I was totally confused yeah one morning while doing research for my book I came
while doing research for my book I came
while doing research for my book I came across this quote from Forbes it said
across this quote from Forbes it said
across this quote from Forbes it said the best place to succeed is where you
the best place to succeed is where you
the best place to succeed is where you are with what you have this sentence is
are with what you have this sentence is
are with what you have this sentence is pure contradiction it says that what we
pure contradiction it says that what we
pure contradiction it says that what we have now is enough and that we don’t
have now is enough and that we don’t
have now is enough and that we don’t need to worry about the future but is it
need to worry about the future but is it
need to worry about the future but is it true we don’t need anything else
true we don’t need anything else
true we don’t need anything else everybody knows that opportunities lie
everybody knows that opportunities lie
everybody knows that opportunities lie in foreseeing the future in having an
in foreseeing the future in having an
in foreseeing the future in having an edge just like the kind of people that I
edge just like the kind of people that I
edge just like the kind of people that I interviewed for my book my book east
interviewed for my book my book east
interviewed for my book my book east commerce tells the story of how even
commerce tells the story of how even
commerce tells the story of how even China and not only the West has created
China and not only the West has created
China and not only the West has created new technological models that are now
new technological models that are now
new technological models that are now becoming global models developed by
becoming global models developed by
becoming global models developed by people like you and I from India to
people like you and I from India to
people like you and I from India to Indonesia from Nigeria to Brazil more
Indonesia from Nigeria to Brazil more
Indonesia from Nigeria to Brazil more and more companies are calling
and more companies are calling
and more companies are calling themselves the tub all of the GMO or
themselves the tub all of the GMO or
themselves the tub all of the GMO or their own countries rather than the ebay
their own countries rather than the ebay
their own countries rather than the ebay or amazon for the first time it is not
or amazon for the first time it is not
or amazon for the first time it is not China looking at the world it is the
China looking at the world it is the
China looking at the world it is the world looking at China the inspiration
world looking at China the inspiration
world looking at China the inspiration behind my book came quite unexpectedly
behind my book came quite unexpectedly
behind my book came quite unexpectedly I’ve been living in China for over 12
I’ve been living in China for over 12
I’ve been living in China for over 12 years and for the majority of the time
years and for the majority of the time
years and for the majority of the time my work has been to help foreign
my work has been to help foreign
my work has been to help foreign businesses start up their operations
businesses start up their operations
businesses start up their operations here in a very traditional way with
here in a very traditional way with
here in a very traditional way with millions of dollars of investments and
millions of dollars of investments and
millions of dollars of investments and big infrastructures involved and it was
big infrastructures involved and it was
big infrastructures involved and it was business as usual until three years ago
business as usual until three years ago
business as usual until three years ago when I realized that words like
when I realized that words like
when I realized that words like innovation and internet were popping up
innovation and internet were popping up
innovation and internet were popping up all over the place over and over again I
all over the place over and over again I
all over the place over and over again I sense that technology was going to
sense that technology was going to
sense that technology was going to change how things had been
change how things had been
change how things had been in China in the last 30 years and so my
in China in the last 30 years and so my
in China in the last 30 years and so my work and I think it was a good time for
work and I think it was a good time for
work and I think it was a good time for me for this realization because i was
me for this realization because i was
me for this realization because i was totally burned out from my work I needed
totally burned out from my work I needed
totally burned out from my work I needed some time and I wanted to see the world
some time and I wanted to see the world
some time and I wanted to see the world that was my carpe diem I took some time
that was my carpe diem I took some time
that was my carpe diem I took some time for myself and I learned about
for myself and I learned about
for myself and I learned about technology by the way I knew nothing
technology by the way I knew nothing
technology by the way I knew nothing about technology and I headed all the
about technology and I headed all the
about technology and I headed all the way to Silicon Valley to a place called
way to Silicon Valley to a place called
way to Silicon Valley to a place called singularity University now to earn an
singularity University now to earn an
singularity University now to earn an executive degree in technology founded
executive degree in technology founded
executive degree in technology founded by Google NASA and some other big
