its will and drive.
its about focus.
Its about going against the odds.
Its having the strength to keep going, even when maybe your closest friends think you’re completely insane.

I just refuse to give up. Maybe its the way I grew up, but I feel I need to be a street fighter, a scrapper. Life isn’t about taking the easy path - ITS MAKING YOUR OWN DAMN PATH. Make them get out of your way if they don’t agree.

Many books and movies motivate me, but still nothing more then Scarface! I included a photos on this blog post, and its Tony in the movie blowing away people as a druglord is sending hundreds of thugs to kill him in his home (mansion).

That is how Tony dealt with things. he didn’t run and hide, he came straight for those guys - head on. Even with all his guards / gang allies dead, he blew through his office doors and blasted away everyone he could get. Of course he dies, but he goes out blazing. What else could he do? He was surrounded. He could have either done what he did and gone out blasting, or he could have hidden, or maybe killed himself before they killed him.

But he dealt with it head on. And he came from NOTHING, a FOB (”fresh off the boat”) from Cuba. He was washing dishes at a corner restaurant in Miami. Sure, he choose to go into mafia and drug trafficking, but all the odds were against him. So many times in the movie, people underestimated him, saw him as a piece of shit - you know what he does, he proves them wrong.

So people can try to start a business with money alone, but it takes WILL, and Drive, and focus for success to get there. Just never give up, and just do it.

I enjoy learning about people’s interests, and what makes them tick. A couple years ago I became a “expert” in the ecommerce category of allexperts. At first I was going to do the category in import/export, but even still I am not an expert in international trade - my passion still is the MIX of internet, marketing, and business - which I would consider ecommerce.

It is great to hear about someone wanting to start their own online biz, and while I get a lot, this specific question posted asked me to outline the basic steps of starting an online business, which I then answered:

Answer
Hi Howard,
thanks for your question - well your question is rather open ended, and books are written about this, but i think you want a simple step by step process, here is my best shot:

1) pick a product line
normally, you want to do keyword research (http://freekeywords.wordtracker.com) and competitive analysis on this industry. But also keep in mind if its a product you want to deal with EVERY DAY, so you should have an interest in it. And even if its highly competitive, doesnt mean you can’t find a niche. Maybe you can take sneakers and target working class women who want to have a commuter style shoe.

2) wholesale / drop ship / affiliate -

will you buy your products up front (wholesale)? That may require a lot of upfront cash.  Plus you’ll have to warehouse the goods, and you or someone you gotta convince / pay to do it for you!

Drop ship is where a wholesalers allows you to resell their inventory on your own website / sales channel. Only when you get a online order, then you buy it directly from the wholesaler and they ship direct to your customer, as if it were your own shipment.

affiliate - this isn’t really ecommerce as the customers are sent to other peoples websites to buy, and you are paid a sales commission.

all of these are balanced by risk/reward in their margins. if you are wholesaling, normally you see the max profit margin but the highest risk of upfront capital outlay.

3) choose your sales channels & choose website / brand
i assume you will sell it online, via your own webshop website. But also consider multi sales channels, such as amazon and ebay. For your own webshop, choose a website domain that is catchy, but also contains keywords in the industry you’re targetting.

4) install / setup your webshop
This can be easy, or difficult. Its like anything, you can by a stock car and not customize it, or you can build your own hot rod. Depending on your budget, or your technical interest/ ability these are some choices:

prostores.com - connected to ebay, this is a scalable model as it allows you to start at $10usd/mo and work up as you grow. But I have some friends who take this website to really high levels and then have issues with customizing it

yahoo stores - another big one, i know a lot of people using it, but haven’t yet.

oscommerce / zen-cart - this is a bit on the “do it yourself” or “pay high price for technical people to do it” level. I would recommend this only if you are very advanced in ecommerce or have a big budget to pay someone to do it for you.

5) how will you collect customers money? (merchant account)
probably to start, you will just want to use paypal.com - as there aren’t any setup or monthly fees. But if you want to process a credit card, you will need a merchant account. Paypal does have one, but I would recommend a traditional one. I personally use merchantsolutionsllc.com and they have good staff and help you with questions.

6) promoting your website
this is obviously KEY - and should be in mind from the beginning. How will you tell people about your site? Internet, offline? How will you get people to buy? Online , there is advertising

(paying for it) - google.com/adwords - pay per click (doesnt mean they will buy) can be tricky, and can cost a lot of money quickly. watch closely.

organic - hit the pavement, get links to your site. get bloggers and other websites telling people to go to your site. Normally its done by daily work and passion - that is why you should be interested in your product, as this requires you promoting it daily.

social media (friends) - not as established, but getting more popular, as people recommend products/services to others.

