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Investing In China – everyone talking about it

In china business by Michael Michelini6 Comments

I’ve been more calls then ever before from friends and business associates back in USA. It must be all over the television more then ever – investing in china! But really, its not at all as easy as anyone can imagine….. First of all, being a foreigner, who do you trust when you get here? The government isn’t exactly welcoming …

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Hard Choices Make Us Stronger

In china business by Michael Michelini8 Comments

I try not to get my emotions mixed into things…but life is life…and I am who I am…..I guess I genuinely care about the outcomes in life for others like myself……maybe that is why I get myself in difficult situations to begin with…… But right now, I am part of DBR Shenzhen Oy and I have been back from a …

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Fixing an Air Conditioner in China

In china business by Michael Michelini5 Comments

I know I just posted…but this I couldn’t wait for….in my apartment building they are fixing an air conditioner…this guy is on the 18th or 19th floor risking his life….I see this all summer long, but this time got a good photo LOOK HOW HIGH HE IS!!

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Differences Doing Business in China and USA

In business, china business, usa by Michael Michelini7 Comments

I know, its been a while since my last post…..didn’t have much internet connection in Finland, jet lag, and backlog of work….I had to sacrifice some posts….Tomorrow I am presenting at punch party, which is a time where speakers come and only have 7 minutes to discuss their topic. The idea is to meet new people, and get lots of …

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Door to door sales in China

In china business by Michael Michelini11 Comments

It has been a bit more strange then expected with certain sales initiative, yes each country and culture is different. I try my best to be flexible and adaptive, but selling in china has been interesting to say the least. First of all, selling in china is difficult by definition. Chinese people are “tighter” with their money (i.e. don’t spend …

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Visit to a China Hospital

In china business by Michael Michelini15 Comments

Spent a few hours today with my trustee assistant Melissa Zhu at the local Nanshan Public Hospital, here in Shenzhen, China. Besides a blood test / drug test for my passport z-visa, this was my first time at a public hospital for a regular checkup. So let me note my experience, it wasn’t as scary as I could have imagined …

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China now blocking more – twitter, hotmail, bing,

In china business, websites by Michael Michelini7 Comments

The 20th anniversary of Tiananmen massacre on June 4th is approaching, so it seems the Chinese government is adding more to the blocked list. My favorite new site, Twitter, has been blocked, as well as hotmail, the new search engine bing (microsoft), flickr, wordpress, and probably more we cannot find now. That adds to the list of blogger, youtube. I …

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Dragon Boat festival begins in China

In china business by Michael MicheliniLeave a Comment

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 …

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Expat Joys – Passport Visa in China

In china business by Michael Michelini3 Comments

having dinner with Brent today, discussing chinese visas, passport expirations, all those worries one needs when traveling in a country that requires a passport visa, and then I realized my current visa expires TOMORROW!!!!! Basically, after dinner, quickly met Bas and Maritess and Charlotte, who have just arrived from the Phillipines, and rush to the border before midnight strikes and …

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Featured on Chinese Radio – Laptop Stolen

In china business by Michael Michelini9 Comments

Yesterday was invited to a special dinner party for a radio show. The radio show showcases new restaurants in the area and takes guests to rate the food and atmosphere. I was the only foreigner (white guy) in a table of 12 or so. The owner / manager of the restaurant was also there. I took my laptop bag with …

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Easter Sunday in China

In china business by Michael Michelini2 Comments

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 …

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China, Finland, Euro, RMB – how lucky US English is

In china business by Michael Michelini3 Comments

The longer I’m outside of USA the more I realize how easy it was to do business. Everyone spoke the same language, everything was in US Dollars. The past couple weeks, i’m dealing with currency risk in my budgets, translating chinese legal documents for staff, and receiving finnish language website requests (a new website coming soon Sales Lion – let …

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Re-structure, Re-negotiate, Re-evaluate

In china business by Michael MicheliniLeave a Comment

This past week…so much has been happening….between meeting current staff, partners and allies, re-negotiating on the phone with customers, allies, partners….it seems I have strong relations because talks have been easier then I thought. Seems the staff is very supportive, and we are setting sales targets and if we can reach them as a team the office may stay. But …