“Other people work at dying, I work at living!” This is a quote by fitness guru and pitchman extraordinaire Jack LaLanne. He was born to French immigrants almost a century ago. During his life he lifted himself up, but more importantly, he lifted others up. Mr. LaLanne was an inspiration for people to get in shape, stay in shape, and think positively. He also holds the honor of hosting the longest running fitness show on television (34 years!). Earlier today Mr. LaLanne passed away at the ripe old age of 96. He was once quoted as saying: “I can’t die. It’ll ruin my image.” Well, consider your image intact Jack. Your inspiration will be carried on by the many millions you touched during your meaningful life.   

Many leaders and teams face collaboration challenges in their workplace. Sometimes it is due to personality conflicts. Sometimes is it due to turf wars created by the structure of a matrix organization. Whatever the apparent reason for workplace challenges, sometimes the real cause of a disconnect between leaders and/or teams is a low level of trust. Building or mending trust is difficult. It calls for a process that is tough on the issues, while being easy on the people. A process to consider is called working agreements. Along its journey, the participants gain tools and techniques that call for an increase in communication and an elevation of integrity in the workplace. Amazing things can happen when people communicate more and stay in integrity – trust takes an upward flight.  

In a recent USA Today article, the concept of exceptionalism was addressed. In the political arena, exceptionalism refers to a particular country (i.e., the good old U.S. of A.) possessing “unique character and unrivaled standing.” There are statements resonating from certain political parties that the current administration holds a less than exceptionalistic view of America. Sometimes a lower exceptionalistic viewpoint occurs in businesses. Perhaps you have witnessed the phenomenon: the leadership of a good company suddenly changes, and the new leader turns a once proud organization into a quivering mass of questioning employees. In many circumstances, a solid leader emerges or is brought in to supplant the lesser leader. Recent examples have occurred in the automobile industry and a smattering of technology concerns. Perhaps the financial industry is next, but I digress. When leaders carry themselves and talk about their organizations with an exceptionalistic air, they show confidence in their company. And confidence is contagious. When confidence spreads throughout a team, only good things happen. For those of you in leadership positions, and as we head into the New Year, I implore you to walk and talk with confidence. Your people need a boost. They will respond positively. While you are at it, write your Congressman and give them a shot in the arm. Perhaps the shockwaves will move up the political chain and our country will once again embrace just how exceptional we are.

A leader recently confided to me that he was having a tough time motivating one of his team members. As we waxed philosophical on whether motivation can be externally provided or comes from within us, the topic of passion came up. It was agreed that if a leader can mobilize the passions that lay within a seemingly poor performer, they can help the team member to achieve great things in the workplace. The trouble is that most leaders only probe for elements that people are passionate about at work. Wrong. While many people are passionate about work, or parts of it, the key is to find out the one or two passions that truly move a person. As such, ask them this simple question: “What moves you?” I have heard answers that range from baking to playing with my kids to organizing my desk to motorbikes. Once we know about someone’s passion, we can truly know that person. We can talk their language by talking about their passion. And speaking someone’s language fluently and sincerely leads to one other important quality – trust!

Recent studies are showing that multitasking is not all that people think it is cracked up to be. John Medina, a brain researcher, states that we lose efficiency every time we switch from one task to another. In addition, Mr. Medina mentioned that the likelihood of errors also increases with multitasking. What should we do instead of multitasking? The answer, states Medina, is to create blocks of time and assign each time period a specific task. In other words, by creating no-interrupt zones we will produce higher quality work, faster. While this will take discipline and some behavioral changes, the increase in productivity makes it well worthwhile. 

The Millennials, those folks born between 1981 and 1992 (age 18 – 29), are a fairly misunderstood bunch. Many Baby Boomers have trouble relating to these high-tech, young hipsters. What is lost on many people is the terrific technology acumen that millennials bring to an organization. In addition, they are surprisingly entrepreneurial. Typically they thirst for task-variety – many people do – so get creative with their job descriptions. According to a recent PEW study, four out of every ten millennials is unemployed. For what it is worth, they tend to be liberal in their political views. With so many of these talented folks on the sidelines, maybe you should open up your blinders and inject some high-octane technology energy into your workplace.   

