The Human Landmild
After a slience of 7 days. S. called to arrange a short session on Friday noon. he said the offering is completed and they are ready to talk to me. well, it's like the first Response for so many months, I am a little bit excited.
On Friday noon, met with director of the board and a new comer - Stantly, who response for handling all the liability and debt from Helix, until the end of the conversation, I didn't really " See " the employment contract. I subtly asked, they did in vobuarly, I win a lunch when obtin the answer, 150,000 NT for monthly salary and the stock option of 5 % when the so called : New Business generate profit. I am OK with the arrangement, but a slight uncomfortable when overheard the debt recollication plan, the strategy they hold is to postpone the debe payback and extend to a 7 years loan, by convince Bank that there a New Executive and New business for turn around. up unitl the moment, I am OK still.
But it getting worst when the legal manager called by 7 pm and asked me to Sign Off the employment contract and to prepare a New Business Proposal by Monday to convince the Banks--- this is not what I know in the first place, I hesitate to anwer his request and set an appointment with Ray of Sat. morning. there is a bad feeling growing, the more I think, the more I aware that I will be used as a " Figure Head " to solve the debt issue coming to their face. they pay a very low price - probably less then the interest they willing to pay to the bank, and bail themslef out of the unlist scenario. I don't have a histsory with these guys. if anyone have to sacrifice for saving the company, why me? the lowest possible innocienct person.
I asked Ray to fax me the contract and take a few minutes to review it. this is a very rough and simply contract, from a listing company, I don't see a quality of it. it stated all the responibility and incentive - well reasonable, but I am doubt about the liability I am going to swallow:
1. the singing party, between me and current president of Helix, as I am introduct by S. to Mr. Chen, a Mr. Chen's co-sign is a must.
2. as I am responsible for developing New Biz. all the existing bis's profit and lost have nothing to do with me, and all the liability / debt should have nothing to do with me also, this have to be written on the contract.
3. the payback debt plan have to be done within a certain period of time ( say 6 months ) if the house keeping didn't go as plan, then the new GM will deal with Bank all the time. there's no point to do this.
4. Dumpint my resource to the new biz to help solve the debt of the company sound strange to me, if I launch any new business on my own, with my resource, I will have no bad credit or repution, this is so wierd.
Ray called to set up meeting at the office at Wuku late last night, I was taking a nap and say OK, but the more I think, the danger I am, so I return with a no in 20 minutes and asked the amendance of the contact must done with the witness of S.
I will call it an end and rescure myself out of this pit, a very terrible experience.
It answers my question before. Why me?
Games people play
this is a judge day on the 25th, I didn't notice that it used to be a public holiday - the Taiwan Restoration Day. had an early breakfast with Hochen, as usual, we didn't touch upon any business.
our conversation begin the Syd Barret, the founding member of the legendary rock band Pink Floyd. I read Time when waiting at the restarurant and my eye follow with the death news about Syd. he died in July , 60 years of life. then we talked about the click Taiwan, his worries and his integrity to keep the unshaped culture in Taiwan, to be shining and to be recognise as the new spirit of Taiwan. I shared with him another news about Tan Dun - the man with my age just obtained a 1.4 billions budget to do a Hunau musical in his home land. Dan was discovered by Yoyo and introduced to Sony Music, before " Croching Tiger, Hidden Dragon " he is a nobody, now he is somebody. and I share with him Why Ann Lee accept the invitaion from Beijing Olympic 2008. Taiwan lose almost everything in comepete with the future - the pioneer emigrate are business man ( there's a slang : Business man have no home tome. or Money have no color ), then the executives, now the flow go to professionals such as Doctors. Professor and even scarly - elite students. by conducting a cross-strait student exchange program, the new generation of power is approching China and favor it. I can see the big worry from Hochen's gesture, but, what can we do, Click Taiwan can only perform minor, very minor.
Reading an intersting article from the old Time - the first publiched private letter of Enisten, in the year 1915 - the year he discover the therory of relativity, his letter with son and how interesting to know he can predict of winning the Noble Prize use the award money as the compensation for divoice with his wife. a very interting finding.
Welly called, it's been years. it might be chance to build another peice of music puzzle . Rusty return to Taiwan again. he is really sneaky.
I really don't admire the way Carl conduct the Golden Bell award judgement panel. he never use his intellenge in good deeds. the first though from his mind bias always. I am not against his fairness, but to think " Old habit die hard " he might never change.
take time to watch the first episode of " The best of Youth " the 6 hours mini films produced in Italy, wife didn't sleep well the day before, so, we only take a sip of the drama and go to bed before 12, we want to do it.
