And another awesome fast, Ahmed from startup weekend in San Francisco tells me about 60% of startupweekend is now international (outside of America) – proving the entrepreneurship, and getting the confidence to quit your nice and stable corporate job to try to do something creative is becoming a trend.

Disrupting EDUCATION

Who says the old system works…. “copy/paste” high school circiculums and 4 year university degrees and then the “Expectaction” you will get a job! JUST BECAUSE YOU GO TO COLLEGE SHOULDN’T MEAN YOU GET A JOB! Its about the skills.

We saw a billboard in San Francisco as we were driving, can’t remember it exactly but it was talking about a certain amount of high school drop out percentage, but that 100% of all high school students (drop outs or not) need a “BOOST program”. I totally agree, there is so much “fluff” in education, memorizing pointless information to “practice learning” – why not give a concentrated boost program for everyone to give them the basics needed for life and for business and their career?

So much about starting a business, taxes, getting a business going, I had no clue until after college, until after I was paying back tons in student loans (still am paying back).

Educational institutions are not made for everyone. Look at how many great entrepreneurs fail or drop out. Or can’t afford. I am still years and years in debt paying back my university. I’d much rather apply that to my startup business.

I visited Dev Bootcamp in San Francisco, that is just getting started and having its first training class in a month or so. They are helping entrepreneurs get a crash course on programming. As being able to code is essential to doing a successful startup, or as we have learned at Startup Tuesdays in Shenzhen, at least trying to learn to program will help attract a quality technical cofounder. Education is definitely going to change over the next few years. It will be hard to really shake up these old-school college institutions, but it is time to shake it up a bit.

These past couple days in San Francisco I learned so much, shared so much, networked so much. For example, VC article about what they look for in a startup team was passed around. New apps, new ways to find information – all shared instantaneously.

Location still matters

This is a whole blog post on its own…but its been amazing to be in Silicon valley, San Francisco around all these entreprneuers and startups. Its energizing, its refreshing. AND I AM LEARNING SO MUCH FASTER. One person shares what he just learned, a new tool they are using, I share an idea, another gives feedback. Its amazing. Its exhilarating.

My friend Steve Forte blogged for startups location still matters and maybe I second guess why I picked going to China over Silicon Valley. Doing a startup is LONELY. Its you versus the world. The odds are against you to survive and thrive. The value of being in a support group of other entrepreneurs, cheering you on, supporting you, giving you feedback is so priceless!

When I was in NYC, none of my friends were doing their own business. They all had corporate jobs. My coworkers couldn’t help me. My family had no experience in starting up or managing a business. I felt so alone. And I made tons of mistakes.

So I have to agree, even in today’s internet age, location still matters!

And yes, I’d have to say the most central location in the world would have to be Silicon Valley…. and sadly I have only maybe spent a total of 5 days here over my entire lifespan! (2 days this week, and a few days late last year).

I do plan to come back to Silicon Valley more and more. Also hope to bridge Chinese and American startups more as well – to reduce that fear factor, as people are always afraid of the unknown.

So we met up this morning to talk about her business, and the issues she is having importing some raw materials into China from Taiwan. She picked an awesome cafe “La Boulange de Hayes” (500 Hayes St (btw Laguna & Octavia)) which has some awesome breakfast food and pickles (haven’t had pickles in years, sweet!)

We spent over 2 hours together, she almost ran out her parking meter. Talking about China business travels, factories, sourcing experiences. I have connected her to a few of my logistics contacts in Shenzhen, China already – she’s also interested in trademark lawyers and sourcing agents, so we’ll follow up more later.

After breakfast, we got to have some shopping fun together! Yes, I know I need a new bag, and Kat made it clear. She said if you wanna be a tech dude in Silicon Valley, you need a bag from timbuk2 which is locally crafted bags for tech dudes. She was leaning towards a messenger bag for me, but I am still a backpack dude. Thinking of those times I’ll be riding my bike when I’m back in China, I prefer to have my gear strapped to my back rather than hanging to my side.

We tried out a few bags and I picked one (photographed below) and bought it! I wanted to keep my old North face bag…but she as well as the cashiers in the timbuk2 shop told me I can’t be a pack rat and just gotta let go. Walking to the street corner trash bin, I place it on top, and walking back in 15 minutes it was already gone (as they suggested, it would be put to good use quickly there). I do need to let go of old things and focus on newer / better things…in business and in life.

We walked around the neighborhood and Kat visited a shop where her Modern Twist products were being sold. She loved the excuse to be able to hang out on a Tuesday morning and also say she is doing business development meeting her local distributors.

Tried locally made cupcakes, there was also a locally made ice cream stand, coffee shop. Art in the city park. Totally wild, totally creative. San Fran does rock!

Kat will be in China in July, definitely planning to meet up again, maybe will be another awesome blog post!

Arrived in Fremont about 8pm Sunday night, Holiday Inn express hotel – where Boyd Jones had been staying with his Chinese investor counterparts. They went to see Warren Buffet at his annual shareholder meeting, and now were in Silicon Valley to see potential investments and make connections with investment funds. Boyd had been spending a lot of time being the connector and translating for his Chinese investor colleagues (His Chinese is fluent, really amazing!) Boyd is going to re-locate to Silicon Valley and be a gateway into Silicon Valley for his Chinese investment funds in Shenzhen, China

Exciting stuff, right!

