My final reflection

China is a country that took risks and has resources that are in high demand. China knows how to attract companies and motivate them to stay. There are many challenges that it will continue to face and it’s the companies that need to contribute to the efforts to solve the problems before they escalate. An issue that needs to be addressed more is the depletion of resources. Companies we met with are all taking steps towards sustainability. Whether it was creating charities, creating a better environment for its employees, or using environmentally friendly products they each had steps to fulfill its goals. I was very impressed by the immense support for increasing sustainability issues and the desire to curb the problem sooner rather than later. Throughout this program we were exposed to business plans and the avenues they followed, whether they had social responsibility or not. It remained verified that corporate social responsibility is a growing issue and those who focus on a higher level will have more long run success and more opportunities.

This trip was an experience that taught me about myself, China, and various corporate cultures. Each company taught me a lot about the business cultures, how they bring multiple backgrounds together, the tough roads they crossed, and how they achieved success. I was impressed by the risks employees took and the way so many cultures could unite for the same purpose.

The best experience was seeing how three companies intertwined. UNIC, NatureWorks, and Stream Source all worked together in the process of constructing RubberMaid Huggable Hangers with environmentally friendly products. They have a relationship that relies on support and dependability from the others. All three have different leadership and different backgrounds, yet they can take an idea and work together to make a successful product that became HSN’s biggest seller. They have a market lead in China, which is the result of trusting the other companies to fulfill their contributions.

This collaboration illustrated the business practice of trust. Their relationship was a result of encouragement and believing in each other. With a reliable power supply, a “one stop” logistics center, remaining motivated to stay ahead of business issues, and an idea, these three companies had conviction. Today many companies are reserved and try to fulfill all resources necessary in order to maintain complete control. Through these companies I see a common drive and a willingness to work together. Contracts in China are not twenty pages long, they are shorter and based on respect and trust, generating a long term relationship. People are not as skeptical of the partner not fulfilling their side of the deal because the culture is about keeping face and respecting each other. This is a practice American business needs to work harder to create.

During our Stream Source presentation, Alex was asked what the best advice for an expat in China is. His response was to take as many risks as possible, and to be able to drink. The latter was already expected since we read many Chinese business books prior to our arrival in China. The first part of his statement stuck with me. I have been told to take risk before but I have always been hesitant because with risk, most commonly comes many failures. He showed how his failures lead him to China, working with a company who is now the #1 closet organizer product and HSN’s biggest seller. I realized I was taking a risk by moving to China to learn Mandarin. I put my career on hold and was willing to move to a place I knew very little about. Everyone takes risks, but I am very risk averse, taking as little risks as possible. I dream of making a difference and fulfilling my definition of success. After this trip I see how risk is a determinant of accomplishment. I will venture out of my comfort zone in order to try new things and experience a life I would not have had I never taken a risk.

Not only was the actual relationship between the three businesses insightful, the background of James and Alex helped me in confirming my desire to return to China at the end of July to learn Mandarin. They have had an, overall, positive experience in China and doing business there. They love the culture, the attitude, and the opportunities. Alex said that in order to succeed in China you need two things: to take as much risk as you can, and to learn the language. These words will remain with me during my pursuit of opportunity in China. I am learning the language and with that come risk of me being in a foreign country and postponing my career in the US. More risks will come along my journey and I will think of Alex’s words every time I try to rationalize my decision in my head and ask myself if it could lead to the accomplishments of my dream, even a 1% chance is a chance that it will.