Communication is paramount for leaders. Many people in leadership positions speak well and use communication techniques, such as the Power of 5, to get their messages across. Bravo to all of you who are nodding right now and thinking, “Yup, that’s me.” There is a dark side to communication, however. It is known as the written word. While many of you are terrific or at least competent writers, some of you are not. Let’s face it, most of us can improve our ability to wield the written word. So without going too in-depth, I wanted to share five tips with you that can elevate the level of your writing skills.   

1. Write often. Every day sounds about right, even if it is just 100 words
2. Write voluminously. Just think about it as practice
3. Dust off that old grammar book and read 10 pages a month. Hey, if you have insomnia it could come in handy
4. Work with an editor, or at least have someone review/critique your writings. It could be someone at work, a friend, or a loved-one
5. Be open to your editor’s feedback and criticisms. Thicken your skin and acknowledge that feedback is the only way we can quickly improve our writing skills

Sometimes, as people set about to deliver outstanding outcomes, they encounter constraints to quality. On occasion, they can overcome or influence the hurdles they face, but many times the constraints are out of their control. What happens next is the task is completed, and the boss is dissatisfied by the results, and the excuses start flying. Even when excuses are legitimate, they smack of low accountability and weak communication. So stop making excuses! Instead, start communicating smarter. Consider adding a column to your weekly, monthly, or project updates that is called “constraints to quality.” State any constraints in factual terms. Do not state the constraints in a whiney or wimpy manner; simply convey the real facts of the situation. Your boss will appreciate the information, and the realistic picture that you portray.

Many organizations today function in a matrix. In other words, there are silos of people who have different areas of responsibility, yet depend upon others (not in the silo they control) for success. If ever there were people who needed to collaborate in the workplace, it is professionals who work in matrix organizations. So how do they collaborate more effectively? The answer lies in using tools such as working agreements, which enable the exchange of meaningful expectations, and in building trust via consistent, predictable actions.

Remember when U.S. banks were the largest banks in the world? Over that past century American based banks have held a lofty position when world banking giants were listed. Seeing U.S. banks atop the financial industry listings filled the nation with a sense of pride. It appears that those days are gone. The new banking bill will not allow a U.S. bank to hold more than 10% of the nation’s deposits. This will dramatically limit the potential size of U.S. banks. While the size limitation may provide extra safety to the financial system in the United States, it will also truncate U.S. banks from competing (in a free-market manner) on the world stage. By handcuffing large commercial banks, the new banking bill will exacerbate the power shift of the international financial market from the U.S. and Western Europe to Asia. This comes at a time when the U.S. could use all the international cache it can muster. 

Flight & Day 1 – September 1st

Okay, so under normal circumstances China is a long way away. But if you toss in flight delays, missed connecting flights, and four hours in a holding room in the Shanghai airport, it’s roughly a 40 hour experience. At this point I would like to comment on how different China is from the United States, however, their airport looks and feels the same; their Customs section looks and feels the same, what’s missing, hmmmn, I know, TSA! Stay tuned folks, more soon.

September 3rd

The day began with a quick flight (yes, another one) from Shanghai to Beijing. Upon landing in Beijing we should have seen the sun, but we did not. A haze of smog hangs over Beijing similar to the smog that plagues Los Angeles. Beijing has 17 million people and 5 to 6 million cars. A majority of them seemed to be on the road that day. Government officials attempt to control traffic and pollution by limiting the days on which drivers can be on the road. Even license tag numbers get a certain number of days per week, as do the odds. Everyone gets Saturday and Sunday. As a sidebar, the wealthy people in Beijing simply purchase multiple cars with differing license plate numbers and drive whenever they want. The traffic system is set up in a series of rings that circle the city. Beijing, China’s political and cultural hub has six traffic rings that stretch for miles outward from the center of the city. Public transportation is available and crowded. The age of the average vehicle on the China motorways is also noteworthy. They all seem to be new! Out of the countless automobiles we saw, perhaps less than 10 were older than five years. The same held true for the many tourist busses we saw. Trucks were a different story. We saw more tourist buses than trucks, and most of the trucks were old. The most popular automobile brands we witnessed: Toyota, Mercedes, Hyundai, Oldsmobile, and Audi.  

Our first activity of the day was a brief visit to the Olympic village, site of the 2008 games. We took photos of the “nest” that played home to Beijing’s fabulous opening ceremonies, as well as the track and field events. We also snapped pictures in front of the Aquatic Cube where Michael Phelps brought home eight gold medals for the U.S. of A.