Also, being the social media maniac that I am, I saw my buddy Tony Chen (who I met in a Hong Kong startup Monday event) is working this summer in a startup Ark (Y Combinator backed) – smart dude. And he came up to meet us in the hotel last night. He is really a determined guy and he is going back to UC Berkley after the summer to finish his degree. He has some good knowledge and connections in the Valley and gave me some tips.

Because this is a last minute trip to San Francisco, I don’t have time to put together a “China Business Meetup” like in Los Angeles, maybe Tuesday night I’ll openly invite a few people out and see what happens.

I’ve been keeping an evernote note of Silicon Valley things to do and people to see. Contacting a bunch of people over the weekend, and below are some tips that I thought would be fun to share with others too.

Sjors (George) Provoost tips from his San Francisco Trip:

Two very different kinds of coworking spaces in SF:

* PariSoma
* Noisebridge

If you’re in Mountainview, check out HackerDojo.

Sign up for startupdigest.com event notifications about two weeks before you leave. Also checkout meetup.com and look for technology.

I’m not sure about hostels; I used AirBnB in the first two weeks (most of it is pretty expensive, but there always a few cheaper options available). After that I got myself an apartment.

If you have time to leave the city and see some nature, check out the Green Tortoise. They’re a really laid back tour company, and cheap too, but for just 3 days you probably want to stay in the city.

Buy a Clipper card so you don’t have to pay public transport in cash all the time. Most public transport is pretty slow, busses extremely slow. If you want to splurge for transport within the city, checkout Uber (limo taxi you can order by iPhone).

Cheers,

Sjors (George) Provoost
Twitter: @provoost

Tip from Zee Gorman (whom I met in SFO last year)

Yes if you are interested, definitely visit the campuses of Apple, Google, Oracle, eBay . . . Spend a day at Pier 39 and visit “The Rock”, Fisherman’s Warf, Exploratorium. Another day, the museums (Legend of Honor is my fav), Ocean Beach, Cliff House,… Then perhaps the wine country. I’d be happy to play guide for a day if I’m free.

So its now Monday mid-morning at the hotel in Fremont, of San Francisco area in California. Trying to make a plan w/ Attila on making the most of these 2 days. Will try to see coworking spaces, Ahmed from Startupweekend, and hopefully some incubators to get ideas for a possible Shenzhen incubator!

Again, this is a last minute stop in San Fran – trying to make the most of it, hope to come back more often between China …to bridge entrepreneurs and businesses more and more!

Incoming search terms:

• two day trip to san francisco

I was so lucky to have been connected to Vincent from my buddy Erik in Shenzhen about his company office. It wasn’t confirmed until Monday this week, when I was almost preparing to fly out from hong kong! So that took a load off my shoulder as I left on the airplane.

Yesterday we took down a list of the people that came, about 20 people throughout the afternoon.

• David S – wants to move out to China or invest in China somehow soon. He and i have been talking on twitter for some time about it. Hope he makes the move!
• Ken Wong – manager of the LA warehouse for 4px chinese ecommerce logistics company.
• Fred – my friend I met on Sina weibo! Chinese who has been in USA for 1 year to buy products in America to sell in China! (how the world has changed…)
• Mike Tan – works with Ken in the 4px e-commerce warehouse in LA.
• Vincent – owner of the business that let us use the venue! Does ipad/iphone game development
• Attila – domainer, internet dude that had done business in China 8 years, now living back in Arizona, USA
• Dennis – director of international business development of All Recipes – he’s investigating how to build up his Chinese website, and met me in China last month
• Mike Gavigan – accountant interested to learn more about how people open Chinese businesses / companies
• Wei – friend of Mike, visiting USA for business development.
• Dina Ding – has opened companies in Beijing before. Exploring opportunities for new China business ventures.
• Lori – friend with Dina, also interested in doing more China business.
• Lisa – owner of Fulfillyourproducts, an e-commerce fulfillment center in Santa Ana, and a good friend of mine
• Tony – Lisa’s husband, also responsible for the printing business they do.
• Sharon – from New Egg e-commerce, in their LA office, Chinese living in USA a few years now.
• Justine – also from New Egg, just re-located to LA for 1 month after being in New Egg’s Shanghai office for a while.
• Abiy + his daughter – my friend from college, he does localization for companies in over 20 languages. I remember the time I spent with him in Los angeles before his daughter was born, eating Injera – how time flies, his daughter is one and a half now!
• Sona – just heard about the event the day off and came – he is a passionate connector with some China government connections always looking for new opportunities
• Kristine – friends with Sona, she works with her family law firm.

Impressive group of people! Its so awesome to get passionate, people together about a topic and share ideas.

I went through my powerpoint “Adventures of an American doing business in China” and did a very high level overview of how I came to China, how I hired staff, registered a company (see blog post how to open a WFOE Chinese company), and the ups and downs of my experiences in China business. I like to share the real deal – and I think people learn the most by hearing real life examples.

