A Memoir: Mr. China Book Review
A Memoir: Mr. China
By Tim Clissold
Overview
Tim Clissold writes his story of experiences with business deals in China, their corruption, and a lesson that should be taken away by everyone. Tim and a former Football player and Wall street broker, Pat, enter China with hopes of being part of the growth and wealth that follows. They make mistakes and experience far too much corruption. In the end, they come out on top; but only learning how business is really done in China, through relationships to outsmart others and to halt their Chinese partner’s corruption and fraudulent attempts. It shows how there are so many cultural differences between Chinese and American business plans, in the past and currently.
This book has incorporated so much of what I have learned in my MBA classes, from finance, to ethics, the negotiations. It somewhat scares me how much control the Chinese government has in business deals. In every opportunity Pat and Tim were presented they had to have some relationship with the government and most of the time they failed them. It is amazing to see how there are almost always no written rules and regulations, and if there are, they are only for internal use. It is astonishing how American corporations and investors have done well so far. China holds so much power and it is evident as Tim describes the scenery and the business environment in the 80s and then presently. This book will help business investors and students understand a different way of doing business and help prepare them if similar situations as Tim’s arise.
All people interested in business or in China should read this book. Although this book has a few downfalls, it is overall a great educational tool. Investors can anticipate what will happen during business deals in China and what opportunities may arise. It discusses mistakes made and will help investors analyze the situations. Business students can look at the big picture of China, ranging from the business environment, to how the government was established, to the living environments. People who are considering traveling or working in China can read a firsthand experience before they take a chance and venture to a foreign country. Business people should read this, as some time in their career they will be faced with someone from China or travel to China. Businesses can understand the secrets of doing business in China and ways around mishaps. Important lessons are learned in this book, such as thinking about the cost benefit analysis of hiring cheap labor, or that it is hard to gain trust in China. Anyone with any interest in China or business should read this book to understand the real truths about trying to make a name for yourself in China.
Where Clissold excels
Mr. China shed light on a real experience on people trying to “get in on” a growing market in China. This book incorporates real life experiences, history, the language, the culture, the corruption, and the government’s involvement. There are so many dramatic examples of the previously stated.
Tim wanted to be one of the first big investors. He had the money that China needed. He realized China wasn’t like other foreign countries, like India, where the country is run by a few wealthy families; in China there is a way for outsiders to capture wealth. He was possessed, he tells his story of how, even after a heart attack due to stress he couldn’t leave. The opportunities, even with his past failures, were too great to walk away. He had curiosity and needed to be a part of China’s prosperity.
The history of China is informative and helps shed light on why business is they way it currently is. The Cultural Revolution is discussed in enough detail to understand and touches on how youth was set up to destroy and humiliate their elders in a country where face is everything. The detail throughout the book plants a vivid image in your mind of what the Chinese had to endure over the past centuries.
There is also a lot of humorous experiences mentioned, especially related to “drunkenness being a virtue” in China. He also uses funny dialect in sections to lighten the mood. Opposite humor, corruption is a key issue in this book. Through almost every deal there is an issue with the Chinese partner stealing money through fake “chops” (official seals) and the government helping whoever had the money or the best relationships.
Another strong feature in the book is the detail regarding the environment. The reader is able to see how the rural areas progressed into factories and highways within a few months to keep up with demand. You feel like you were there yourself, experiencing what Tim was faced with. He captures and embodies the reader.
Where Clissold falls short
This book has a few pitfalls that caused me to have to take breaks. There are many areas that were drawn out, such as the beer factory investment. He goes into so much unnecessary detail and repeats himself. On the other hand, the repetition shows its importance, but I still feel it could have been downplayed. Meetings were described sometimes in four pages, when they could have been slimmed down.
Another shortcoming was it is very one-sided. Tim is telling the story of an American investor who kept being played by the Chinese and the government. It also avoids the sotry of the poor factory workers until the last few pages of the book. I feel many angles should be approached, at least briefly, to allow the reader to form their own opinion. At times the business deals were so negative I was distraught as to ever entering China as a businesswoman.
In the end of the book he suddenly discusses the people and how their lives are slowly improving. I found it too abrupt and out of context with the rest of his writing. He should incorporate this more throughout the story, not just a closing thought.
Overall, this book grants the reader many opportunities to understand China’s business environment and history. It was drawn out and one-sided but all in all it was informative and a good investment of my time.
