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.

Its been since christmas since blogging….no i haven’t forgotten about you guys….its more because ive been working day and night - and that is pretty boring to blog about.
But i am getting more confident, more focused. I am sure 2010 will be a great year….all the time, years, invested both in time and in money, now is the time to shine. Now more then ever.

I am consolidating all my various businesses into 1 main idea - ecommerce in usa from china ) asia. Merging newyorkbarstore into the shadstone group has really cemented the idea….as well as doing ecommerce projects for many factories and trading companies in china - all begging to get more direct access to the western world
As the globe continues to flatten, factories will need to market themselves more as a brand, meaning….the chinese factories need western marketing experts to bring them there

Who would that be???

You guessed it…the Shadstone group will provide the skills, people, and tools to market directly in the usa market. Mainly through the internet, but also with traditional marketing allies.
Building a great team of organized and focused staff….that care about what they do and want the company to succeed…
Im just a bit worried about chinese new years slowing things down.
But nothing will slow me down, have come too far, its now or never. There is no such thing as failure, just keep going.

Christmas has always been a time for us to reflect about the past year, spend time with family and friends - and look to the future.

I arrived in China to live dec 31, 2007 - just after spending christmas in florida with my family.    Decided to save money and focus in 2008, and again in 2009 i am here in shenzhen city, china - actually worked most of the day - met with a few people about business, banking details, and checked out the office for next year…

its also because i came to china at the end of the year  beginning of another that my apartment and office leases are all ending at the same time forcing me to consider moving or staying - and it seems moving has been a big trend…..but its also because i am growing.

a big family in china - my staff, my friends, my contacts and relationships - i am becoming more chinese each day…..maybe i should take the trip back to usa….been so long.

i am really looking forward to 2010 - i have a much more clear and focused goal of ecommerce and order fulfillment streamlining.  cheers to that

Man, this is the ultimate t-shirt I found on busted tees.com UKRAINE IS WEAK.  (hint for a late christmas gift to get me!) No, no, I am not picking on the actual country Ukraine, what I am referring to is a Seinfeld TV show where they are playing a game of Risk the entire episode.  Later they are fighting on a subway in NYC and one of the players loses in Ukraine being told “Ukraine is weak” - unfortunately for them, tehre is a real Ukranian on the subway metro line with them…that is big, strong, and angry yelling Ukraine is STRONG!  Below is a picture of the game… RISK - the game of global domination.

I miss those holiday nights playing board games with family and friends.  Normally I was the one pushing my dad, mom, and sister to play monopoly or risk….I loved the competitiveness of it, trying to win and dominate the board as quick as possible.

The best times playing Risk was my Hartford, Connecticut buddiges Briam (magoo), Scott, Steven, Katie, and Andrew…..usually over some whiskey, snacks, and a long evening.  We would be pretty competitive…..all trying to annihilate one another…..

I think these games got me started on my pursuit of international business….and I still almost look at life like a board game of Risk…..countries, armies, attacking ,defending….

Yea..sick….nerdy…crazy…I know - but hey, this is my blog and I’m gonna tell it how it is.

Spending my July 4th in China. Last year this time I was visiting USA for about a month. So this will be the first July 4th spent in China for me. Its a bit strange, as I have to remind staff and friends that its even some kind of a holiday! So I decided to write a blog about what it is, and what it represents. Help represent US of A while I’m here in big China!

For Those of Those Who Don’t Know…
Its pretty amazing to think that I am only surrounded by a handful of people who even know what July 4th is!!!! Again, it makes me widen my thought process, and yea, people outside of America really dont know about all of our holidays! Go figure!

Here is a quick excerpt below, but basically its when USA became free from Britain.

::::::::: After various changes to Jefferson’s original draft, a vote was taken late in the afternoon of July 4th. Of the 13 colonies, 9 voted in favor of the Declaration; 2, Pennsylvania and South Carolina voted No; Delaware was undecided and New York abstained.

John Hancock, President of the Continental Congress, was the first to sign the Declaration of Independence. It is said that he signed his name “with a great flourish” so “King George can read that without spectacles!”

The task begun on July 4, the signing of the Declaration of Independence, was not actually completed until August. Nonetheless, the 4th of July has been accepted as the official anniversary of United States independence from Britain. read history of July 4th here :::::::::::::

It also represents a time when most cities have fireworks displays. If you are outside of the cities and suburbs, then you will probably have to shoot them yourself in your big backyard. I did that one 4th of July in Vermont with my cousins. Can be a bit dangerous.

Often you hear stories about kids who lose fingers shooting fireworks on the 4th. Maybe they just say that to scare us from blowing stuff up.

Also, BBQ and camping is common on July 4th. Since it is the middle of the summer in USA, people are usually on family camps by beaches or lakes. There are family gatherings and BBQ (grilling) of steaks, hot dogs, and hamburgers. I also think about the lawn chairs, beers, and music.

Tomorrow will be the famous dragon boat festival in China. Chinese culture says a famous poet was held unjustly by Chinese police and committed suicide by jumping into the river. So the idea of the dragon boat race is the people are racing on boats to save his life.

“The boat races during the Dragon Boat Festival are traditional customs to attempts to rescue the patriotic poet Chu Yuan. Chu Yuan drowned on the fifth day of the fifth lunar month in 277 B.C” more on the chinese dragon boat festival

The actual day is Thursday, but most companies in China also have Friday off, with the companies being open on Sunday to replace the friday. We’re doing the same here. Seems the foreign companies have Friday as a workday, but Sunday will be off.

I’ll still be working, Friday or Sunday, makes no difference! Cheers

Scary thing is, I didn’t realize it was going to be Easter Sunday until yesterday (Holy Saturday)! Have been traveling the past few days, caught up with work, and in China there aren’t many reminders about a Christian holiday! Spending the day at Bas’s house with him, Brent, and Dave - Mexican Taco night!

Including a photo from a expat magazine here that caught my interest - “Jesus of Nazareth has more followers in mainland China than the communist party” - seems a bit hard to believe, as I rarely ever see a Christian church in China.

Just arrived yesterday, in Angeles, Pampanga, Phillipines with Bas. he’s a new father and I am gonna be the godfather of his daughter - Charlotte Victoria. Baby christening will be Sunday. ITS SO HOT HERE. Staying in a resort hotel, but the pool is green…under construction.
Life is out of control….guess I like it this way. At least I have a new laptop, sitting by the green pool here typing this post.

Sitting here late Sunday night…trying my best as a fish in a fishbowl…..really am centered around this computer….where location doesn’t matter and my mind wanders towards the feeling of being a fish in a fishbowl…especially during my skype video conference calls….amazing world we live in these days….location matters less and less!

Some recent photos to share

my friend vicky will be helping part time!

Bought a bike today - crazy china city biking!

talk about insane….Bas and I decided to buy bikes today….been a while since i’ve riden a bike, and doing so in a busy Chinese city intensifies it about 10 times! what a rush, going to try to bike it instead of taxi/bus…..hoping to survive!

Bas’s BBQ - smoked mackerel & burgers! - Francy’s birthday

Wow, it really has been insane being in china during the olympics. I am on the other side of the country (south) and still the energy is amazing….they’ve hung Chinese flags all over….the opening ceremony was out of control…..I thought Americans were proud of their country…..seems in China they had something to prove to the world…and I would say the succeeded in showing that.