We did some sharing of ideas, questions and answers. Some said I should also have talked more about Sina Weibo, QQ, and other tools to use in China business and social networking. But again, I didn’t know the audience, what people wanted and this was a first time test.

I’m really excited to do this again, and bring Chinese business people to USA for the first time. Really start to build a bridge. Many of the attendees were excited and support us for future events.

Time to drive to San Francisco now, cheers!

The show is all about MONEY and Music – really cool topics, it plays every Thursday at 5pm PST Every Thursday with 2 awesome hosts Victoria and Walt! Its broadcast on the internet and also a podcast that is online for 1 year after the recording.

They had some awesome guests on the show:

Harold Lee from Living Textiles – an australian entrepreneur who has been in USA for a few years now, building up distribution for his brand of baby clothes / textiles. Her business partner was there also, Victoria, who is his marketing rep – she is very excited about the growing opportunity of this baby clothing brand “Living Textiles” and I believe they have a lot of potential. They are in major retailers throughout the USA already, and Harold is an experienced businessman.

Another host is Di Lee, she is American born with half Chinese half Italian descent and getting her name out there in the China market. She is interested to have me help her build her brand in China. Her new single was played on the show, and was amazing. Her music website is Di Lee Music and she is still finishing up her first album. Very talented woman having done modeling and acting and now moving into singing. Maybe she can do some music together with Gabree – already started discussing so many opportunities.

Walt and Victoria asked me a bunch of fun questions about China business. Some topics that we covered:

• New regulations on Americans opening / holding offshore bank accounts – a hot new topic in the news is how there will be new policies for Americans to have bank accounts overseas, due to tax reasons. They asked what I know of this news, and how I think it will affect Americans ability to do business overseas. I answered how its already somewhat of a disadvantage fo Americans do do business overseas than Europeans – with global tax making Americans pay double tax and other issues. Now with this new regulation, and hearing that Americans may not be turned away from opening an account in a foreign country because of the regulations that bank has to do in order to process it. Isn’t this unreal. I wonder what this will do for Americans overseas, like me? We then got into topics like Americans denouncing their citizenship while overseas so that they can have more freedom in opening accounts and doing business.
• Differences between USA and Chinese e-commerce – Explained some high level differences between USA and Chinese e-commerce. Key differences I mentioned was cashflow (payment in Alipay waiting until goods are delivered to buyer before funds given to seller) and chat/bargaining in China (taobao has chat integrated in the system and buyers bargain via chat and the price is changed during checkout)

It was a lot of fun. Attila was amazed as much as I. We were inside a Hollywood studio! Life is getting to be pretty amazing.

I’m seriously jetlagged, but wanted to get this blog post out there ASAP. Tomorrow is another jam packed day and I hope to get over this jet lag by morning.

Going through my notebook I found a page from an inspiring phone call I had with a startup addict in Shanghai. He asked I don’t use his name (why are so many people I talk to shy to use their name on the internet?) But I think the content of the conversation was so inspiring I’d type it up and blog about it.

Here goes my notes from my Shanghai business “mentor’s” motivational phone call:

1- desire – knowing what you want.
2- will – the hunger to get it, even when everyone says its crazy / impossible
3 – knowledge – not product knowledge- BUT KNOWLEDGE about themselves, who they are….their strengths and weaknesses and what kind of people they need around them.

People fear things that can’t be done. Cannot live by what others say.

Nobody complains about things

cultivate your belief
get away from negative people – surround yourself with positive people.

Enjoy what you do. Something you are good at.

If you want to make a lot of money – YOU HAVE TO WANT to make a lot of money. And making money is important.

Disruptions happens all the time. opportunity happens at any time.

We have to be ready to take it.

I don’t know if I agree with the money as a goal and a motivator, but I wanted to keep it in the excerpt to have the raw content.

But I really like it – DESIRE, WILL, and KNOWLEDGE the last part is awesome – knowledge about YOURSELF and your skills – and being able to find complimentary people around you to round it out.

And the DESIRE, the vision. So many of us do not have a clear vision…I really also need to work on it. I believe my vision is about bridging USA and Chinese internet and e-commerce industries. I believe we all have that question sometimes

What is my purpose in life

I think those who are successful in entrepreneurship, business, and just life generally, have a clear vision about who they are and what they want to get out of this time spent on earth.

Will is extremely hard….as I think anyone who really is passionate about something will hit speed bumps. And those bottoms in your career, your business, your personal life – those are the times that you see everyone around you trying to convince you to give up and try something else. Get a job, go back to America, change your business idea.

The will to keep going on, when everyone thinks you should give up, and even maybe you yourself question yourself – this exact time is when we test ourselves the most – and those times we survive longer than others can is when we will start to hit success.

In life, I have learned, its about sticking with something longer than the average person is willing to stick to it. If you can last longer than the majority, you will reach success.

I’m in LA now, will post about that later.

Incoming search terms:

• I will have business trave

Two full days this week in Shenzhen, China before heading to USA on Wednesday and I jammed as many meetings and work sessions as I could.