The next stop was the Summer Palace, which was one of the pleasure palaces for past emperors of China. The palace is set on a large man-made lake. The lake is only six feet deep, however, it so expansive that it connects with the canals that surround Beijing. The grounds contain an ornate palace, several buildings that served as guest and servant quarters, and lush ponds filled with huge lily pads and scented lotus flowers. The Summer Palace also boasts the longest outdoor corridor in the world (728 meters). The Summer Palace was home to one of the most famous women in China, the Dragon Lady. She was the mother of the last emperor. She also used her beauty and cunning to manipulate magistrates and achieve her personal agenda. Youthful looking well into her 70’s, her beauty secret is rumored to have been crushed pearls that were ground into a paste and used as facial cream, as well as ingested internally.

During the early evening we enjoyed a rickshaw ride through a “real” neighborhood in China. The one-story buildings where the people lived were dilapidated by Western standards, however, the people were clean and as curious about us as we were about them. That evening we were invited into the home of a local family and ate a medley of rice, vegetables, and chicken. The family was the fifth generation to have lived in the house. They couldn’t have been more warm and welcoming.

After dinner we went to the hotel and collapsed in our beds. Sleep was glorious, but the next day started at 6:30am.   

September 4th

After a nice breakfast, we headed off to the Temple of Heaven, which is Beijing’s equivalent of Central Park. Thousands of old and worn bikes filled racks in front of the park, and none of them had a lock. The grounds of the Temple of Heaven are lovely, thick with trees and rich green grass. Quite populated, many people were exercising as we walked towards the actual temple that majestically sits in the center of the park. While Tai Chi and badminton were represented, the most popular athletic activity was the Chinese version of hacky-sack. Their hacky-sack looks like a large badminton birdie that is composed of is comprised of five different shaped ceramic rings and four large feathers. Most people playing were over the age of forty. There were no joggers.

The Temple of Heaven itself is simultaneously grand and ornate. Its red and gold buildings are striking. While at the temple, my two sons and I found ourselves quite popular, much to the chagrin of my wife. One son has blonde hair, while the other has red – both are rare in China. I am quite tall (6’7’’). Since most Chinese people have black hair and are under six feet tall, they had an interest in having their picture taken with us. This would be a recurrent theme throughout the trip.    

After the Temple of Heaven we were off to a jade factory. There we saw beautiful works in jade and learned that the darker the color of jade, the more value it possesses. Also, we learned that jade is meant to be worn – it grows darker as it is worn, thus increasing in value. Jade comes in many colors (not just green), and white is the most prevalent color seen around China. Lastly, we learned that authentic jade is cool, cloudy, and, when clinked against other jade has a chime-like quality.  

A visit was paid to a cloisonné factory where we witnessed the artistry and process of making cloisonné. After a nice tour and lunch, we back on the road heading towards another destination. 

The next stop was the Ming Dynasty Tombs, where we visited the fourth most important mausoleum in the China. The tomb was interesting, dating to the early 1400’s, and the history surrounding the Ming Dynasty and their legacy was fascinating. 

September 5th

We started the day by visiting Tong Ren Tang Pharmacy where we learned about traditional Eastern medicine. Several of us had examinations by Chinese doctors and herbalists. Interestingly, the doctors told almost everyone who was examined to take herbs to help their liver and kidneys get healthier. 

The next stop was one of the highlights of the trip, the Forbidden City. With 9,999 rooms, huge palaces, enormous courtyards, and lovely green areas, the Forbidden City is simultaneously awe-inspiring and daunting. Built over a 14-year period, it was completed in 1420. At the time, Chinese people believed that heaven contained 10,000 rooms. Thus, the Forbidden City could not contain more rooms than heaven, but it could come very close. It was home to the emperors, right up to the last one in 1924. In 1925 the Forbidden City was opened to the Chinese public and the mysteries of its existence were unveiled to all. Millions of people visit the Forbidden City each year and it is easy to see why. It is a destination not to be missed.

Across the street from the Forbidden City is Tiananmen Square. Bordered by government buildings and speckled with patriotic monuments, the huge square is Beijing’s National Mall. Throngs of people are continuously moving through and about the Tiananmen Square-Forbidden City area.  

