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’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…

I guess its like the saying goes “be careful what you wish for”. My previous office, was 1 massive room with a glass dividing wall between the office and the main room - NO privacy. So looking to move, I wanted to have multiple rooms, and areas that I could have private meetings with staff and visitors. Here is a pic of my new office, on the top floor (i’m in a multi-level villa now)

Sure, its a sweet place. I love the “dirty” industrial feel, paint chips on the wall - think it was a CNC machine shop before I moved in, as there are tons of vents and hookups connecting different rooms (and a old sign with a CNC machine to give it away, heh)

But this is what I like - a down and dirty, no frills - flexible work space. But the staff is downstairs from me……I think they’re happier as now I have to yell from upstairs and its more difficult for me to do “gut reaction” responses. I have to plan my trips to talk to them more. I create more scheduled meetings. I’m more of a boss now. Scary guy upstairs in his private office……getting called here is a big deal.

But I dont like being the scary boss. The guy in the office calling people in. I want to be the friendly, approachable person. That you can feel comfortable around, share your ideas. Be creative.

But maybe I have to change, at least maybe in China I have to change. I keep getting told “if you are too nice, people will take advantage of you”. Or the saying “if you make yourself out to be an ass (donkey), others won’t have a problem riding you”. And sadly, I think that is the chinese culture. The boss has to be strong. The boss has to be firm. He has to put others in their place, tell them what to do, and not give them options.

My problem is I try to give people options. To be more diplomatic.

So, as I am going through such a huge transition - office move, business re-focus and consolidation into US ecommerce, and cultural challenges….I’m getting the feeling of being left alone in an office. Day and night.

Sure, I keep saying, I will automate my work, I will create workflows. I will be able to travel. I think its getting closer to that, and I need to travel, I need a vacation.

So maybe separating my office from the staff is good, in the long term. I want them to make decisions independently, so that they can manage themselves. This, then, will make the company work on its own - not by my “micromanaging” each step of their job. And hopefully decrease my stress level.

Just sharing my ideas, and feelings. Maybe this is the next step - and maybe this office will be empty a lot as i’m traveling to Thailand, USA, or wherever. That is what I want to do, build international business relations. Strategic alliances. Doing deals, making things happen - so I should be lonely in my office, the days I am working, and get the job done that much faster and more efficiently.

Have to share this greatttttttttt email I received today, makes me sleep well at night. Unreal people out there like this. But I want to share, some of the after effects of firing someone. The guy lost me customers, was lazy, and did his own work during company hours.

Anyway, received the below email (exact copy / paste) from a yahoo email address.

hello sir

THIS IS AN EMAIL TO ASK YOU FOR A FEW DETAILS FOR MY COMPANY AS I HAVE BEEN ASKED TO OBTAIN THEM DUE TO YOUR RECENT DISERGREMENT WITH (_____xxxxx I deleted this name) OVER PAY, I WOULD ADVISE YOU THAT WE WILL BE SEEKING TO TAKE YOU TO COURT OVER THIS MATTER AND NOT JUST THROUGHT LOSS OF MONEY BUT ALSO COMPENSATION AND ALL LEGEL FEE’S FOR THIS MATTER, CAN YOU PLEASE SEND ME YOU CONTACT DETAILS AND IF YOU HAVE A LAWYER THERE DETAILS ALSO SO WE CAN DEAL DIRECT WITH THEM IF YOU LIKE.
I MUST ADVISE THIS IS SEPERAT FROM THE ACTION THAT WILL BE TAKEN BY THE CHINA EMPLOYMENT OFFICE THAT WAS INFORMED ON THURSDAY LAST WEEK AND ALSO THE TAX OFFICE THAT WILL BE INVESTIGATING YOU FOR TAX, I WISH YOU COULD HAVE DELT WITH THIS MATTER IN A DIFFERENT WAY BUT AS YOU SEEM TO THINK THAT MARK IS A PUSH OVER THEN I WILL BE HANDLEING THIS MATTER MYSELF,
I WILL ALSO LIKE TO ADD ON A PERSONAL NOT I KNOW YOUR DETAILS AND WERE YOUR NEW OFFICE IS ALREADY AND ITS ONLY MARK THAT IS KEEPING ME AWAY FROM COMING TO SEE YOU PERSONALY IF YOU GET WHAT I MEAN AND AS FOR YOUR CHINES GIRL THE ONE THAT SORTED OUT THE PAPERS I HOPE SHE ISN’T AFRAID OF THE DARK AND HOPE YOU ARE NOT TOO AS THINGS CAN HAPPEN ON A DARK NIGHT GOING HOME, I HOPE YOU COME TO YOUR SENCES BEFOR ITS TO LATE AS I AM JUST WAITING FOR PEMISION FROM THE LOCALS TO ACT AS MOVING AGAINST YOU WILL BE OK BUT TO MOVE AGAINST ONE OF THE LOCALS IS NOT ALOUD WITHOUT PERMISION FROM THE TRIAD.
HOPE YOU HAVE A NICE DAY
AND THANKS