by Google NASA and some other big
by Google NASA and some other big investors singularity university is the
investors singularity university is the
investors singularity university is the place where they teach you what is
place where they teach you what is
place where they teach you what is technology how does it work and how to
technology how does it work and how to
technology how does it work and how to use it to impact billions of people it’s
use it to impact billions of people it’s
use it to impact billions of people it’s a place where people talking about
a place where people talking about
a place where people talking about artificial intelligence self-driving
artificial intelligence self-driving
artificial intelligence self-driving cars spaceships that our money asteroids
cars spaceships that our money asteroids
cars spaceships that our money asteroids it’s a very very fascinating place but
it’s a very very fascinating place but
it’s a very very fascinating place but while I was there I had another
while I was there I had another
while I was there I had another realization is that people in Silicon
realization is that people in Silicon
realization is that people in Silicon Valley were completely miss reading what
Valley were completely miss reading what
Valley were completely miss reading what was happening in China yes it’s true
was happening in China yes it’s true
was happening in China yes it’s true Silicon Valley is the epicenter of
Silicon Valley is the epicenter of
Silicon Valley is the epicenter of innovation but China is the place where
innovation but China is the place where
innovation but China is the place where innovation will have its biggest impact
innovation will have its biggest impact
innovation will have its biggest impact and no one was talking about it so that
and no one was talking about it so that
and no one was talking about it so that was the moment when I sense that the
was the moment when I sense that the
was the moment when I sense that the seeds of my book were planted 10,000
seeds of my book were planted 10,000
seeds of my book were planted 10,000 kilometers away from where my journey
kilometers away from where my journey
kilometers away from where my journey started so having had the little
started so having had the little
started so having had the little knowledge about technology and how it
knowledge about technology and how it
knowledge about technology and how it works now I wanted to understand how
works now I wanted to understand how
works now I wanted to understand how China was innovated so when I came back
China was innovated so when I came back
China was innovated so when I came back to China I did one thing which came out
to China I did one thing which came out
to China I did one thing which came out from my heart which make no sense but I
from my heart which make no sense but I
from my heart which make no sense but I put my business on the side and I went
put my business on the side and I went
put my business on the side and I went on a journey which initially I thought
on a journey which initially I thought
on a journey which initially I thought would take me three months but
would take me three months but
would take me three months but eventually lasted 15 months what I
eventually lasted 15 months what I
eventually lasted 15 months what I wanted to understand is how China was
wanted to understand is how China was
wanted to understand is how China was innovating and I started from e-commerce
innovating and I started from e-commerce
innovating and I started from e-commerce and the Internet of Things because
and the Internet of Things because
and the Internet of Things because everybody was talking about Marwan and
everybody was talking about Marwan and
everybody was talking about Marwan and shrunk Cherie so I said well that’s the
shrunk Cherie so I said well that’s the
shrunk Cherie so I said well that’s the place to start look at right and what I
place to start look at right and what I
place to start look at right and what I realized is that China was doing more
realized is that China was doing more
realized is that China was doing more than just copying existing models or
than just copying existing models or
than just copying existing models or people were saying as people were saying
people were saying as people were saying
people were saying as people were saying California it was creating its own kind
California it was creating its own kind
California it was creating its own kind of technological society that’s the
of technological society that’s the
of technological society that’s the moment when I realized that I wanted to
moment when I realized that I wanted to
moment when I realized that I wanted to write my first book and by the way I had
write my first book and by the way I had
write my first book and by the way I had no idea how to write a book but I just
no idea how to write a book but I just
no idea how to write a book but I just felt it and I ended up interviewing over
felt it and I ended up interviewing over
felt it and I ended up interviewing over 200 among CEOs sea levels and VPS of
200 among CEOs sea levels and VPS of
200 among CEOs sea levels and VPS of Asia’s biggest technological companies
Asia’s biggest technological companies
Asia’s biggest technological companies and out of all the futuristic and
and out of all the futuristic and
and out of all the futuristic and technological things that I was
technological things that I was
technological things that I was expecting an eager to learn the most
expecting an eager to learn the most
expecting an eager to learn the most important teaching was not about the