From Tiananmen Square it was lunch, and then straight to the airport for a one and a half hour flight to Shanghai. Once in Shanghai, we drove directly to the 2010 World Expo. The expo is enormous and seemingly every country in the world has an exhibit. With 500,000 people per day visiting the expo, one has to be strategic on how time is utilized. Crowd patterns and ease of access allowed us to visit the following exhibits, each of which was terrific:

• Czech Republic
• Slovakia
• Hungary
• Turkey
• Finland

The World Expo was a fitting end to an exhausting and spectacular day!

September 6th

The morning saw us take a bus ride to Suzhou in order to visit the city’s number one destination: Lingering Garden. The Gardens were created by a wealthy nobleman who was in the favor of the emperor. When the emperor died, his rivals ran him off from the Forbidden City and he took residence in Suzhou. During the next 14 years he commissioned a fantastic garden. The beautiful garden boasts tall cypress trees, beautiful plants, bonsai trees, several quaint dwellings with ornate furnishings, and a tranquil pond. The Lingering Garden is a magical place and not be missed by anyone visiting Southeast China.   

The next area of interest was a silk factory. The silk industry really starts with trees as opposed to worms. Silk worms eat mulberry leaves. So is if someone is looking to start a silk business, they would want to locate in an area that is hospitable to growing mulberry trees. Such an area is found in Suzhou. Mulberry trees grow easily in its semi-arid, temperate weather. This allows silk worms to thrive and procreate. One silk worm can create countless offspring. These offspring can then produce a cocoon that contains a single thread of silk up to one mile in length. Ten silkworm threads are then interwoven to form one commercial silk thread. Fifteen percent of silkworms harvested are kept alive to breed. Silk is a strong substance, whose threads cannot be broken, only severed. Ancient armor was made of silk, and it is even used to day in certain bullet-proof products.

The next activity involved taking a boat ride on a centuries old canal in Suzhou. Most of the people living on the canal are poor, earning just over $400 per month. They wash their clothes in the canal and use it as a means of transpiration. While the water in the canal might be suspect, it did not have floating objects (empty water bottles, old paper products, etc.) like so many of the canals in the U.S. boast.

Our next stop was Tiger Hill and a beautiful leaning pagoda. The area is named Tiger Hill because legend states that a white tiger appeared on the hill to guard it following the burial of King Helu, a revered magistrate. The grounds were strewn with trees and lush vegetation. The seven story tall Yunyan Pagoda does in fact lean quite a bit. It also predates the Leaning Tower of Pisa.

It was now time to visit a new city. From Suzhou we took a one and a half hour bus ride to a city named Hangzhou (pronounced Hung–Joe). Hangzhou is home to 5 – 8 million people, which is considered a mid-sized city in China. It is the heart of one of China’s special Economic Development Zones. What this means is that Hangzhou is a test area for Chinese capitalism. Imagine that for a moment. China has a test city the size of Chicago. Back on task, each company in Hangzhou is privately-owned. The city is as entrepreneurial as China gets. Now there are a couple of things to understand about how China views “capitalism.” First, the State (i.e., the Chinese government) owns all the land in China. No individual or corporation can own land. Second, if someone constructs a building (a home, an office, a manufacturing facility, etc.) at their personal/business expense, they own it for a maximum of the next 70 years. At the end of 70 years the government may take ownership of the building(s) or they may not, no one knows. Even the government is making up their mind on this issue. Lastly, if you approach the government about starting a business in Hangzhou, and they grant you the seed money, you have a partner – the Chinese government. They may take a 70% ownership stake – maybe higher, maybe lower – but they most certainly will own a part of the business.

Two notable businesses that are headquartered in Hangzhou are: Geely Holding Company and HT StarCom. Geely is the fifth largest auto-manufacturer in China, and they recently purchased Volvo from Ford. HT StarCom makes cell phones for Motorola. Something to note about HT StarCom is the size and style of their manufacturing facility. It is the size of the Superdome and looks like a modernistic domed sports arena. The location of HT StarCom is on a large river, in the heart of the city’s technology park. The company is apparently owned by three young men who visited the United States, witnessed the cell phone craze and approached the government about opening a cell phone manufacturing plant in China. Their endeavor has been quite successful. The three young men have another partner and well – you know who.

