Shanghai Means Business

I've been to America, Bangkok, Singapore, Kuala Lumpur and Tokyo. Many of the big cities in the world. Shanghai was the one I left thinking I'll come back here for business.

The city had an incredible business energy and a lot of things were designed for business. During the first week I networked easily whether I was alone or with others. We exchanged contacts and something concrete came out of it right away.

Usually networking means swapping numbers out of politeness and that's it. Or collecting as many contacts as possible.

In Shanghai it was different. Something concrete happened right away. The benefit started on both sides. How can I help you and how can you move forward?

People want to lift you up and take you further without waiting for something in return first. It's selfless and it goes both ways.

After just one week I felt I was received as a professional better than in many other countries.

This connects to what I experienced everywhere. People want to help you and solve your problem right away. Nothing is left hanging. It doesn't become a social burden for either one.

You know how it goes. Your network fills up with professionals from different fields. After a while you start wondering who that person was and what it was about.

In Shanghai people get back to a new contact straight away and do it professionally. You're left with a good feeling and a stronger memory of what the other person does. Things move forward.

We live in a busy world. There's no need to leave things hanging. I really like this because I work the same way.

When you message a new contact it can take a week or two before you hear anything. Concrete progress is often really slow. The reason given is a lack of resources.

The people I talked with in Shanghai had 20 companies. They were partners in an operational role in half of them.

It's about how smoothly you adopt a routine that moves you forward and the people around you too. If you like the person and want to help, you do business so that it flourishes both ways.

You have to be precise about things. Nothing should be assumed. I think that's great too.

I'm not saying there aren't unicorns and individuals outside China who work like this. In my understanding this was the norm in what I experienced. Before I can say anything about the rest of China, Shanghai is that kind of place for me.

I'll keep networking with great interest and see what opportunities come. And what I can offer locals as someone from outside China.

I have a super good feeling. This definitely wasn't the last time.

In Shanghai the business side was all about networking. In Hunan I got to see the other end. A factory full of robots, AI television at Mango TV and how food export works. More in Hunan Means Business.

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Samuli Makkonen, Pleasure Advisor
Live with more pleasure.

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