Thoughts
Mr. China was a story of a determined businessman trying to capture the Chinese market. I broadened my horizons and understand Chinese business dealings at a deeper level. Tim got caught up in the small things and his own battles that he said in the last chapter that he never got to look at things around him. He missed out on the scenery changing and the rural villages that are now seldom present.
The confidence of Chinese businessmen, the language, the bluffs, the interaction, and the fact that there are very few women enlightened me. There is such an opportunity for women in China now. The demand is increasing as women have a different mentality and way of business. The protests and negative communications might have been avoided had a more emotional human, possibly a woman, intervened.
Chinese government plays such a huge role, even injecting capital into the economy to increase demand and productivity. The government also does not post rules or regulations. When they decide to improve living conditions most companies have financial difficulties. When they ordered factories to use more durable bottles, over half the factories went bankrupt due to the sudden financial burden.
Relationships are key. When business deals turned sour the person who had the most connections could destroy the other party. One deal backfired and the Chinese partner’s wife knew the suppliers and the suppliers in turn sued the company and halted deliveries, causing the company to go bankrupt.
Most Chinese have such a strong bond with their country. People were at one point living in the hills building military gear, ready for war, even with their horrible treatment. The locals are grateful for everything they have. One factory had to pay their workers with shampoo and they were still so appreciative because most of them have nothing. There is so much need for improvement in the living conditions in China and the treatment in factories. Few American companies take the time and money to better others; they just care about the bottom line. Tim was more concerned about others than many firms, but it wasn’t until his departure from the investment firm that he saw the destruction factories caused.
The last thoughts he leaves with the reader are about the people. He sees their lives improving, slowly, and wants the reader to acknowledge that they are people too, not just tools used to make a profit. They are “flawed and beautiful like us” (249). They deserve to have their iron tree blossom like his finally did and hopes that in time it will. I see this improvement and am encouraged to not fall into the trap of using people and participating in bad ethics.
This book caused me to ponder on the true environment in China and experience what an investor who was sucked in to the opportunities felt and lived. This book either makes you want to enter the Chinese business environment, ready to grasp the wealth and opportunities, or make you want to help those who can’t fight for themselves, the locals.
By Tim Clissold
Overview
Tim Clissold writes his story of experiences with business deals in China, their corruption, and a lesson that should be taken away by everyone. Tim and a former Football player and Wall street broker, Pat, enter China with hopes of being part of the growth and wealth that follows. They make mistakes and experience far too much corruption. In the end, they come out on top; but only learning how business is really done in China, through relationships to outsmart others and to halt their Chinese partner’s corruption and fraudulent attempts. It shows how there are so many cultural differences between Chinese and American business plans, in the past and currently.
This book has incorporated so much of what I have learned in my MBA classes, from finance, to ethics, the negotiations. It somewhat scares me how much control the Chinese government has in business deals. In every opportunity Pat and Tim were presented they had to have some relationship with the government and most of the time they failed them. It is amazing to see how there are almost always no written rules and regulations, and if there are, they are only for internal use. It is astonishing how American corporations and investors have done well so far. China holds so much power and it is evident as Tim describes the scenery and the business environment in the 80s and then presently. This book will help business investors and students understand a different way of doing business and help prepare them if similar situations as Tim’s arise.
All people interested in business or in China should read this book. Although this book has a few downfalls, it is overall a great educational tool. Investors can anticipate what will happen during business deals in China and what opportunities may arise. It discusses mistakes made and will help investors analyze the situations. Business students can look at the big picture of China, ranging from the business environment, to how the government was established, to the living environments. People who are considering traveling or working in China can read a firsthand experience before they take a chance and venture to a foreign country. Business people should read this, as some time in their career they will be faced with someone from China or travel to China. Businesses can understand the secrets of doing business in China and ways around mishaps. Important lessons are learned in this book, such as thinking about the cost benefit analysis of hiring cheap labor, or that it is hard to gain trust in China. Anyone with any interest in China or business should read this book to understand the real truths about trying to make a name for yourself in China.
Where Clissold excels
Mr. China shed light on a real experience on people trying to “get in on” a growing market in China. This book incorporates real life experiences, history, the language, the culture, the corruption, and the government’s involvement. There are so many dramatic examples of the previously stated.
Tim wanted to be one of the first big investors. He had the money that China needed. He realized China wasn’t like other foreign countries, like India, where the country is run by a few wealthy families; in China there is a way for outsiders to capture wealth. He was possessed, he tells his story of how, even after a heart attack due to stress he couldn’t leave. The opportunities, even with his past failures, were too great to walk away. He had curiosity and needed to be a part of China’s prosperity.