Stew with blood - fleshing blood for a day, don't know why, will keep watching for a few days.
Chinese Educational Missionary Children is a very profound book, I enjoy reading it. so much - Long Hong is a great mind and great person, being the first Yale graduated Chinese, return to China and provoke a childern's overseas education program for 16 years. the key person to bring the modernization to China. this is a great adventure, to read and to think.
the word consultant appear
as YK send me a mail for seeking my advise, I am aware of the development Fon did in Taiwan, a gone away 3 months veteran came back for the strike, I am not sure who throw the ball? Accton or AJ or this is a bet on multipal poker games? of course, I feel a little bit down as this is a very polite way to inform me the joint decision made by varies party involved.
the proposal to B. at LYC this morning is another learning. I overheard his high voice when sitting at the gust room waiting for him, if I am right, he is yeiling at someone in his office. well, he was late for the meeting, 15 minutes late, didn't aware that I am bringing partner with me, however, he simply express his first greeting dialouge : Have you seen the movie " Devil wear the Prada ? ", I replied with why? he followed with : what a great boss to be at the company in the movie, everything will be taking care by assistant, secretray, any mistake and improper action will be a very bad reaction to the subordinate.
Appreciation always
return from a short trip to Tokyo, this is a compensation tour for my wife, she had a small dream, buy one booth for herself, the dream stayed with her for decade. I finally deliver the dream in front of him, at the Gucci shop at Omedesendo; the 3 days trip was only for one purpose, to find out what Itoh-san's new company heading. and then the rest will be find the booth.
she tried on at the hotel room ( this is the smallest room she ever stayed by far, a budget hotel which can hardly make room for you to turn around )the night when I had dinner with Itoh-san, when I returned to the hotel - Room 903, she told me there's a design defeat, that make her very uncomfortable, she tried it on for hours, looking from every angle and wish to convince herself this is OK. a very picky lady, however, my good intention bring a good result, no matter she love the shoes or not, I am a decent hushand without a question.
The Felix offer venpered, I didn't hear any follow up about my perk when we had a serious discussion about how to do the restructure of the company and how to work hand in hand. if a man of his words can't bring his pormise to action, a man who lead the indusdry of the industry, then who can be trusted in Taiwan? I don't know, how I learn a great lesson too, to be the chess in a game, you simply play silence, if the player can't really push you anywhere, you just don't move, if a chess move, then this is his own fault. S.plays a bad game, but I am lucky, because on the no answer Friday evening, I make time to update my week with Mr. Han, when asked his opinion about this turn around, this is the first time I smell his seriousness, a very firm and strong will to stop me taking this risk, without resource, project, resouce and talent, Mr. Han didn't see a clue that I will make it happen.
the other learning from his is when asked what's the differece between " Restructure " and " Turn around ". H. Han reply with his wisdom : this is the same same. Turn around is the purpose, re-sturture is the means to achieve it. great mind with great heart. when update him about 88 and the potential JV with CHT, Mr. Han force me to think bigger, to stand on CHT's shoes, making more relevent JV opportunity, expecially in China.. this is something I did't covered so well.
The Rotary speech on Sat. is a good one. although I didn't prepare it well, but the overall reaction is excellent. accidentally met Major Ma when walked out house on Sat. morning, a simple and nice chat bring back his memory about me.
Lunch with Teacher Tseng follow after speech, I choose the Flesh fish restaurant, only one classmate attend - Weng Hung Hung, he looks so different now, we hav't see each other for 30 years, he is now the head of Chimei group. a very successful career , sharing with Teacher and exchange idea about everything, I am happy to keep this good routine, we feel a little bit sad that the annual reunion can't stick up as tight as possible, I told Teacher I will coordiante a grand reunion next years. I promise.
Bring Sound to the movie " the pristage " wasn't a bad idea, he is the youngest among the audience, but concentrate on the subtitle and to digest the complicate story development, he really thinks,.I am happy to bring him to a world of adult, he can understand -- especially when there's a scene related to " Affair ", he know it, surpise me>
Finishing work earlier on Monday, had an emotion to movies, aksed wife to attend - my best companion for movie, we went for 2 art / independent film - the Sliven film " Songs of the journery " ( my straight translation from the chinese tranlation " - simply yet powerful, only place aftermath can produce an indepth viewpoint in human factor. the other one " Lonlyhearts " is a good one, a true story re-arrange to a movie, taling about a series killer in the 50"s in the States, I love the charactors, " Who will die for you? " a love / possition turn to murder. a great idependent film.
for LCY proposal this morng, go for it.