Imagine this guy? Anyway, should I carry a knife with me when I walk outside? He even threatens my admin - a 24 year old girl! Jeeeeez, you can threaten me, but a young Chinese girl? amazing. Doing some research, I quickly found out who the person was, even though they seemed to try to hide it.

Imagine all the threats I’ve received my whole life. One boyfriend who got upset with me because his girlfriend liked me (he jumped me with 3 of his friends in a park), others about buyouts of products and business. Others about gossip in high school. The list does go on. Maybe I’m a bad guy? Sometimes I just have my breaking point. Nice up to a point, and if someone keeps pushing me, I switch from nice to cold.

I guess its part of running a small business. And being a solo foreigner far away from friends and family doesnt help either….

The older i get, the more i keep realizing, companies aren’t products or services….they are groups of people fighting to grow - working hard to add value to an industry, to educate people in their following, and to build a great team.

Thats why i realize its essential to attract and retain top performers in the industry you provide….

How do you do this? You have to represent the industry, live and breath it. Set an example for others to follow. To work hard and fight alongside the team.

Then there is the idea of DISC method (above) to evaluate people is a great tool I have tried to implement in business.  Its the idea that you need to have the proper mix of people in a team / company to offset strengths.

• Dominance: Direct and Decisive.
  D’s are strong-willed, strong-minded people who like accepting challenges, taking action, and getting immediate results
• Influence: Optimistic and Outgoing.
  I’s are “people people” who like participating on teams, sharing ideas, and energizing and entertaining others.
• Steadiness: Sympathetic and Cooperative.
  S’s are helpful people who like working behind the scenes, performing in consistent and predictable ways, and being good listeners.
• Conscientiousness: Concerned and Correct.
  C’s are sticklers for quality and like planning ahead, employing systematic approaches, and checking and re-checking for accuracy.

If you are a businessman, I think you should try your best to get a good balance of the above people in your group.  You need each part here, and you need to realize that no one person can be every part.

I took this exam when I was at Deutsche Bank, I ended up being a D and an I - meaning I am pretty dominant / extroverted as well as Influencial trying to push my sales / ideas onto others…. I have tried to grow that over time and realize S and C just aren’t my strengths and I need to find people to fill those.

There is a difference between leaders and managers - Leaders trailblaze the path (with a machete knife cutting down the jungle), and the manager helps to build and develop the road to the new destination. Both need each other to survive.

I think that is why sports athletes are said to make good CEOs, because they can lead groups, they are strong physically (yea, well being a bit intimidating helps push across your ideas), and can deal under stressful situations and stress.

Same goes for military, those from the army learn to work in teams, organize a plan, and execute orders.

Sadly…i was never involved in either a sports team or military, actually, i thought i would join the military when i was younger, it seemed “sexy” in that you were seen as a glorified warrior, fighting for your country, protecting women and children back home.

But in high school, during recruitment phase, i got high grades in the exams but couldnt take orders….they were already ordering me around and i didnt even sign the contract yet.

That is why i love the internet……i can blog about what i want…..people read because they want to. People work in an e commerce company, sure for money, but also to learn and grow their mind. We all go through challenges together, we learn, we fight, we expand….

There are no boundaries, no hierarchies, study, learn, network

Sad that governments and company firewalls try to hold people down and trap them in into working and thinking a certain way.

Internet will continue to thrive and break boundaries

When i titled my blog “happiness in pursuit” i had the movie Forrest Gump behind it as well. Watched it countless times, and again just this past Sunday evening. Sure, its an old movie, and maybe there are tons of reviews existing, but this is my interpretation and critique of the movie.