Companies in Hangzhou also make 90% of the universal joints used in automobiles. They make 99.9% of the straws in the world. Hangzhounise are proud of these facts. They are proud that they control the price. It is mission critical that Hangzhou companies and other industries in China continue to hold high market-share in broad markets because the government has set a target of no more than 5% unemployment. Keeping unemployment low keeps the potential for civil unrest low. Therefore, many of China’s industries do not make a lot of money, but they keep a lot of people employed. 

We were curious about how and why China has 1.5 billion people. The answer is: after the revolution in 1949, Chairman Mao believed that another world war would take place in the near future. As such, he told the people to make as many babies as possible so that China would have soldiers for the next war. This may also be why baby boys are treasured more than baby girls in China - because they would potentially be soldiers and thus please Chairman Mao.

According to our guide 55% - 70% of China’s 1.5 billion population are poor farmers. China is attempting to educate them more and to raise their wages and standard of living. To put this into perspective, if 60% of the population is agrarian, China has 900 million poor farmers. That means that three times the entire population of the United States (the third most populated country in the world) are poor farmers in China. 

There are lots of large cranes being used to build high-rises throughout China. This is particularly true in Hangzhou. The exact use of the buildings and whether or not they will be fully occupied is unknown.

As we drove through Hangzhou we noticed that the city has bikes racks sprinkled around the city stocked full of bikes for public use. Anyone may use a bike, for free, for an hour. If the bike is used for more than one-hour, the user must pay a fee of less than $1 per hour.

During the evening we had a chance to relax for a couple of hours and were also treated to the best wonton soup ever, bar none! It was an enormous bowl that contained delicious noodles, melt-in-your-mouth wontons, succulent bok choy, tender pork, and a savory broth. It was remarkable, and like no wonton soup I have found in the U.S.

September 7th

The day began early with a half-hour trip to Dragon Well Tea Farm. The farm is surrounded by lush, green hills, beautifully interwoven with rows of two-foot tall green-tea bushes. Despite having an abundance of leaves on each tea bush, only two small tender leaves are harvested from each bud present. These are the small tea leaves you see if you purchase non-bagged tea. Every five days the farmers return to pluck new tender buds from the same bushes they visited almost a week earlier. The tea is said to have a calming effect on the stomach, and during a taste test I’ll be darned if it did not calm our somewhat turbulent tummies. Subsequently, my wife was kind enough to procure a fairly substantial supply of green tea for our future, domestic use.

Our next stop was to visit an embroidery institute. Now, if you had told me in the beginning of the trip that I would be engrossed by looking at embroidery, I would have shot you a cross look. But the embroidery created at the institute is suitable for framing. Well, actually it is framed. Gorgeous nature scenes abound in their showroom. From a short distance, the embroidery pieces look like paintings. On close inspection the artistry of each piece can be examined. The talent that it takes to create them is amazing and the vibrant colors are remarkable. 

The next stop was Lingyin Temple, a Buddhist temple founded in 328 A.D. The monastery is home to 3,000 monks, as well as the largest Buddha in China – a 50 foot tall Buddha carved out of a stone mountainside. 

In the afternoon we took a cruise on West Lake in Hangzhou. The view from the lake is like Minneapolis meets Manhattan. Hangzhou is a business-oriented city that exploits an abundance of natural beauty.   

We then took a bus ride to Shanghai and had a relaxing dinner. Shanghai has 18 million people, 4 million cars and three rings of highway to manage its traffic. It also boasts the third tallest building in the world, a 101 story beast that looks like a huge bottle opener. The skyline in Shanghai, particularly at night, is breathtaking – a potpourri of architecture, varying skyscraper heights, magical lights, all set along a glistening river. A nighttime stroll on the Shanghai boardwalk is not to be missed. You will be in good company with thousands of others as well.

September 8th

The day began with a trip to the Shanghai carpet mill. We witnessed the craft of hand-made silk rugs and silk tapestries. Many have 400 – 600 knots per square inch and take months to make. One in particular, a three-foot by two-foot intricate rug, had 1,600 knots per square inch. How to tell if a silk rug is authentic? Spin it around, it will change colors (i.e., turn darker). If you have a silk rug somewhere, give it a whirl and see the magic unfold.

