ENTREPRENEURIAL SPIRIT! CHINA OPPORTUNITY! BRINGING PEOPLE TOGETHER! SIGNMARK!

 

 

 

Thank you all for the most lovely Finnish visit, a well-needed and lovely holiday at home places with dear close friends and family and also for the last days some preparation for the upcoming autumn.

 

After a very nice and good visit to Finland was good to come back to the other home in China – new cases, new work and review on past Spring and Summer – and look to the upcoming.

 

You realise again what China is about – in light and shadow! The pace is just simply so fast and there’s something happening all the time. USually it’s positive, but not always. A big contrast to the calmness and peaceful life in Finland, in the East, North and also the more cosmopolitan South.

 

But I love China and Asia. No doubt about it. After a normal everyday hazzle in Hangzhou and Shanghai had a chance to meet some awesome Finnish artists and entrepreneurs again – and some good old friends. In Shanghai some Sino-Finnish hubs, such as Finchi and Tongji Design Factory, this time Finchi, was hosting a lovely combination of art and entrepreneurship. That’s the area what I love the most, the crossroad combining genuine entrepreneurship and passionate artistic expression rooted deeply in the culture, creating something new, independent and sustainable.

 

One more cool example was legendary cult rapper, Signmark’s performance and meeting in Shanghai yesterday. We had a pretty long discussion about so many things – but the pecualirity is that this rapper is deaf – cannot speak a word! How on earth can you be deaf and a rapper at the same time – and make global record deals and be entrepreneurially ambitious? Well, this guy is something special.

 

I got at least 3 revelations while looking at him, together with my loving Korean girlfriend Chloe and an interested Sino-finnish audience  – a good bridge back to China from Finland.

 

First, yes look at Signmark as an interesting ”activist”, talking about minority and disabled rights, but I pointed out to his passionate entrepreneurial example: Do what you love, believe in your dreams (even if they seem to be impossible), never give up, aim to the stars. Wow, this guy is cool! Also: connect the grassroot and the governmental players. He’s not afraid to work with grassroot local players, but also not to connect with Prime Ministers, like fromer Alex Stubb, and become a good-will ambassador for U.N. related organizations – to further the cause and make more connections and open entrepreneurial bridges. Also the idea of his new startup to support technically the translation services of deaf people is fascinating.

 

Second, Signmark and his team has great potential in China and globally. The tech, art, positive political message and beautiful story can be very touching also here. However the team need to think carefully, how to localize the message here – not just which biz channels to utilize. China is super sensitive about human rights ”preeching” – but are very supportive for e.g. rule of law development, also on the improving of disabled opportunities. My partner, Chloe also noticed the great potential in Korea for Signmark; the locals are fascinated about Nordic education examples and Signmarks story could make it big there in various channels.

 

Third, when you take off the words and lyrics and make a more rythmic, body movements in use, you can enable a different kind of social cohesion and good atmosphere to be built up. Rarely in business events, you see people so deeply attached to each other, as when Signmark and his cool collegue performed and taught the crow to ”sing” the chorus of their hit songs – with fingers and body movements. Brought me back the socio-historical classic by William McNeill on Keeping together in Time, Dance and Drill in Human history. A lot of potential here and a great performer and inspirer for many occasions.

 

Keep this guy and team in mind, with such a powerful message, example and vision it’s a great possibility their gonna make it very big globally.

 

Was great to meet also so many Finnish and Chinese friends, thanks for FBCS and the community for arranging, me and Chloe enjoyed a lot!

 

 

P.S. Finnish youth are pioneering with other Nordic, Swiss, Italian and European organizations in Shanghai to make Sino-European co-operation even more tight. Yesterday a gathering brought hundreds of Sino-European pioneers together in a cool and relaxed networking. The Silk Road is getting more tigher than you’d though.

 

Afternoon to Shanghai, morning settling a lot of company stuff in Hangzhou, taking train, visiting two cool events – and back in the evening again. Btw. Awesome to talk with the locals on the train and before – one more reason why you love it in here. Worked brilliantly and budget for the whole day less than 400 RMB (52€) (for two people, including everything). Not bad. You see a lot, experience a lot. We had really good time with Chloe.

 

One more time keeps reminding me why I truly think it’s great to live and come to China, to live, for a holiday, or fulfill your global, artistic or entrepreneurial dream. The more I can help people in this, the happier I also feel. Combine your work and personal life, is a great goal for anybody, yet in abroad. I love to do it and see happy to get it closer day by day.

 

Best greetings from China,

 

加油 (add oil, keep it up) for all!

 

 

Sincerely,

 

Lauri