Just read this article:

Toyota is latest car maker hit by strike in China

Toyota says assessing impact of strikes that have hit 2 China-based parts suppliers

Elaine Kurtenbach, AP Business Writer, On Friday June 18, 2010,
SHANGHAI (AP) — Toyota Motor was assessing the impact Friday from strikes that hit two of its China-based parts suppliers, the latest unrest among migrant workers who are the backbone of the country’s industrial sector.

Workers at a plastic parts factory of Toyota Motor Corp. affiliate Toyoda Gosei Co. in the northeastern city of Tianjin went on strike Thursday, forcing the plant’s production line to shut down in the afternoon, said Toyoda Gosei spokesman Tomotaka Ito, at the company’s headquarters in Aichi, Japan.

That walkout followed a one-day strike by workers at another Toyoda Gosei unit and Toyota supplier, Tianjin Star Light Rubber and Plastic Co., which ended Wednesday after the company agreed to review the pay for its 800 workers.

“We are aware of the strike at Tianjin Toyoda Gosei. We are checking its impact on production … and will continue to closely monitor the situation,” said Toyota spokesman Hideaki Homma.

Ito said Toyoda Gosei was still negotiating with workers over their demand for higher wages.

Workers are demanding higher wages. Foxconn has just doubled salary in Shenzhen due to suicides, other factories have been raising salary as well. It is the big factories and companies first….then it will trickle down to smaller companies and factories too.

But people say then, the DOMESTIC market will hold it up. The Chinese consumer will buy more goods and then no longer need to be dependent on the EXPORT market…..but if factories leave to Thailand, Cambodia, Vietnam, etc …..where is the salary and income going to come from? Sure, there is a developing middle class….but, how sustainable and developed is it?

It is sad, but it is life…..China has been growing so rapidly, amazing…..but lately its grown too much, too fast. Costs are rising…..people need more money to live – therefore pushing up salary. But then, foreign companies have to make a choice, what to do…..

Here are some reasons i would consider it more:

If it were kept private – i think the feeling of winning the lottery must be one of the greatest in ones lifetime, but having it announced on the television has gotta suck….imagine all your friends out there who maybe you haven’t talked to in so long – contacting you for jobs, business opportunities, investments, the list goes on and on.  And if you don’t take them up on their offer, they will curse you and never be your friend again.

Imagine the lawsuits – I worry about this too, I heard a story a bout guy in Southern USA, had a small business doing housing and construction – he won the lottery, and then all these companies and customers knew he had a lot of money ,found reasons in previous deals and contracts they had with him – sued him for all he had – and BANKRUPTED HIM.

MORE MONEY, MORE PROBLEMS - Its a rap song I remember from my younger days…but I also think its true to life.

Same with business…..I / people fight so hard to make a business – when  you do make it, there will be a line of people there to try to get money out of you.

In another way, its a saying – be careful what you wish for…….everyone wants to be rich and famous, but then once  you are famous – you hide from the cameras and lead a secret life – is that really worth it?  You worked so hard for everyone to know you, once you are known, you don’t want people to see you.  Strange.

People always want what they cannot have.

Maybe if I make money (one day…., still breaking even making ends meet) I will want more?  Will it be enough – set a goal.  Reach the goal, then what.

Maybe overtired today, but brainstorming…reflecting, and sharing.

This parallel phenomena was the first company I incorporated… back in 2004 as a general partnership in new york city with my hometown friend and roommate Andrew Moran – which then turned into parallel phenomena, inc of New Jersey in 2005.
Did it fail in USA? Yes. Why? Of course there can be many finger pointing,, but the major issue was cash flow. Our company credit card program from GE was “bought out” by american express, and they determined this card program was not profitable, so gave all card customers 30 days (maybe 60) to pay it off in full.  No equity partners were willing/able to finance a new one. A huge negative cash flow event, forcing us to be called on 10,000 usd of debt while also still needing to make normal business purchases of that same $10k, making an overall negative cashflow of -20k….rough for a small business with 1 fulltime usa partner. That combined with high warehousing costs, usa quarterly payroll tax, professional accounting tax, and other legacy technology costs….negative cash flow over many months.  Cutting back on virtual assistants, other support teams and not able to pay for outsourcing. Then combine that with inventory suppliers cutting terms, warehousing / fulfillment companies cutting net 30….the stress is unbearable.
Sad part is, I reckon and hear this is a common story with usa small businesses……but usa government, dont u realize you are biting the hands that feed you.

• Small business brings innovation
• Small business brings job
• Small business brings healthy competition.

I remember a few months back screaming at bank of america about easing my monthly credit pressure….what did they do??? Note it on my account and when they saw an incoming balance transfer, block the transfer and shut down my credit facility….I called enraged, and they said some bullshit about it being bank of america’s new policy and they sent me some “fine print” letter in the mail stating this policy change! Screw you bank of america, aren’t you now owned by the usa government now? You are getting a nice free tax payer bailout to keep your damn doors open….but your small business customers, you will shut us down and throw some bullshit “small print” letter in the mail to justify destroying my 500k/year USA small business – that was paying us taxes to loan you the same money u used to pay your customer service reps to shut the door on me.
This is why i see USA going down the drain.
Save big banks, but screw the small guys
America was built on innovators, on entrepreneurs, on small businesses like me to drive jobs and tax income…
But now sadly, my USA business had to be bought out by my asia operation…If you can’t beat them, join them – as many Chinese and Asian companies are buying their distributors out in USA and Europe.
So after i build my business in asia and china, i will come back and buy usa assets for pennies on the dollar.
Sad, but that is the way the world works, and how life goes.  Hope I can turn around new york bar store and make it bigger then ever….but things are definitely going to change.

i’ve been in china since the end of 2007 – and have only been back to the united states in june of 2008…..Jon, like most of my friends both in usa and in china, ask me when i am going to go back home to usa.  i have blogged in the past how i feel like life is like a fish in a fish bowl which in some ways is good, but other ways…..strange, odd.