7) warehousing / shipping - if you are stocking your products (wholesale), will you put it in your garage? rent your own warehouse? There are also businesses called “ecommerce order fulfillment” or 3rd party shipping centers that will warehouse and ship your products on your behalf, so you can focus on sales / marketing.

I hope these help, like i said at the beginning of this post, books are written about each of these points!

good luck!
Mike

Well, there was that answer. Hope my friends / blog readers get something out of this. I do have a passion for this ….but unfortunately I don’t have time to do it for everyone I know. I can give some direction / advice. And if you want to pay me enough, I can even do it for ya! Always looking to do some cross promotions or cooperations too. Love making business happen.

Had to post this…..its amazing……will Google really leave China  ?  The news I’ve been reading it is highly unlikely.  But the news loves hearing about the battle between Chinese government and Google.  Almost wondering - is it a PR stunt to get attention to Google from China?  Or is it a USA political match to twist Chinese officials to open the GFW (great firewall)

Interesting article below.

• Losing Google? Chinese Scientists Say It’s Like Going Blind, Life Without Electricity
  Chinese scientists say their research will be dramatically compromised if Google shuts down its search engine in China. One scientist says it would be like going blind: “If I lose Google, it will [be] just like a man without his eyes.” Another says it “would be like life without electricity.” Those quotes and several statistics showing [...]

Sorry to those around me…but I am on a rampage the past couple weeks….I am just fighting like never before…..That is how I deal with things….I come at them head on.  I need to be aggressive….I didn’t come this far, all the way out here to China, to get lazy, drink beer, and try to get other people to pay for my life.

I came here to build a business.  I was considering the MBA investment, but I instead decided to invest in building a international business between China and USA.  To build a future for myself and for my family.  To build strong cashflows and a scalable business model.

And I see more clearly now, more then ever, what I need to do to make things work:

1) Focus on projects and clients that make money. Sounds easy, right?  Yea…sure, especially being in China, every damn day I get an email from someone who has “the next big idea” that I am so fortunate to be considered to help them source in China for them.  Sure, I love new opportunities, considering new business ventures.  And I am honored that friends and associates come to me with their “baby” that they lose sleep over.  But its also not fair for me to engage myself into a business that I cannot fully offer my time and support.  No matter what I say, I think I can have someone else manage the project - it seems to always come back to me and haunt me.  So I say FOCUS on projects that will bring steady cashflow or recurring revenues in a foreseeable future on a clear timeline.  No more “hail mary” passes for a while, I don’t have the time or the money to afford to use that time.

2) Surround myself with a qualified network - I don’t want to say those I may consider “un-qualified” for business are losers. I’m not some stuck up prick.  I mean building a network who can build off each other, in a similar field or product line.

I do ecommerce between USA and China.  And I focus in the home, bar, gift, and entertainment product lines.

So, while before I was expanding my network anywhere and anyway I could. I am realizing “quality over quantity” - similar to my FOCUS point above.  If you are in those fields above, then hopefully we can mutually help each other grow and succeed.  If not, maybe we can grab a beer at the bar on Friday and be friends.

3) Don’t be so concerned about others thinking of you - I think this has always been a weakness of mine.

part a) I am too nice, (yea…sometimes a pushover) - and then all of a sudden I will explode once I reach my limit in a particular relationship / confrontation.  Its extreme nice or extreme anger with me.  I know I should change this.

part b) I want to be everyone’s friend - I have been able to do well in “political” environments, where I am able to understand both sides of a given situation, be able to get both parties sides.  I am normally trusted to be given secret information.  And then I usually “win votes” to get elected president in my high school, university, fraternity pledge class.

I don’t want to give up those 2 images of myself.  But I am learning (especially in China) that (translated quote)

“If you make you’re self out to be an ass (donkey), people won’t feel guilty to ride you”.  I think thats the Chinese business environment.  Dog eat dog, survival of the fittest.  AND IT HAS CHANGED ME.

Changed for better or for worse?  Well, stronger for sure.  Hopefully not too “thick sknned” and insensitive enough.  But sure, we all change in life.  Its part of life, and growing as an individual.

So I apologize to those around me, staff, clients, suppliers, I have been on a RAMPAGE lately….really fighting to shape up the business around me.  I want things to get more clear, more scalable, and then hopefully I CAN TAKE A DAMN VACATION.

(note: this is my personal blog, I can say what I like, and you’re reading it this far because you must be interested).