Monday I spent the day with HeroMeetsHero.com , the Foreign Trade Federation that I’m working on introducing to Americans since the beginning of the year, going through how our cooperation has gone since December, ways to better work together. EXCITING news is we are planning a massive B2C from China e-commerce conference, an annual meeting, Oct 11th to 12th, and I am working with them to make a 2 or 3 day pre-event for foreigners visiting China – to visit factories, e-commerce companies, logistics companies, lawyers. Doing the things I wish were here in China when I first came!!!

It takes a lot of communication. A lot of talk. A lot of back and forth. Cultural differences. Patience. Understanding. TIME. A lot of those items here are my weaknesses – so its been a challenge. But I am up for challenges.

Then today, Tuesday, spent the morning at Chaihuo hackerspace to meet the Shadstone consulting team before I went to USA. Some team building, but miscommunications and ended up getting a haircut before going to USA. Dug through tons of emails (hit inbox zero!) and just getting everyone in sync.

Startup Tuesday was tonight, my good old friend Huck Liang was presenting on “How to Start and Operate your B2B” ….he always keeps it real, tells it how it is – and has a mission not to “Cheat” foreigners and make it clear business. He helped a lot our mutual friend Alex from Brazil begin his sourcing business. Maybe he will make a training business to teach B2B business practices.

That is why I am sticking to this “China dream not being over“. Its such a challenge. So many differences. And China and USA are such massive economies, that cannot live with each other, and cannot live with each other.

Getting excited for my flight tomorrow. Living the dream, working hard, and trying not to stress out in the meantime.

A few years ago, I had the dream of having multiple streams of cashflow. Automate and outsource and collect the money. I had not put enough interest / attention to my USA e-commerce business, as well as having logistics problems and product sourcing problems (which brought me to China in the first place…to find that MAGIC factory that had all the products I needed, with no MOQ). I remember getting CEO advice on the road from SEOmom and she told me I have to make a decision, to build multiple businesses and find good people to manage all of them, or work on 1 at a time and do it well. Xing Gao also told me the same thing.

FOCUS, I crave focus.

So this weekend, I made it official, a friend running a Chinese e-commerce business will take over the operations for New York Bar Store and the USA ecommerce business, passing over logins and switching merchant accounts over now.

Felt…strange…but also good to sign over the weekend.

Lets rock.

This happened also a few years ago, I connected people, and then they both come back to me angry when it doesn’t work out. Is this my fault. Is this my responsibility?

I love meeting new people. I love believing what they say is at face value. But maybe….just due to the high volume of people I meet, I have to account for a certain percentage of people who may either not mesh well with the others, or are not who they say they really are.

Example Introductions Gone Bad…

Here are a few cases of introduction issues gone bad, to put some context in why I am writing this blog post. I don’t want to use names to keep it… simpler….

• Overly inquisitive counterpart – Many people come to me that want to be introduced to others I know. For hopes of getting an investment, getting information, or getting a deal. The more I network, the more people I know, and the more people want me to introduce them to others, etc etc. Its happened now a few times, people who want to find out all kinds of background information on someone I know and then they contact this person inquiring tons of information. I then get people complaining to me for people I introduce them to that is asking all kinds of direct and personal questions. Gets me in awkward situations sometimes.
• Angel Investor Unhappy about a Startup Investment – I Introduced a startup to an angel investor, things went along nicely at the beginning. But I got caught up in the middle when miscommunication happened. Terms made, signed, investment put in. Went along ok to start, but then the angel got angry and wanted to cancel and get his money back. The entrepreneurs used the funds for the best interests of the startup. The deal didn’t work out. Is that my responsibility? That is the risks in business. Felt bad about it,
• Discrepancies about position at a company he/she stated she was in, in order to get another position at a new company – I guess more like lying on his/her resume. I connected this person in to a group of friends and he was accepted by most. Rather quickly, he got opportunities to join some companies, but then questions started popping up about his past company experience and length of employment. I even received a call from the old company and it got a bit political, based on the amount of people this person had already met. I wasn’t sure what to do. Maybe it was a dispute in that company, how can I know? But if there is this rumor and doubt, should I share it with those in my network that are looking to engage a business cooperation?
• Customer not paying what he (verbally) said he would pay to a company I connected him with I am a hyper networker, and I am always blogging and tweeting what I’m doing. I was contacted about a previous post, and referred him to that company. They had been working together for a few months, maybe some mis-communications (and I have to hear about it). I started getting calls from both sides, CC’d on emails. I’m told to help, told that I was the one who knew this person and introduced them. Asked to mediate. But I am not financially in the transaction.

Of course, there are tons and tons of positive transactions from my connecting. It does create an awesome environment and ecosystem around me. But I am just highlighting some of the negative cases …. and openly blogging it to the world.

The worst part of it all is – I am just trying to help and am not even getting sales commissions for any of this.

How to Verify? Circles of Trust

Maybe I’ve been in China too long, but now I understand the value of circles, networks, “guanxi”. Who else knows this new person in the group? How do they know him/her. how long. In what manner. Especially when doing international business. Business between USA and China. Where its hard to verify. And people come and go so quickly. I’m learning to value these “circles” of guanxi and networks to help more quickly verify.

Makes me think of that movie “Meet The Parents” and the father’s “circle of trust” philosophy.