Follow destiny - Sure, he may not be the most intelligent person, but he just stayed positive, and lets life take him where it takes him. He doesn’t seem to let life get him down - and when a door opens, and he likes it, he takes it…

Let life go the way - “life is like a Box of chocolates, you never know what you’re gonna get” , Just deal with what you have, and don’t complain about the “cards” you are dealt with in life. If you focus on what you don’t have, you will never get it! Just deal with it!
Give more - don’t worry about what someone is going to give you back! Just give unconditionally, and hope that the general will of people will help you when you need it too.
Build strong relationships - He meets many people in his life, in his life adventure - but he keeps good relations with those he trusts. And he has good judgement of character, and those trust him back genuinely and openly.
What is love - maybe forrest is “stupid”, but he isnt dumb! The older and “wiser” i become, the more i realize how more enjoyable life can be in a simple way. We get “smarter” and overthink things (i am notoriously bad at that), when actually we should follow our hearts and go with spending time with people we enjoy being with. Not for any other benefit - wether that be money, social status, family wishes, or career. Life and love is about spending time with people who we are happy passing the days with.

Others making money off your ideas - He just freely shares his idea for a Smily Face t-shirt, bumper stickers “shit happens” - he isn’t hiding his ideas and keeping to himself to later make money. He just goes with the flow, and makes money off the ideas he is well positioned to capitalize on.

Money - “only what u need, the rest is for showing off”. I like that concept. Of course, saving for a rainy day is necessary - especially looking at how American’s have been saving.

Makes me miss “home” - watching forrest run to his mama after coming home from vietnam war, or graduating college, or other milestones in his life, makes me realize how important spending time with family and loved ones is. We shared our young life with our parents, changed our diapers, put up with our whining, and did their best to guide us to be the people we have formed into today. We should always feel gracious for that, and make every effort to spend time and give back…. But…..im on the other side of the world right now, trying my best to become a better person each day…and they understand….but i still miss them dearly

But yes, I like to watch Forrest Gump movie for motivation on a regular basis. A “stupid” guy that takes life as it comes, deals with the cards he was dealt in life, and makes the best of it. Cheers to that.

I remember being a little boy, looking upwards at adults, wow, so tall, so smart, so experienced. My problem, is in some ways i treat myself still like that little boy looking up at the big boys, why?

Sure, i am 28.5 years old now, is that young/old, smart/dumb, experienced/fresh - NO

I am a big boy, and why cant i be the next donald trump, richard branson, or steve jobs? Because of how much money i have? Because who i know? Because what school i went to, NO!

Only we, our own self, hold ourselves back….

Even to this day, i am amazed how far i have made it, i have a decent office, good + hard working staff, supportive friends, and loyal customers….

But….

I want more. i can achieve it, i have to remain confident, and not think going higher and reaching for the stars is not possible. We all need this mindset…..it takes daily practice, our outlook on life has to refocus. Challenge ourselves.

But also, stand up for yourself, especially in business - i feel almost every day someone tries to “one up” me and slip something past me to gain an advantage,

And while, yes, its business….it also has to remind us that we deserve to get paid, that we are valuable in the service or product we offer I think that is why sports players are known to be good at business, they know its a game, a race, a battle, and a competition We all need to keep our eye on the ball, while also taking some time to gaze at the stars Nice! Now get up and go do it!

I have to admit, it has always been difficult for me to fully trust a person…..which, is the opposite many people think of me. Often i am told i trust too easily (especially what chinese people say about all foreigners), BUT i think my main difference is that i trust easily on a limited basis, but for full trust, that is rare.
One example - back in usa when i was in college, a group of us would drive up to a drive-up bank ATM and the driver would take out cash for everyone. When your card came up, you would say outloud how much cash you wanted and your PIN password….i would always pass on this event, even if they were friends id know a long time…it just didn’t seem right. And while i would trust them enough for medium level life trust events, just never comfortable having someone else drive my car, or use my keys for things.
I realize in life, and especially in business, we cannot grow as a person or as a business if we do not confide in others around us.
Especially being in china, where i still cannot read the chinese characters, i have to trust friends and coworkers with what in the usa i would never so openly share (contracts, invoices, etc).
But in having this happen to me, it has forced me to realize two things;
1) trust more in others to grow
2) learn chinese

But recently i have delegated and empowered even more….for 2 reasons, 1) to grow my business and 2) to have more personal time (seems that is still taking some time)
But this process has been difficult for me, personally,
For example, sales, i have usually always had the primary relationship with company accounts, but now i have to take an inquiry and have a colleague take the lead….
This makes me nervous for 2 reasons;
1) i seem to be a control freak
2) i am afraid the coworker will leave the company