important teaching was not about the
important teaching was not about the future it was about the present you see
future it was about the present you see
future it was about the present you see the more I research into these people
the more I research into these people
the more I research into these people the more I realized that what really
the more I realized that what really
the more I realized that what really fascinated me was not how they were
fascinated me was not how they were
fascinated me was not how they were thinking about the future but how their
thinking about the future but how their
thinking about the future but how their chosen to leave their present one of the
chosen to leave their present one of the
chosen to leave their present one of the first person who really inspired me for
first person who really inspired me for
first person who really inspired me for what she has done is this girl from
what she has done is this girl from
what she has done is this girl from Hangzhou called fun fun we met in her
Hangzhou called fun fun we met in her
Hangzhou called fun fun we met in her showroom in the outskirt of Hangzhou and
showroom in the outskirt of Hangzhou and
showroom in the outskirt of Hangzhou and when I met her I thought that she looked
when I met her I thought that she looked
when I met her I thought that she looked everything but a technology entrepreneur
everything but a technology entrepreneur
everything but a technology entrepreneur she was cracking joke she looked like
she was cracking joke she looked like
she was cracking joke she looked like she just came out of university and she
she just came out of university and she
she just came out of university and she was totally unaware of what she had
was totally unaware of what she had
was totally unaware of what she had accomplished you see fun fun had left a
accomplished you see fun fun had left a
accomplished you see fun fun had left a modeling career to start up something
modeling career to start up something
modeling career to start up something that would soon become a multi-million
that would soon become a multi-million
that would soon become a multi-million dollar online fashion empire she started
dollar online fashion empire she started
dollar online fashion empire she started by buying to downtown hangzhou and
by buying to downtown hangzhou and
by buying to downtown hangzhou and buying clothes at a textile market and
buying clothes at a textile market and
buying clothes at a textile market and selling them on her top off store and
selling them on her top off store and
selling them on her top off store and she arrived all the way to having her
she arrived all the way to having her
she arrived all the way to having her own line designed by her and produced by
own line designed by her and produced by
own line designed by her and produced by factories in hangzhou and sold through
factories in hangzhou and sold through
factories in hangzhou and sold through her store she went from one hub all
her store she went from one hub all
her store she went from one hub all stores to toot our stores for one team
stores to toot our stores for one team
stores to toot our stores for one team old store 22 team all stores and at the
old store 22 team all stores and at the
old store 22 team all stores and at the end of 2013 she had revenues in
end of 2013 she had revenues in
end of 2013 she had revenues in of 13 million u.s. dollars not bad for a
of 13 million u.s. dollars not bad for a
of 13 million u.s. dollars not bad for a model the second person who really
model the second person who really
model the second person who really impressed me for what he has done former
impressed me for what he has done former
impressed me for what he has done former CEO and co-founder of ye hao tian number
CEO and co-founder of ye hao tian number
CEO and co-founder of ye hao tian number one store to an igloo we met at a
one store to an igloo we met at a
one store to an igloo we met at a banking conference in hong kong and
banking conference in hong kong and
banking conference in hong kong and after rehearsing questions and answers
after rehearsing questions and answers
after rehearsing questions and answers for a panel where we were all talking he
for a panel where we were all talking he
for a panel where we were all talking he took me on the side and asked me a are
took me on the side and asked me a are
took me on the side and asked me a are my answers okay i mean we are talking of
my answers okay i mean we are talking of
my answers okay i mean we are talking of one of the most powerful tech man in
one of the most powerful tech man in
one of the most powerful tech man in asia he used to be a very big executive
asia he used to be a very big executive
asia he used to be a very big executive hotel and he was asking me if his
hotel and he was asking me if his
hotel and he was asking me if his answers were okay and what really
answers were okay and what really
answers were okay and what really fascinated me about dwindling is that he
fascinated me about dwindling is that he
fascinated me about dwindling is that he had left a very good career in a very
had left a very good career in a very
had left a very good career in a very advanced stage of his career to jump
advanced stage of his career to jump
advanced stage of his career to jump into the unknown why would you live such
into the unknown why would you live such
into the unknown why would you live such a safe and good salary to step into
a safe and good salary to step into
a safe and good salary to step into something that you have no idea how is
something that you have no idea how is