And when I meet new people who aren’t in these circles…I am going to have to be more cautious before I introduce them in the circle. Wondering if people have some suggestions here.

Maybe this should all change?

Not Only Verify, but Focus my Networking

I don’t want to get “snotty” or stuck up about who I meet and seem selective. But it is true, what advice I have gotten over and over. That I am too nice, too gullible. I have to protect myself, and protect my network more. I have sometimes been too easy, and the benefit of the doubt, in the situation, and seen people “get into the circle” and cause problems.

Plus have a purpose for networking. Focus for my own business as well. Its getting better, and blogging openly has helped me develop myself and those around me.

Overall Doing More Positive than Negative

This post mostly highlights some of the negative deals / outcomes. I have talked about some awesome events in previous blog posts and those who know me personally know all the awesome things that come out from this hyperactive networking.

Today I am just reflecting on all of it, may need to be a bit more selective and careful. But still have full intention of genuinely connecting people and building a strong ecosystem of successful people around me.

So I’ll try adjusting a bit, tweaking. For the better of everything and everyone around me, I hope!

[5/5/12 10:08:42 PM] Van: hey mike, read your blog post
[5/5/12 10:09:08 PM] Michael: cool, the one just published?
[5/5/12 10:09:23 PM] Van: yeah
[5/5/12 10:09:33 PM] Michaeli 迈理倪: cool. good one then?
[5/5/12 10:09:36 PM] Van: there’s a counter article about that
[5/5/12 10:09:41 PM] Michael: was a bit worried publishing it
[5/5/12 10:09:55 PM] Van: yes, i just read something called “let’s put a stop to networking”
[5/5/12 10:10:08 PM] Michael: a book?
[5/5/12 10:10:09 PM] Van: but the article is more like just building more solid business relationships
[5/5/12 10:10:30 PM] Van: or in other words, just be more picky
[5/5/12 10:10:35 PM] Van: no, an online article
[5/5/12 10:12:52 PM] Michael: cool, maybe u can leave a blog comment w/ that article link too
[5/5/12 10:12:57 PM] Michael: i love comments on the blog posts
[5/5/12 10:13:04 PM] Van: sure
[5/5/12 10:13:04 PM] Michael: yea, i will be more picky now….
[5/5/12 10:15:41 PM] Van: here is the link: http://www.dumblittleman.com/2008/02/stop-networking-and-start-building.html

Incoming search terms:

• in pursuit of happiness qualifying

I was just a bit too early in the year 2000 to be recognized as a social media guy…it did’t exist. Dang do I wish I kept it online since 2000 – but alas, blogging actively since early 2007 has been great. Met so many people, connected with so many people. Its truly priceless.

Dealing with Social Media while in China

And being in China as a social media guy, its been rough, with Facebook, twitter, and basically any other foreign social media channels blocked inside of the Chinese internet realm!

But being a social media guy in China, as a foreigner, it has also been an advantage. For many reasons, but one that sticks out the most –> NO ONE ELSE HAS BEEN ABLE TO PUT UP WITH IT! (Heck, I thought I left China in 2010…) With all the foreign internet companies basically non-existent in China, most of my Social media buddies cannot stand being in China. Most foreigners who stay in China are not internet fans – most are into English teaching, or traditional business such as import / export (trading), manufacturing, or even e-commerce (which is basically a form of trading).

It was what brought me back to China in late 2010, was the fact that there weren’t a lot of people with my experience. And that is what differentiated me. But I was still thinking…is this SEO, is this e-commerce, is this Social Media. Is this being a foreigner who can help Chines sell. Its been ongoing development and exploring. But its all been centralized on being open, being a blogger, being into social media.

And while being in China, I have gotten into Chinese social media, having an actively updated weibo – @michelini connecting with the Chinese community, learning what they want. Community, connecting…sounds like social media to me!

Benefits of Social Media

So, so…SOOO many of my friends do not understand why I spend so much time on social networks. I think as people get older, they think the new things are for kids. Like IM was for kids, but now skype is more common for me than a phone call. Social media is not just sharing photos of last weekend’s party photos…. it is about building an audience and connecting to that audience.

Learning what people want. And giving it to them. A form of inbound marketing.

Some of the real-life cases that have helped me in life, due to social media:

• Helped me find a mobile phone – I wanted to buy a new mobile phone back in 2009, and I posted a facebook post that I wanted to buy a new phone and didn’t know which one to buy. Got tons of feedback, and actually one of my friends in Shenzhen, Guilhem, (this was before facebook was blocked in China!) offered me his Nokia e63 for a deep discount as he didn’t need it anymore. Sweet, bought and he delivered same day to my office!
• Help me get on GDTV in China – Being active on Chinese weibo, I have connected with reporters and TV channels, getting a 30 minute TV special show – all by being connected by weibo!
• Real time Chinese translation – a few times I’ve been in a bind with what a Chinese sign means, so I post on weibo and get real time feedback and answers. So cool and interactive!
• Discover old friends in areas I’m traveling – I’m going to Los Angeles next week, I searched my facebook friends for Los Angeles and didn’t even know some of them live there now! I contacted them and will be re-connecting with them by the end of next week!
• Find locals in new cities while traveling – When I’m traveling in new cities, I use foursquare and see who else is checked in to my current location. I will message them and get ideas and advice about what to do around town. I have made some interesting business connections this way, and stay in touch with them over the years.
• People know what I am doing, and help me! – sure, so many people are afraid to blog to the world their life…but they never realize the POSITIVE this does, how can someone help you, if they don’t know the problems you are facing? Nevermind problems, just what business you are doing. Everyone mentions the power of who you know, but if they don’t know what you are doing, how can they help you!
• Help choosing a mobile phone carrier in Philippines – I was wondering what phone carrier to get, so I started tweeting questions about Globe vs Sun vs Smart. I was getting real time answers and then started tallying up the votes. The winning vote did turn out to be the best deal, plus they were all heavy data users (duh, they are on mobile phones in social media!) so I found one perfect for me, recommended by people like me!
• Remembering organizers for Guangzhou startup weekend – Old friends contact me on foursquare, Nrupesh saw me checking in on foursquare in Guangzhou yesterday, and I forgot to call him – he messaged me about getting involved in organizing! how awesome! So when I check in to a new city, it shows me who is around me in that city from my friends list. If I miss someone there, they can see me checking in and contact me.
• Suggestions on fixing my Mac Air – so many of my friends in twitter and path know I have a screen issue with my mac air. I have gotten suggestions on how to repair it, from forgetting an Asian-based Apple store to fix it and take it to USA where they’ll fix it no problem, to some second hand ideas, some kind of add-ons (with part numbers and links to amazon!), to using it as a desktop at home. Its been an ongoing story for a few weeks, and today when it miraculously fixed itself, my friends were as happy as me! Crazy to carry on a story over time in social media.

There are so many more cases, I can go on forever….but you get the point. I do this hyperactively all day, connecting with people.

My Career in Social Media

Nik said the other day, I do social media as if its my job! Well, it has been, saying I’m a social media consultant there and here in 2010…but have not standardized how to do it. especially in China – where I’m seen as a “foreigner who can sell” and is only offered commission on sales….I can’t make a living off that. And its not fair!

Social Media training in the local South China area has helped out a lot. Bringing exposure and getting cashflow.

And recently have been doing more and more Chinese social media for western companies coming into the China market. Or even doing social media in China for foreign brands that are attracting them to their home country for tourism!

Finding one’s niche takes a long time sometimes, especially when in a foreign country. Think this is the right niche for me, and am happier then ever.

focus! but be happy.

Incoming search terms:

• blogspot can you see me? emmi
• foreign brands chinese social media
• social media for foreigner in china

Last month I blogged about a Canadian university in China to recruit. They see me as a white guy working with Chinese startups and e-commerce companies, perfect gateway to reach their clients. They offer some sort of commission on students I refer, which is cool I guess.

In September last year, my buddy Ish came from USA, selling NYC real estate in Hong Kong, he was doing this in response to the overwhelming demand his company was receiving from Asia / China. He setup a consultant to setup trade shows in Hong Kong for him – and they made a tons of sales!

I’ve gotten a lot of attention because of my internet marketing / social media specialities, and have been getting quite a lot of follow ups from real estate agents who want to try to have me help them promote their USA / overseas real estate to upper scale Chinese.

Below is an example of what I would be pitching, bringing in these real estate sales reps to Shenzhen, China to have a seminar on buying property overseas:

Dear Michael,

Hope your well mate.

Took me a few days but finally got it done.
The following below is what I am sending to new clients to stir up interest and to create appointments, with the view to making some sales.
As you can see, I have only included my personal contact details and not the companys, in order to take ownership of the client.

A similar alternative can be made without using the IP Global name.
It can be positioned from an educational perspective such as:
Learn about International Property investment!! what to look for when considering a purchase, what to avoid, precise financials etc.

For a free consultation please email or Call

Paul comes to Shenzhen once a month to speak to clients who are keen to learn the right formula to International property investment. Contact me to book your appointment etc.

Something along these lines I think would be the right way to go about drumming up some business.

Look forward to hearing from you.

Speak soon mate and take care,

Best Regards,
Paul

INTERNATIONAL PROPERTY INVESTMENT

Dear ,

My name is Paul, educated and licensed in Real Estate by the Real Estate Institute (Australia). I have over 8 years experience in financial planning and real estate investment across 9 international markets including China. In that time, I provided professional consultations to my clients and have successfully assisted them in building profitable investment portfolios.

We’re an Investment house that assists their clients with their portfolio to gain substantial returns by using property as the asset class.

Stable emerging and recovering markets are the main focus where risks are minimal and returns on your investments are greater.

Based in Hong Kong with offices in Singapore, England, Kuala Lumpur, Dubai and Shanghai, IP Global conducts extensive due diligence to source the best investment opportunities for our clients and then offer a full suite of services, walking clients through the purchasing process from legal’s, mortgage finance, lettings and management and right through to re-sales.

Reply email or CALL: to book a complimentary 30 minute consultation at our office in Wan Chai or at your office.

But its not just selling American real estate….its selling USA passport visa, the right for their future children to go to school in America. I have been tweeting about it, foursquarin’, and chit chatting all over my social media about the concept – some think I am turning my back on America, selling undervalued / declining American real estate properties to Chinese in exchange for greencards.