Being in China has allowed me to do the following:

1) focus – yes, while this may sound crazy being that everyone says i am so unfocused, but coming to china has allowed me to focus more then i would……though I see so much opportunity….I am centralizing operations and executing on things….and rapid product development is possible.

2) get away from daily life – While i do miss my friends back home, being in a country where you cannot speak the language, it makes you have a different outlook on life. It also allows you to concentrate more on business and your life goals…this is definitely true.

It has to be about time I make a roadtrip to America….

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This is a great quote…i mean, funny because its so damn true!! But sad at the same time.

And its even sadder because i would have to say americans are feeling the after effects of living the lifestyle summarized in this quote…

Let me analyze each section of it…

Spending money they havent earned….. – wayyy too true, how many credit cards do people have, carrying balances greater then their income can generate…..but the “system” (banks pushing credit cards on us since entering universities) tells us buy now, pay later…..I remember my freshman year in university, all over the campus, and surrounding the campus there were people stands of people pushing me to sign up for a CREDIT CARD.  But i was a freshman, I didn’t have an income, well maybe I did some work study…they gave me a free t-shirt I remember, so my friends and I signed on the dotted line…..sad that is how the generation grew up.  Spend now….pay later….

….For things they dont need…. -do you really need that 2 story house in the suburbs?  And once you get the nice house, you have to fill it with brand new, designer furniture, right?  Maybe take out a 2nd mortgage on the house to pay for it.  An investment, right?  And you need a nice, new fancy car to drive to work, since the suburbs are so far from your office, and there isn’t any public transportation to get there……

….to impress people they dont like…. -and with that nice house and fancy car, you can show off to your co-workers.  And they will say to  your face how great it is, but then later talk badly about how you show off your money.  Or maybe even you do it to show off to your competition in other companies.  To impress a guy or a girl to like you.

Its all a scary, but real thing.  I hate picking on US of A, but it seems more in that culture than in others I have seen.  Maybe its because Americans have this great opportunity to have nice things, money.  But then, like so many different proverbs and sayings – money isn’t everything.  And does money make us happy and fulfilled…

One would question that….

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I get to the online banking, and what stops me is the last 8 of my checking card! Which I have not received, was sent to my US address, they claim, but never got it forwarded. Actually the ATM card got seized a few months back because it was expired in Hong Kong. Left me stranded borrowing money off friends…unbelievable.

Anyway, the bank of america customer service was genuinely concerned and actually helpe me as best she could…but couldnt do an override…damnnit..

chat log pasted below, for the heck of it.

Thank you for choosing Bank of America. You are now being connected to a Bank of America Online Banking Specialist.
prunella: Hello, my name is Prunella. Thank you for being a valued Bank of America customer. How may I assist you today?
You: hi Prunella, I am trying to add a bank account online , but i need to add my personal check card, I have not yet received it in the mail
prunella: I completely understand your concerns regarding the check card for transfers.
prunella: I will be glad to check this for you.
prunella: To begin with, may I please have your complete name?
You: ok, Michael Michelini
prunella: Thank you, Michael
prunella: Could you please provide me the last four digits of the account number you are referring to?
You: xxxx
prunella: Thank you for this information, Michael
prunella: After reviewing our records, I see that the Check card for your account ending in – xxxx was issued on 11/17/08.
prunella: Could you please confirm your mailing address?
You: xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
prunella: Thank you
You: I had my old card seized in a machine
You: and have not had an ATM card since
prunella: As per our records, the address is correct and it was mailed to the same address.
You: I called maybe 1 or 2 months ago and they said it was in the mail
You: I have not had an ATM card since
prunella: i would like to inform you that Check Card is like an ATM Card. We issue only Check Card or ATM Card for a checking account.
You: Yes, I am aware
You: I ahve no card associated to xxxx
prunella: I apologize for any inconvenience this may have caused
You: can you help me add a payee today?
You: I dont need the card
prunella: As you have not received any card, then, we can send the new card for you.
You: I am transfers –> add account
You: but I dont have the last 4 of the check card
You: I have the other details like recipient last name, acct#, and zip
prunella: Michael, I understand you wish to make transfer to another Bank of America customer’s account and for that you need you Check card number.
You: there isnt an override?
You: I need to make this transfer today….
prunella: I understand how much important this is for you. i would request you to visit your nearest banking center and they will be able to resolve this for you.
You: I am traveling internationally….
prunella: Alright.
You: You have shares in China construction bank – can I visit them?
prunella: Sure.
You: so the accounts are linked?
prunella: Yes, accounts are linked.
You: but what currency then, Chinese Yuan or Us Dollars? If I go to a China Construction bank, its in Chinese Yuan currency
prunella: Michael, in order to check this I would request you to call us. I can provide the international number, through which you are able to call at the toll free number.
You: or, can I transfer from my business account? I have that check card
You: ending in xxxx
prunella: I apologize business accounts are not eligible for these types of transfers.
You: so there isnt any way I can use a different way to verify my identity then the last 8 of my checking card number?
You: I have logged into my online banking, I have verified my site key,
You: I can answer any security question on file
prunella: i completely understand your point. However, in order to make these types of transfers, we do require last eight digits of the Check Card of your personal account, in order to verify your account.
prunella: I understand how much important this is for you. I wish I was able to provide an alternative for you.
You: you do seem genuinely concerned, I appreciate that….
prunella: However, if you wish you can make the transfer by visiting your nearest financial institution for commercial were transfer.
prunella: wire*
You: yes….
Last text message receivedprunella: Thank you so much for your appreciation.
You: ok have a good day

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