Things seem to be calming down and life goes on.

Had a great meeting with Mikko Puhakka. He’s an independent maverick, a guy who does stuff on his own, knows the protocol yes, but doesn’t care too much about the governmental posing, as long as stuff goes forward.

Mikko is also a well-respected consultant.

I asked him, how does he see what would be good steps to move forward?

He told a joke about a Canadian guy who came to China, opened up a bar, gave the rights for his Chinese girlfriend to make process working, finally seeing that after the success the Chinese girl left and vanished (with another guy) and he lost his business. After the success, he still wasn’t able to keep his bar, as the trusted partner vanished. 

What did he do? He didn’t stop doing stuff, he opened up another bar close up in Shuangjing and named it:

“Plan B.”

 Nice. 🙂

The funny story reminds that everything is possible in China for a foreigner. It’s super challenging environment, which is also constantly changing all the time – rapidly. 

The model that you successfully made 2015, might not be applicable in the end of 2016. 3 months might already change the way how you should do business, or anything in China.

Try to explain that to your base or boss in Europe. The company might just not be that flexible to adjust to the Chinese environment and pace of change.

So how to avoid challenges, how to succeed in China?

During Alibaba visit last year in Hangzhou we were pointed out: know the environment, get along with the government.

Focusing on the first, environment.

Needs at least three things:

1) benevolence

2) adaptability

3) knowledge

1) Benevolance, and good will, trust from the local people. You can never beat the Chinese on their own soil. Not even the greatest of the great in the West can do that. You need to win the people over. How to do that? Mikko points out well and puts into one word everything what I’ve been talking about: BENEVOLENCE. Being kind to the people for the sake of respecting them and honestly willing good to the people. This classic term comes from Confucius and is at the heart of everything in China.

2) Flexibility, adaptability. Including rapid process, ability to react to the constantly changing environment.
Succeeding in China means the balance of these two sides. Be faster than the quick, rapid Chinese, who might even look into their own benefit. Simultaneously be kind, nice, and want the best of the local people (that shows off). Americans, French and British are not always good in this. And lose a lot of chances. Finns and Scandinavians are by nature more adaptable to this benevolent and respectful culture.

3) Third thing I would raise up, is the knowledge of Chinese past, and culture. Study language, know the history, know the referred stories on Mao Zedong and emperor Qianlong, but also the clever folk traditions such as Zhuge Liang or Monkey King. The more you discover these, the more you’ll find and understand. These are super fascinating stories and teach so much about China and human nature. And: how to toast with the Chinese? Never heard of that? You Haven’t done your China lessons. Live in China, find the local Chinese in your community. Seek for that.

Thanks Mikko for the great talk! Made me rethink about so many things. I’ll first go for a beer in Shuangjing, then head into new. China opens up all the time more and more, these experiences teach you and stay on your skin, 

加油！