What is wrong with it – China has all the money now. And these upper class Chinese want to send their children to America for a better education, a better life.

I think I will host these types of events, or is it outside of my expertise / focus.

Incoming search terms:

• inurl: blog/#comment
• 2012 hong kong real estate agent sell shanghai real estate
• business start-up 2012 comments inurl:blog -service -services -intitle:service -intitle:services
• china seo for real estate
• companies pitching real estate sales overseas

Hero Meets Hero foreign trade federation in Shenzhen (where I cooperate) has a bunch of Chinese e-commerce companies that have their warehouse and operations in LA, and I also have cooperated with tons of Chinese there. Being on the west coast of America, its easiest for those buying from China to do business there (shortest time for ocean containers to arrive, as well as cheapest)

I have been talking to a bunch of people about organizing it, Attila has a projector and will be coming to meetup. He has suggested Shore hotel in Santa Monica (but its $500usd for an evening to rent). I have a few potential speakers. Just wondering how formal to make it.

So may as well publich it on my blog and get some feedback, as well as link this post to friends as I tell them about out

What: Meetup to share ideas about doing business in China, try to stay on topics such as e-commerce, internet marketing, social media.

When: Saturday, May 12th, 2012

What time: afternoon, 2pm to 5pm. Optional dinner afterwards, pay your own way.

Where:
6733 South Sepulveda Blvd, Suite 270 Los Angeles CA 90045

Who: Mike Michelini will share his experiences doing business in China, e-commerce, social media.
Steve (Attila) Canadian spent 8 years in China, now living in USA.
Lisa Santos – e-commerce warehousing in LA
Open to others

Who can come: those interested to network with others doing business in China, both Chinese living in L.A. and “native” Americans.

How Much: Free, but please RSVP before hand,

Why: Learn how others are doing business with China. Share ideas, network. International business has a lot to do with your network, and who you know! This should be a great chance!

What language: Primarily English, but may throw some Chinese in the presentations!

How to RSVP – email laevent @ shadstone.com or call my USA mobile when I’m in LA +1 772 405 7828

Again, I will update this blog post as this May 12 China business meetup develops. Its just a bit rushed, typing this blog post about 2 weeks away from the event, only thought of the idea last week! Lots of people are interested, and its my only Saturday free while visiting America. Its also considering if people would want to pay, and have it in a nice venue with food, and multiple speakers.

I think no matter what I want to meet as many people doing business with China as possible while I’m in USA for those 2 weeks (between May 9 to May 22, in LA and Seattle) so contact me!

Only live life once, have to keep “pushing the envelope” – and make things happen.

UPDATES
Monday May 8 – we finally confirmed a venue for this saturday’s meetup. I’m updating it on facebook (http://www.facebook.com/events/119712718164930/) and twitvite (http://twtvite.com/chinaBizLA)

My friend Erik’s friend in LA, Vincent, has meeting rooms in his company at the below address:
6733 South Sepulveda Blvd, Suite 270 Los Angeles CA 90045

Lets hope we get a good turnout!

Incoming search terms:

• business networking events los angeles may 12 2012
• l a chinese bussines

Photo in today’s blog is my rather lower emotional photo….taken tonight at a local Chinese BBQ stand. I am trying my best to deal with the stress of closing a company. Telling customers and suppliers you are no longer operating it.

As I have already publicly blogged, i’m closing my first business… I have already re-incorporated it 3 times, from a NY general partnership to a NJ S corp, to a C corp, and then rolled it into a Florida corp I already had existing.

OPENING A company is easy! And yet that is where all this focus on startups is. Opening a company, registering, etc etc. MAN!!! Winding down a company is HARD!! Like what Steve Forte just went through exiting a startup, I was keen on this topic not just for selling a company, but closing it. And he did cover the idea of ASSET based sale versus a SHARE based sale of a company. The buyer will always want to do an ASSET based sale, because the new buyer just picks the good stuff from a company, leaving the liabilities and other risks to the current owners to deal with. Steve explained some issues he had when he did his first sale, and it was asset. He explained how you can sell a company’s assets, and be left with employee contracts to close, office leases, and other debts that the new buyer doesn’t have to deal with.

And governments really start to audit your books once you try to close. As its their last chance to check for any unpaid taxes or liabilities you may have had. And letters from government offices are never welcoming and friendly.

I’m going through those annoying parts of closing a company. Its part of business 101. Hearing your regular customers complain about it, suppliers worrying about you paying your outstanding bills. Debts to pay off, credit card, bank accounts, merchant accounts.

Its sloppy, sensitive, and is making me a bit emotional.

I’ve been proud of myself for dealing with it in such a calm matter. I think maybe being in China over the past 5 years has helped me deal with stress better. As its so insane here day in and day out – so many people, so much action. That dealing with a company dissolution is not so hard.

Its all part of the process. To learn, to grow. This is my MBA (see my blog post from November 2007 –> Who needs an MBA EXPERIENCE! Like I had asked for so many years ago. Its fun for me to read back on this blog. It has helped me grow. People know me better too. My dad and mom don’t ask so many questions, the blog gives a good summary. Strangers understand me better…which is a bit strange, but I believe then they know what I can offer, what my experiences are, and connect with me.