This has been most strenuous the past couple weeks, as i am away from the office a good amount of time, and i have to delegate so much….transitioning from an “on the fence” type B personality to a “full blown” type B personality..so i get edgy and fight myself internally
So that is why i need to rely on good people, and i almost call them my “family”
My colleague, and friend, mark, pointed out that i always hire inexperienced fresh graduates, and thinks its due to this lack of trust of an experienced worker…. Yes i have to admit, that is a big part as to why. But a couple others are salary requirements, as well as…..i think it would be odd to hire people much older then myself.
But…look, i am trying. Also, i am more experienced myself. And older. Plus i believe i have a solid staff and loyal clients who value the services i provide and the person i am.
Rock on, and if i get screwed over….guess i will blog about it!

Wow, reading this financial article about the top 10 US bankruptcies…and 3 on the list just happened this month! GM today, Chrysler April 30, and Thornburg Mortgage on May 1.

My friends back at Deutsche Bank Distressed Debt Desk MUST BE BUSY AS EVER! I remember how much work it was to work through the mess for Enron, worldcom, united airlines, and others. Good opportunity to be on the junk bond trading floors in NYC I can imagine. Would be a lot of action right now, haha

I remember the huge news about Enron and Worldcom being huge disasters for investors, but those are below 2 that happened late last year (Lehman and Washingon Mutual), and GM is also above Enron in size.

————————————————
Company, Bankruptcy Date, Assets

Lehman Brothers Holdings Inc., Sept. 15, 2008, $691.06 billion

Washington Mutual Inc., Sept. 26, 2008, $327.91 billion

WorldCom Inc., July 21, 2002, $103.91 billion

General Motors Corp., June 1, 2009, $91.05 billion-x

Enron Corp., Dec. 2, 2001, $65.50 billion

Conseco Inc., Dec. 17, 2002, $61.39 billion

Chrysler LLC, April 30, 2009, $39.30 billion

Thornburg Mortgage Inc., May 1, 2009, $36.52 billion

Pacific Gas and Electric Co., April 6, 2001, $36.15 billion

Texaco Inc., April 12, 1987, $34.94 billion

x-GM listed $91.05 billion in assets in its annual report as of Dec. 31, 2008, but listed $82.29 billion in assets as of March 31, 2009, in its bankruptcy petition.

source - http://finance.yahoo.com/news/A-look-at-the-top-10-US-apf-15400204.html?.v=3 and bankruptcydata.com
—————————————–

So imagine how many small, personal investors have lost everything these past few months.

We have to appreciate what we have, keep on pushing, and never be 100% invested in 1 stock. I can only image those family investments holding GM stock and bonds.

A sad day, truly

Surfing around twitter and the overload of blogs, and its almost sad to see how people sell themselves out in hopes of getting some affiliate income. But this world where anyone can jump online and make a blog with some links to hope to make some money. Below I had to take some snapshots, they are pretty humorous.

How low will they go?

I removed the face on this guy, but I can just imagine the scheme he got himself into. Just hope he didn’t pay a fee to “get a free website that will autogenerate cash”. Push tons of twitter followers onto these scams sites, if they fall for the same scam you fell for, you’ll get a percentage of the crap they just bought. Sad.

Make anything up.

But its a good lesson, and I think it will get these people to learn more about the internet and online business. So in the long run, it would be worth it.

I guess I can admit I have fallen for some of these scams. Maybe they do have genuine possible returns, but the 0.0001% of people who realize it, the general masses will not be happy. I used Storesonline back in 2004 and I would say the majority of people who signed up

Like Those Stories in College
Look to your left, and look to your right, 1 of you will not graduate. That is a story I remember people would say happen during the opening orientation of university. I feel the same is in the internet world. So many blogs, websites, twitter accounts. All the hopefuls dreaming of big cash, logging into their online bank with 6 or 7 digits of cash. We all hav that dream, who wouldn’t. But not everyone can achieve it. Those willing to work hard, study hard, and adapt to the changing internet landscape will survive. And…oh yea, you have to enjoy it wholeheartedly!

Made a quick graph, kind of funny, but I would say its true. As people lose their jobs, and have tough economic strains, they fall victim more to online money making rings. And in today’s online environment, its easier then ever to get started and hooked….Sadly, there isn’t a shortage of companies willing to scam you out of your hard earned cash.

So don’t give up, keep your chin up, learn, and try. And yea, try to enjoy it at the same time.