Always since ive been in china i have had to coordinate with usa time schedule…..but the past week its become extreme….earlier this week and last i was working until 5 or 6 am….sleeping until 2 or 3pm
Wake up

11pm in china -  usa (ny) 10am  - europe (4pm)

Sleep

3pm china-  usa Nyc 2am   -  europe - 8am

But the other day….i decided to go the extreme….work completely usa schedule…..i was up over 24 hours straight (havent done that since college finals)….ending up almost crashing around 3pm….
Next day woke up (well, technically same day) at 11pm china time (10am in new york) ….and now working until 2pm china time (1am in nyc usa)….
I actually like this schedule…and will even keep it on weekends……i can go to the party and grrab breakfast on the way….

i’m back to doing USA business almost 90% of the time….think i really gotta get back to the usa and straighten some deals and alliances out.

Since Shadstone took over newyorkbarstore…. i have been seeking vigorously how to improve the cash flow, here are some ideas

I NEED HELP WITH #1…………….how to structure a deal like that…

1) PARTNER with a NY retail shop - we get so many people looking for our retail store…..this is my idea
a) CLOSE/ end my 3rd party warehouse contract in upstate NY - and ship all the goods to the retail location in manhattan (or a borough)
b) license the shop the newyorkbarstore brand (trademark) - would they have to put up a sign, or even change the name of their shop
c) at first give them consignment terms on the goods i have in the upstate warehouse but..
…. later turn them into a customer…? or ….this is where i’m not sure.
d) add this shop’s products to the newyorkbarstore.com online retail website.
e) how to approach these shops…. i made this list - http://www.newyorkbarstore.com/nyc_bar_restaurant_directory/

2) move my warehouse to california - for my B2B - and then diversify from just barproducts to all kinds of bar products - sending JIT to the NY store location (#1 above)
a) I already hve some stock in california, in the city of santa ana.
b) cali is closer to china / india so my shipping time is reduced as well as my shipping costs
c) sell B2B from california, and using the NY location as a retail and geographical location.

3) build more online retail shops selling directly from my office in shenzhen.

I should be in NY sooner then later……but first want to get some warm leads and deal structure before going there….with the purpose of going there to sign and executre #1

going through my list of NYC friends and contacts…..gonna be busy making calls and talking shop - seems i’ll be on USA time frame for some weeks to come…

My mom and dad always send me scanned copies of my horoscope. This is a rather recent one I thought I would share today. IT IS AWESOME + EXACTLY WHAT I THINK EACH DAMN DAY
For those who can’t see the image clearly.

Your life is a journey, not a destination. You should one day write a book about your experiences along the way. It could be a best seller. Your life is a story to tell, that many others would find interesting. You are ready for major moves forward. Refuse to be stuck in the past. Set a time limit. Let nothing hold you back.

I know, I know, many of your are saying horoscopes are just a bunch of B.S. But they are fun, and motivating. This one definitely does that for me, but each part I love:

Your life is a journey, not a destination. - exactly like the name of this blog - happiness in pursuit. We are not born into this world to get to one place and be over and done with. we are here on earth to share with each other, to live, to love, to learn, to pass along to the next generation.

You should one day write a book about your experiences along the way. It could be a best seller. - well, it started with this blog, and before this blog I kept a paper journal from as far back as 1997. May have to pull out those journals when the day has come to write a book…..Many people, family and friends - and random people I meet on trains and planes - say I should document all of this… plus it gets really tiring writing the same thing over and over in personal emails to different friends and family - i can just cite this blog url for people to read up.

You are ready for major moves forward. Refuse to be stuck in the past. - HELLL YEA!! never get stuck on the past. I have lost money, I have upset people at times - and yes I have benefited others when I should have received the benefit. BUT KEEP MOVING FORWARD. never give up. Like earlier in this horoscope, life is a journey, not a destination. Its not over, till we’re dead, and even then its not over - just who knows what the next stage then will be.

Set a time limit. - I’m working on this..my weakenss…. but I am making a better outline of a plan and goals…may blog them when ready more,.

Let nothing hold you back. - NEVER EVER - anyone anywhere in this world. A millionaire businessman or a broke farmer in inner china - don’t make excuses why you can’t achieve what you w ant. governments, family, friends, enemies- remember the biggest person holding you back is YOURSELF- if you believe you can do it, and keep working on it, it will be done. and if its not done, then you had one hell of a ride trying right - and that should be self fulfilling, right!

there, just got some motivational energy off my chest, phew! now back to work.

This longggggg China New Year holiday drives me insane - as I’m sure a lot of other business owners (chinese and foreign) - it still amazes me how a country of such size and current global influence can completely shut down - so many of my favorite restaurants are still closed. Things should start opening up again friday and the weekend, and then China will be back to business as usual.