So here we go, out with the bad, and on to focus and new adventures.

Newest venture will be posted soon. Tweeted some sneak previews….for those on twitter.

Stay tuned.

Incoming search terms:

• when best to wind down close down sell off
• wind down a china business

Here is our writeup Rachel and Steve put together from the website:

Stephen Forte, April 24th

Stephen Forte is the Chief Strategy Officer of the venture backed company, Telerik, a leading vendor of developer and team productivity tools. Involved in several startups, he was the co-founder of Triton Works, which was acquired by UBM (London: UBM.L) in 2010 and was the Chief Technology Officer and co-founder of Corzen, Inc., which was acquired by Wanted Technologies (TXV: WAN) in 2007. Prior to Corzen, Stephen served as the CTO of Zagat Survey in New York City (acquired by Google in 2011) and also was co-founder of the New York-based software consulting firm The Aurora Development Group. Stephen is also a Certified Scrum Master, Certified Scrum Professional, PMP, and also speaks regularly at industry conferences around the world. He has written several books on application and database development. Stephen has an MBA from the City University of New York. Stephen is also a board member of the Scrum Alliance. An avid mountain climber, Stephen leads a trek in the Mt. Everest region every fall to raise money for charity. Stephen lives in Hong Kong with his wife.

Stephen’s topic is on : “Exiting tactics for a startup”

Because so many people ask me whats the topic this week at Startup Tuesday, I thought it would be effective to make 1 post, before the meetup, and then update the same post after the meetup – so this will be the first week I use 1 blog post to say the BEFORE and then the AFTER below it…hope this doesn’t confuse people too much.

Will post more AFTER the event below — End for now.

after the meetup
Really above and beyond my expectations! We really should have recorded it. Steve uploaded his slides for everyone on slideshare, exiting a software startup

Exiting a Software Start-up — Presentation Transcript

1. Begin With the End in Mind
A little something about exits
Stephen Forte
twitter @worksonmypc
Weibo: @SteveForte

2. Warning!
Don’t start a company in order to get rich

Your chances of success are very, very low!

That said, if you want to learn about exits, start here

3. Definitions

Legal term:
change of control Someone has taken legal ownership of your company Usually when someone acquires your company

Legal term: liquidity
event Someone invests in your company, IPO

4. Type of Exits
Acquisition
Asset v Share
Merger
Reverse Merger
IPO

5. Motives for an Acquisitions (buyer)

Strategic Acquisition
Expansionary/Entering new Geography
Integrative/Supply Chain

6. Ways to price an acquisition

Public-private arbitrage
DCF/NPV analysis
Cost savings

7. You sold your company, so you’re rich, right?
Cash up front
Cash + equity up front
Installments (cash/equity)
Earn-out (cash/equity)
EBITA based
Any performance metrics

8. When to Sell?

New co/pre-revenue
Usually an earn out (unless strategic)
Dependent on the owner’s ability to execute
Early revenue/no profits
Will usually bring out the DCF analysis
Usually the Lowest valuation
Profitable/mature Public-private arbitrage Best Valuation
Post-mature

9. Stages of an exit
Negotiation leads to an offer
Letter of Intent (LOI)
Due Diligence (DD)
Legal Documents (“Docs”)
Re-negotiation of the LOI!
Close

10. How Investors Effect an Exit Investor may push to sell too early VC’s usually have warrants against your company Your ownership is diluted Your company will be *much* better structured for an exit Investor will be dispassionate at the exit (you will be emotional)
11. Q&A

He and I want to work to bring together foreigners + Chinese in South China, he’s more focused on the music and artist industry, while I’m more into the entrepreneur / e-commerce industry. But events are where it happens. We discussed passion for connecting people – using the internet to bring people together!

Events take time, resources, and people. PASSION. So I’m excited to be talking with Rue about this cooperation. Also on welcoming new foreigners coming to China. Packages for picking foreigners up from the airport, touring them around, business introductions, Canton fair guide, etc. These events will help us learn what people want, and brainstorm.

What: Canton Fair informal meetup

When: Wednesday April 25, 2012

What time: Starts around 7pm, I should be there earlier.

Cost: Free, just buy your own food / beer / drinks.

Where: Hooleys Irish Pub, right across the river from canton fair. 10 minute taxi
Hooley’s Irish pub and restaurant,
101, 8 Xing Sheng Lu,
Zhujiang New Town,
Guangzhou,
tel: (020) 3886 2675

We are conveniently located in the heart of Zhujiang New Town in close proximity to the major hotels in the area including “The W”, “The Jumeirah” and “The Ritz-Carlton” on Xing Sheng Lu.

The closest Metro stop is only a 5 min walk away at Liede Metro (Exit D).

http://www.hooleys-pub.com/

Why: Just get a few people together to have some fun, network. I wish there were these kind of meetups when I was first coming to China!

Rue and I will both take a bus up from Shenzhen to Guangzhou first thing in the morning. Will update more as I go – hope to take some more Shenzhen people with us if interested!

Got a lot of interested people who are here this week, and couldn’t make last weeks. Stay tuned…