The MagLev Train was our next destination. The elevated magnet-based bullet train looks similar to the monorail at Disney World and can travel to speeds up to 431 kilometers per hour (268 mph). The track on which we travelled was receiving maintenance so we were only able to achieve 300 kilometers per hour. Regardless, we were able to navigate what would have been a one-hour car ride in seven minutes. We then returned, again in seven minutes. Fun and fast!

The Shanghai Bazaar was next on the agenda and it is best described as shop till you drop China-style. Just picture a cross between a huge outlet mall and a flea market, populated with wall-to-wall people. Interested in trinkets? No problem. Luggage, tee shirts, jade, or jewelry? Yep. Gucci knock-offs, any designer knock-off? You betcha. Starbucks and McDonalds? Of course! Frankly, I did some reading in a shaded courtyard during this portion of the trip. Others on the trip (their genders will not be identified to protect the guilty) went wild. Let’s just say that our group did their best to boost the already sizzling Chinese economy.

We ended the day with a tasty dinner and tickets to the Chinese version of Cirque du Soleil called ERA Intersection of Time. It was a marvelous mixture of traditional and modern music, coupled with mind boggling performances. It was a fitting end to a trip brimming with beauty, mystery and magic.

September 9th

After a terrific breakfast at the Renaissance Shanghai, we boarded the bus for a one hour ride to the airport. Next on tap was a 14 hour plane to JFK in New York. Then, a two hour flight to Tampa. One hour after landing we were home and collapsed in our beds. We were thankful to be home, and thankful for the life-changing experience of visiting a quite special place.

Bent Larsen is dead. Many of you may not be familiar with Mr. Larsen, but to anyone in the chess world he was a king. A chess grand master, he hated a tie – a frequent outcome in high-level chess matches. As such, he often positioned himself in a way that could lead to victory, or possibly defeat. For many of you in sales (and we are all in sales), this “make it of break it” strategy is worth pondering. I call it “getting gutsy” or “getting someone to make a decision.” Too often, ineffective salespeople are satisfied with put offs (i.e., “send me some information,” “call me next month,” blah, blah, blah), as opposed to pressing a little bit to determine if there is real interest in their products or services. You do not have to be a jerk in order to get gutsy; you just have to be strategic and skilled.

I like Rafael Nadal.  Not just because he is the U.S. Open champion and the best player in the world, but because he is a good and likeable person. Both Nadal’s excellence in sport and his quality of character are quite intentional. And who reinforces these qualities in him? Answer: his coach, of course. Mr. Nadal has the unlikely and wonderful benefit of having his uncle, Toni Nadal as his coach. He is the only coach that Nadal has ever had. What kind of advice does Toni Nadal give his nephew? Just take a look an excerpt from a recent N.Y. Times article:

“Toni Nadal is constantly reminding his nephew that his worst day on the tennis court is better than most people’s best day. He drove home that point after Nadal sported a long face throughout his first-round match against the 93rd seed, Teymuraz Gabashvili of Russia, who extended him to two tie-break sets. After the match, his uncle talked to him about his demeanor. ‘I tell him you must be always grateful of this life,’ Toni Nadal said. ‘I think one of the most important things I say always to Rafael is to have a good face. Because in this life, the ball going out is not a very big problem.’”

 In a nutshell, Toni Nadal is telling his newphew: Don’t sweat the small stuff. For more on this conceptually as it pertains to business, read Control, Influence, and Cannot Control.

In an article yesterday by Reuters, it was discussed that China is revising its “catalogue” regarding foreign investment that is allowed. Since joining the World Trade Organization in 2001, China has been very stodgy regarding the types of firms it allows to do business within its borders. Having recently visited China, I can attest first-hand that you do not see very many signs relating to foreign companies (save for the occasional KFC and McDonald’s logo). As the world’s number two economy, China has an obligation to the world to engage in more foreign commerce. This will benefit all concerned from a financial and a trust standpoint.

In an article today by CNBC, it was reported that Domique Strauss-Kahn, the managing director of the IMF (International Monetary Fund) stated a double-dip recession is unlikely. Keep in mind that Mr. Strauss-Kahn is talking from world perspective, which is good. In his comments, he stated that the U.S. stimulus strategy appears to have worked as far as heading off a potential double-dip recession. The determination of whether or not the stimulus package is as financially impactful as promised is still two quarters off.