Maybe my friends reading this are getting a bit frustrated with me….but now I have decided to take the flight back to Hong Kong (ie China / Philippines) I have been thinking about this since the wedding this weekend…and I guess I have a lot of explaining to do!
When I first landed in new york JFK airport a bit over a month ago, I wasn’t planning to stay in USA. I had my return ticket to China from Los Angeles. It has been two and a half years outside of America, and I was overwhelmed with meetings of SEO customers, friends, new cross promotions for new york city bar promotions and events. Local marketing, mobile internet, got an awesome new mobile phone with unlimited data, working from any location. Seemed like I was gonna get a ton of new deals, sublet apartments, open store/ showroom.
But then things seemed to cave in for me, and reality set in. My plan to move the warehouse to a friend / potential business partner’s garage fell through and I had to move the product into a mini-storage in 2nd and 2nd in Manhattan while still trying to get sales and network. I got a new twitter friend, Josh Whiting, to help me ship products each day….but what a lot of time it takes to get it out of storage, box, walk to the post office. It was not profitable. And splitting shipments.
I bought a book on opening a retail store, and the first chapter talks about 2 requirements
To open a store, the owner needs to:
- stay in 1 place
- pay close attention to detail
THOSE ARE EXACTLY 2 things I am not good at! Then from my time in Florida, I watched a movie about living on the beach, living life and wondered why can’t I do that. I mean, over the past year, with problems with the internet in China and all the foreign companies in China having problems, I was hesitant to return to China / Asia. I thought USA was the answer. And I do still see signs in recovery in the American economy……………………but…………I think that is a year or so away….
then I was thinking of the original ideas why I was even considering staying in America…and that was mainly to get more sales and speak at my university…..both of which have been lagging for me. I guess I’m not a high pressure guy. and staying in America will force me to become one of those high pressure “sign sign sign” salesman. I don’t want to be like taht.
I talked to my parents and some good friends before making this announcement. I kind of feel embarrassed to take my word back about staying in America and returning to Asia…………but this is my dream:
- Write a book
- travel all over the world
- focus my business and automate it
And I can do all of this in a much lower cost, more low stress, enjoyable environment. I want to travel asia. I want to experience life.
Another thing was I went to one of my best friday Tayan’s wedding. Saw all my college friends, saw big houses, cars, nice jobs, wives. I guess this is the AMERICAN DREAM. but not for me. I don’t care about “things”. I saw enough starving babies on the pieces of cardboard in the Philippines to understand what life is really about……..and its not possession or money.
Its about enjoying life, and appreciating friends and family.
Most of my friends in America are always working…can only see them on weekends.
Talked to my friends Sean Murphy of Murph Guide and he told me we are entrepreneurs. To get back to Asia for the next 6 months, relax, destress, and make a plan. A few others have said that too. And Philippines is the place for taht.
Thinking to write a book, and start a travel adventure company….lets see….
Comments
You are making the right move. If you’re going to do business while living in the USA that is great but you better have a plan and capital to back it up. And you need to be ready to handle the American way of life again which as you know is not as laid back and go with the flow as Asia. I think you need to focus though on your top 1 or 2 revenue generating options and get that optimized. You’ll feel a lot more comfortable having the income and you’ll have the confidence to go from there. Anyways it will be good to see you.
Hey Marshall,
Yea I remember chatting to you on skype saying im staying in usa a few weeks ago…..guess it was culture shock and overly excited on some new web marketing deals I had going on.
We have a lot to catch up on, with technology getting so great, face to face business and talk is still night and day
DEAR MIKE,
AS I SAID BEFORE MAYBE YOU HAD A LITTLE CULTURE SHOCK BACK HERE IN THE US AND YOU FEEL MORE COMFORTABLE DOING BUSINESS IN ASIA. THE PHILIPPINES SOUNDS LIKE A BETTER FIT FOR YOU. AND THEN YOU CAN STILL TRAVEL TO OTHER COUNTRIES FROM THERE.
THE ECONOMY IS HURTING EVERYONE IN THIS COUNTRY INCLUDING BARBARA AND I. WE WON’T BE GETTING OUR COLA FOR THE SECOND YEAR AND OUR INVESTMENTS, THAT I DEPEND ON FOR EXTRA INCOME, ARE DOING POORLY.
I WISH YOU ALL THE LUCK IN YOUR FUTURE ENDEAVORS.
ALL OUR LOVE,
BILL AND BARB
hi Uncle Bill,
yes….I guess I was overly overwhelmed (positively) when I came back….and thought I was gonna get tons of sales IMMEDIATELY for internet marketing and consulting in the NY area, as well as open a small showroom / office for selling bar products and promotions.
But maybe I can still do that, but I raelly don’t want to be tied down to one location…..and i am not a detail guy. I am hoping I can find what I truly want to do, and that is international travel and connecting people and cultures. Thinking travel agency.
Lets meet next week, how is Tuesday
DEAR MIKE,
WHAT TIME ON TUESDAY? HOPEFULLY AFTER THE COMMUTERS HAVE LEFT FOR THE CITY. I HOPE PARKING IN MILFORD WON’T BE A PROBLEM FOR ME. UNLESS YOU WERE PLANNING TO COME INTO CT.
BILL
Haha uncle bill ill email ya, too weird even for me to make plans over a blog comment thread
I feel sad to see you leave again but, I understand the need for you to go back. I am hoping that you will continue writing your blog so I can travel with you too (from my computer)!
thanks for understanding Norn……I think it is premature to stay in USA, the costs and commitments are much larger then staying in Asia, and I need to really think about it more.
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