something that you have no idea how is going to turn up such advanced in your
going to turn up such advanced in your
going to turn up such advanced in your age and in your career not that it was
age and in your career not that it was
age and in your career not that it was old but he had nothing to prove anymore
old but he had nothing to prove anymore
old but he had nothing to prove anymore he told me that he used to fly to
he told me that he used to fly to
he told me that he used to fly to singapore every month to visit the
singapore every month to visit the
singapore every month to visit the company headquarters and during those
company headquarters and during those
company headquarters and during those five hours flight the only thing that he
five hours flight the only thing that he
five hours flight the only thing that he could think of was creating his own
could think of was creating his own
could think of was creating his own company he told me that the feeling of
company he told me that the feeling of
company he told me that the feeling of becoming an entrepreneur is unbeatable
becoming an entrepreneur is unbeatable
becoming an entrepreneur is unbeatable and finally i had the honor to meet one
and finally i had the honor to meet one
and finally i had the honor to meet one of the very few foreigners who set up a
of the very few foreigners who set up a
of the very few foreigners who set up a successful online enterprise in china
successful online enterprise in china
successful online enterprise in china mr. tebow villatte CEO and co-founder of
mr. tebow villatte CEO and co-founder of
mr. tebow villatte CEO and co-founder of macom and we met at his office at the
macom and we met at his office at the
macom and we met at his office at the bunt and just like journaling he left a
bunt and just like journaling he left a
bunt and just like journaling he left a very good career a very well-paid job
very good career a very well-paid job
very good career a very well-paid job and l’oréal to start up his own
and l’oréal to start up his own
and l’oréal to start up his own business but unlike journaling he had no
business but unlike journaling he had no
business but unlike journaling he had no tech background whatsoever you know for
tech background whatsoever you know for
tech background whatsoever you know for foreigners to be successful in China
foreigners to be successful in China
foreigners to be successful in China with online businesses is very hard if
with online businesses is very hard if
with online businesses is very hard if you look at companies like Google or
you look at companies like Google or
you look at companies like Google or Facebook you see how they fail me
Facebook you see how they fail me
Facebook you see how they fail me and here I was talking to a guy who not
and here I was talking to a guy who not
and here I was talking to a guy who not only wanted to reform how you buy luxury
only wanted to reform how you buy luxury
only wanted to reform how you buy luxury goods in China but also partnered with
goods in China but also partnered with
goods in China but also partnered with Alibaba for over 100 million u.s.
Alibaba for over 100 million u.s.
Alibaba for over 100 million u.s. dollars so I know amount sir it might
dollars so I know amount sir it might
dollars so I know amount sir it might sound cliche but the more I research
sound cliche but the more I research
sound cliche but the more I research into the story of these people and the
into the story of these people and the
into the story of these people and the more I realized that their resume was
more I realized that their resume was
more I realized that their resume was anything but perfect I always thought
anything but perfect I always thought
anything but perfect I always thought that to launch such a business to be so
that to launch such a business to be so
that to launch such a business to be so successful to create such an incredible
successful to create such an incredible
successful to create such an incredible start up you need to be some kind of
start up you need to be some kind of
start up you need to be some kind of superhero and that it is important for
superhero and that it is important for
superhero and that it is important for to carpe diem to seize the moment but
to carpe diem to seize the moment but
to carpe diem to seize the moment but what really makes the difference between
what really makes the difference between
what really makes the difference between success and failure is to be perfect and
success and failure is to be perfect and
success and failure is to be perfect and here i was talking to these people
here i was talking to these people
here i was talking to these people writing my first book as a total amateur
writing my first book as a total amateur
writing my first book as a total amateur and they were opening up to a stranger a
and they were opening up to a stranger a
and they were opening up to a stranger a foreigner telling their stories and I
foreigner telling their stories and I
foreigner telling their stories and I never asked them why they did it I was
never asked them why they did it I was
never asked them why they did it I was too shy to ask them but then I realized
too shy to ask them but then I realized
too shy to ask them but then I realized that they’ve learned that you don’t need
that they’ve learned that you don’t need
that they’ve learned that you don’t need to be perfect nor to seek the perfect
to be perfect nor to seek the perfect
to be perfect nor to seek the perfect moment to start up something and be
moment to start up something and be
moment to start up something and be successful when II how the end was
