordern musume with Mr. Change, the place called " Temporary Comtemporary " in Los Anglese.

I unitlized my 30 minutes in one interstring experimental, sitting on the shoe-polishing stand and having my shoes shining; my first time to do it, then I realized this is one of the heritage in Taichung Railroad Station; the shoe polishing master is here for 56 years and become the living legend; he is professional and with a very strong integrity, when I politely asked him if my shoes shining a difficult task ? as it is a blending color shoes, he reply with a big doubt in his face and asked me if I want my shoe be polishied? well, I swallow all my good intention and let him perform his best; the the master show me an old day newspaper, that was year 1991, he is on the story of China Times. I didn't develop too much conversation with him, I respect his professionism, but 8 minutes was the total time for encountering, I am not in the mood to know him more.

Having another spare pork rib lunch box in the train to Taipei, Railroad station Lunch Box is my favorate always, no matter how full I am, I will never miss the additional nostalgia, the stud pork rib with bean curb... the unforgatable taste, I took 2 nap on my way back to office -- first on the bus from Pule to Taichung, second on the train after I done my lunch box, I feel tired.

Clock in the office by 1:30 pm, having coffee with one director who is planning his wedding scheudule on June 5th, a newly promote director, I invited him to Starbuck as I sense some frustration is travelling in his division and may seed in his heart also, Yes, I fully agreed that My stly in management is totally different from COO, so, I remind him that when he still at the position of our special assistant, did he ever observe the decision making pattern and behavior for COO ? turn down every propsal the first time almost, no matter how good they are ? he had the midset of Trying our people and hope what's been presented next will be better than the current one; you have to understand the people who worked with you, your supirior. sobornate, then you won't cumulate the frustration for too thick or for too long; I agree that the mangement committe didn't fuction well, it need to be improved, and there's no way to exclude no yet turn directos Japanese expetriate to sit in the committe and maybe raise their hand, express thoughts by instint; they were sent for training, we can't taka away their right to learn and grow, even thought this process sometime haste our operation; Yes, I understand, time is not on our side, but, I am constrained in the resources as well. let't be patient, all together, you are going to face varies challeng in life, not only happen in work place, in a very short period of time -- family will make you think, a lot.

Wife didn't see me for a day, we hope to glue , so, I leave the office by 6:00 pm, we ate at the night market, taking time for the second run movies, chat and shares. I told her COO should make his final decision by early June as he will visit Japan again, my wife said to me, how come he is so indecicive these days, I should prepare for my own thing.

Income tax filing result come out, it pour ice water to my face, I have to submit addition 1 millions to the Tax Burea, all the bonus I earned washed away.. this is a bad outcome. working for what and working in vain, you pay your tax and the ineffictive administration dispose your money and abuse your right, a very bad experience. Nevermind, I still wish to take a hault, a Kenting trip.

Gain 5 kilograms, I hate myself and consider to take the medicine again, be displine and don't finish all the food on table, stop eating milky nuggest, this is for health instead for shape.

2005/05/17

My Best Performance

Up till now; I think I have complete my best speech ever yesterday at National Chin Nan University - an university established one decade ago, locate in the centeral of Taiwan - Pule;

I totally change the logic and mentality of a speech, my prelude and why choice this topic " My first half of live -- confession and review in the curve of life stream " occupied one third of the total speaking time; as my expectation, I didn't finish all the slide and terminated the speech in my third " Decade "; as designed and desired, I play the song " In a Flash " by Kimbo Fu twice, in the beginning and at the power ending; I knew I delivered the best speech ever in my life, and I know the impact is strong; by midnight of the day, I received a short message send by one student - who were one of the audience , he mentioned that I am becoming his role model now; I am pround and at the same time, feel some presure - somebody's watching now; you will never excape from those young souls who belive they found their teach for life.

Dean of the school of management - Profeesor Chung, a good friend of mine is content, not only because I shared a lot of life experience in such a vivid way, as he expressed, this is like a drama , a play, a receprical of life; but also my preparation demonstrate how serious I treated this speech and how serious I value the friendship between us.

President Chang Chi Fu came to the auditorium by 4:30 pm, after 30 minutes of my speech, he recognised that I am different from other speakers, I was invited to his office and chat for 20 minutes after the speech and we had a great time during dinner - I put it this way, dinner was my sequel to the speech in the afternoon; afterward, a private chat with Professor at the guess house for a hours and half, update for my where about and the mind and mood; I stayed over at the Guess House, a green mellow in front of me, surrounding by green mountains, this is the best university you can ever dream of teaching.

before going to bad, I red the articles by Ai-Tsai - another talent artist who committe suicide by the age of 41 on April 2003, he walked himself down the sea at the beach of Taitung Du-lan Bi; this is the third talent young killing themsleve by the 30 / 40's, how come I happen to buy these books? how come what they wrote touch my heart. Yuang Cha-Sheng ; another talent novelist, I am reading his pieces now.

Professor said to me right after my speech that " This is a great speech, God show his message to all the young kid via the hand of yours " I am happy, not because the mission completed, because I release myself from the cocoon of mid-age crisis also.

I am planning to have a vacation after Golden Melody Award, no matter how, I will relax myself to Kengting, sea breeze, blue sky, a few books and my loving wife. I deserved it.

Diary of a CEO