I hope my pictures aren’t getting too boring - more empty office pics below. but this is about all i see each day as I come to work during the holiday…

But in a way, a holiday this long makes everyone reflect on what they are doing with their lives, and what they want to do in the future. So many discussions with people on chats and in dinners these days about how they like or dislike their job, the way their career is going, the business they are in. Its like a fresh start for some, as they don’t return to their old companies after the holiday.

This is scary for business owners, as some factories and offices have some of their top workers not return to the office after the holiday….without even a notice. The worker just decides they need a change in their life, want to stay in their hometown with family, it doesnt even have to be about money! (well, usually it is, heh)

But this holiday has allowed me to focus on USA business. I’m on 3rd shift (almost) waking up around 1 or 2pm in China, and working until about 3 or 4 am. Afternoons are emails, accounting / financing, and planning. Then normally a dinner or drink with s ome friends in shenzhen - then back to the office to crank out some phone calls or USA hour type work.

Wondering if I should stick on this schedule after the holiday or not……..

Seems more and more I do USA business - its just what I am strong at, and I should focus on my strength. Let the staff manage their projects in the morning, I come in after lunch, check on progress, do my emails and planning with them. Grab dinner, then do USA calls.

So strange, having 2 new years holiday each year…..since I moved to China in the end of 2007, I have been involved with 3 chinese new years now. There was the year of the RAT (mouse), last year was BULL, and now we’re in the year of the Tiger! Well, last New Years (into the Bull!) I was in Amsterdam for bunch of the Chinese New Years - missed the fireworks!
It is great to see so many people happy and excited about a holiday. And its so damn long! The official holiday this year is today, the 14th. So last night, there were FIREWORKS everywhere! Like the picture here I took, family’s helping their children light up fireworks. This one isn’t so dangerous, but I’m afraid of seeing a kid’s hand blow off! They are setting off fireworks big and small all over the place, from day until about 3am!

Luckily, this year I had a local Shenzhen family invite me over their home for dinner last night. Hot pot was on the menu, which is where you have a boiling pot of soup with some meat balls in the center of the table. Around the pot is raw beef, shrimp, vegetable, chicken - all types of fresh foods - which is used to be put into the “hot pot” and cooked while everyone is sitting around the table. Of course, beer and wine is served, and tea!
The Chinese New Years is all about being with family and friends. Similar to thanksgiving in USA, except its about a week and a half long. It gives time for people to reach their hometowns on the other side of China, and visit all their different family relatives.
And don’t forget the “red bag”, which is given to children you see as you’re visiting friends and family around the holiday.
Today, the actual new years day, you are not allowed to eat meat! Only vegtables. TOmorrow I will visit the local family (Liu) and have some meat! Today, i’ll just hang out at home and get some work done.
Below is a painting I received from a factory owner friend, Mr Sun. Its a tiger, perfect for this coming year!

I am positive about this new year - I think I’ve spent the past years making all kinds of stupid “learning” mistakes, too many deals, not enough focus, not enough experience. This is the year to explode

Google has just released google buzz, a twitter like platform that is integrated into your gmail account - so your “buzz” from friends and followers comes through as a folder in your email box.
This is all cool stuff, but from the matter of the current state of “google leaving china”….this is another step towards leaving.
Its reported the government of iran has blocked not just this google buzz - but all access to gmail!!
As most people are learning, facebook, twitter, youtube and other social media sites are blocked inside of china - google buzz fits the profile of these social media sites, and therefore we speculate will also be banned by the GFW (great firewall) of china - as it allows chinese people to read and access information the chinese government forbids.
But the scary part is - if china blocks the new google buzz - it will also have to block gmail - google’s free email service!!!! This is because google has integrated the 2 systems together as 1 platform.
BLOCK gmail????? Would the chinese government do this? So many chinese people, and businesses, use it every day!
it is obvious google knows how many chinese people are using its gmail email service….and i cant help to think they may be using this gmail / buzz combo to make a difficult choice for the chinese government….
If the chinese government bans gmail, many of its people will be punished and at a competitive disadvantage from foreign companies…..as well as locked out of their email……..or defy chinese law and use tools to get around the chinese firewall.
I feel the younger generation in china is already fed up with the government here blocking facebook, youtube, twitter, and others.
How would the people react if they were banned from gmail?
Seems google was aware of this difficult choice the chinese government had to make, and is again challenging the chinese politicians to rethink how they resteict open access to information to their own people.
Google leaving china, google fighting the chinese government, now it seems google is pitting the chinese government against its own people…
Lets see the outcome….definitely going to be interesting…..