The history of China is informative and helps shed light on why business is they way it currently is. The Cultural Revolution is discussed in enough detail to understand and touches on how youth was set up to destroy and humiliate their elders in a country where face is everything. The detail throughout the book plants a vivid image in your mind of what the Chinese had to endure over the past centuries.
There is also a lot of humorous experiences mentioned, especially related to “drunkenness being a virtue” in China. He also uses funny dialect in sections to lighten the mood. Opposite humor, corruption is a key issue in this book. Through almost every deal there is an issue with the Chinese partner stealing money through fake “chops” (official seals) and the government helping whoever had the money or the best relationships.
Another strong feature in the book is the detail regarding the environment. The reader is able to see how the rural areas progressed into factories and highways within a few months to keep up with demand. You feel like you were there yourself, experiencing what Tim was faced with. He captures and embodies the reader.
Where Clissold falls short
This book has a few pitfalls that caused me to have to take breaks. There are many areas that were drawn out, such as the beer factory investment. He goes into so much unnecessary detail and repeats himself. On the other hand, the repetition shows its importance, but I still feel it could have been downplayed. Meetings were described sometimes in four pages, when they could have been slimmed down.
Another shortcoming was it is very one-sided. Tim is telling the story of an American investor who kept being played by the Chinese and the government. It also avoids the sotry of the poor factory workers until the last few pages of the book. I feel many angles should be approached, at least briefly, to allow the reader to form their own opinion. At times the business deals were so negative I was distraught as to ever entering China as a businesswoman.
In the end of the book he suddenly discusses the people and how their lives are slowly improving. I found it too abrupt and out of context with the rest of his writing. He should incorporate this more throughout the story, not just a closing thought.
Overall, this book grants the reader many opportunities to understand China’s business environment and history. It was drawn out and one-sided but all in all it was informative and a good investment of my time.
Thoughts
Mr. China was a story of a determined businessman trying to capture the Chinese market. I broadened my horizons and understand Chinese business dealings at a deeper level. Tim got caught up in the small things and his own battles that he said in the last chapter that he never got to look at things around him. He missed out on the scenery changing and the rural villages that are now seldom present.
The confidence of Chinese businessmen, the language, the bluffs, the interaction, and the fact that there are very few women enlightened me. There is such an opportunity for women in China now. The demand is increasing as women have a different mentality and way of business. The protests and negative communications might have been avoided had a more emotional human, possibly a woman, intervened.
Chinese government plays such a huge role, even injecting capital into the economy to increase demand and productivity. The government also does not post rules or regulations. When they decide to improve living conditions most companies have financial difficulties. When they ordered factories to use more durable bottles, over half the factories went bankrupt due to the sudden financial burden.
Relationships are key. When business deals turned sour the person who had the most connections could destroy the other party. One deal backfired and the Chinese partner’s wife knew the suppliers and the suppliers in turn sued the company and halted deliveries, causing the company to go bankrupt.
Most Chinese have such a strong bond with their country. People were at one point living in the hills building military gear, ready for war, even with their horrible treatment. The locals are grateful for everything they have. One factory had to pay their workers with shampoo and they were still so appreciative because most of them have nothing. There is so much need for improvement in the living conditions in China and the treatment in factories. Few American companies take the time and money to better others; they just care about the bottom line. Tim was more concerned about others than many firms, but it wasn’t until his departure from the investment firm that he saw the destruction factories caused.
The last thoughts he leaves with the reader are about the people. He sees their lives improving, slowly, and wants the reader to acknowledge that they are people too, not just tools used to make a profit. They are “flawed and beautiful like us” (249). They deserve to have their iron tree blossom like his finally did and hopes that in time it will. I see this improvement and am encouraged to not fall into the trap of using people and participating in bad ethics.
This book caused me to ponder on the true environment in China and experience what an investor who was sucked in to the opportunities felt and lived. This book either makes you want to enter the Chinese business environment, ready to grasp the wealth and opportunities, or make you want to help those who can’t fight for themselves, the locals.
posted by victoria brown at 6:52 PM
3 Comments:
Very good review, Victoria. Well done.
By the way, I love this book. One of my favorites. I thought I had it on the reading list, but for some reason I fogot to type it in. A must read on China, for sure. I will be sure to add it to next year's syllabus.
This is great info to know.
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