successful when II how the end was
successful when II how the end was launched in 2008 it was right in the
launched in 2008 it was right in the
launched in 2008 it was right in the middle of the financial crisis where
middle of the financial crisis where
middle of the financial crisis where people were losing their homes and banks
people were losing their homes and banks
people were losing their homes and banks were not giving you any money what they
were not giving you any money what they
were not giving you any money what they learned is that to them carpe diem meant
learned is that to them carpe diem meant
learned is that to them carpe diem meant one thing more than anything else to put
one thing more than anything else to put
one thing more than anything else to put your doubts on the side and focus on
your doubts on the side and focus on
your doubts on the side and focus on where you are and what you have so if we
where you are and what you have so if we
where you are and what you have so if we stop here my talk would end something
stop here my talk would end something
stop here my talk would end something like this if you’re not afraid to step
like this if you’re not afraid to step
like this if you’re not afraid to step into the unknown you’re both passionate
into the unknown you’re both passionate
into the unknown you’re both passionate and stubborn of course these people’s
and stubborn of course these people’s
and stubborn of course these people’s stories prove that if you follow your
stories prove that if you follow your
stories prove that if you follow your dreams you’re not afraid of putting up
dreams you’re not afraid of putting up
dreams you’re not afraid of putting up the hard work then anything is possible
so I exhort everybody here today and now
so I exhort everybody here today and now to stand up and march to the rhythm of
to stand up and march to the rhythm of
to stand up and march to the rhythm of carpe diem please stand up
carpe diem please stand up
carpe diem please stand up I’m just kidding because let’s be honest
I’m just kidding because let’s be honest
I’m just kidding because let’s be honest we gotta be honest courage stubborn base
we gotta be honest courage stubborn base
we gotta be honest courage stubborn base and that for every fun fun journaling or
and that for every fun fun journaling or
and that for every fun fun journaling or t-ball there’s thousands of people who
t-ball there’s thousands of people who
t-ball there’s thousands of people who did not make it that’s the truth you
did not make it that’s the truth you
did not make it that’s the truth you know when you embark on such an endeavor
know when you embark on such an endeavor
know when you embark on such an endeavor you go from being big and accomplished
you go from being big and accomplished
you go from being big and accomplished to feeling incredibly small from being
to feeling incredibly small from being
to feeling incredibly small from being strong and a firm to having to prove
strong and a firm to having to prove
strong and a firm to having to prove yourself once again when I embark in
yourself once again when I embark in
yourself once again when I embark in this journey I thought that I would be
this journey I thought that I would be
this journey I thought that I would be done doing research and write in the
done doing research and write in the
done doing research and write in the book in just three months half away
book in just three months half away
book in just three months half away across my book I realized that the
across my book I realized that the
across my book I realized that the general audience will never ever ever
general audience will never ever ever
general audience will never ever ever read a book that looks like a manual I
read a book that looks like a manual I
read a book that looks like a manual I had to throw everything away and start
had to throw everything away and start
had to throw everything away and start from scratch meanwhile i was making zero
from scratch meanwhile i was making zero
from scratch meanwhile i was making zero money and burning all my savings but I
money and burning all my savings but I
money and burning all my savings but I was not alone when fun fun started her
was not alone when fun fun started her
was not alone when fun fun started her business she worked for the first three
business she worked for the first three
business she worked for the first three months 21 hours a day from six a.m. in
months 21 hours a day from six a.m. in
months 21 hours a day from six a.m. in the morning to 3am of the following day
the morning to 3am of the following day
the morning to 3am of the following day she will never leave her room and she
she will never leave her room and she
she will never leave her room and she would send somebody out twice a day to
would send somebody out twice a day to
would send somebody out twice a day to buy our food the kind of sacrifice that
buy our food the kind of sacrifice that
buy our food the kind of sacrifice that I’ve seen her doing it’s something that
I’ve seen her doing it’s something that
I’ve seen her doing it’s something that goes beyond any limit that I’ve ever
goes beyond any limit that I’ve ever
goes beyond any limit that I’ve ever seen when tebow and drilling started
seen when tebow and drilling started
seen when tebow and drilling started their business they put themselves into
their business they put themselves into
their business they put themselves into such a risky position investing their
such a risky position investing their
such a risky position investing their own money over and over again for a
own money over and over again for a
own money over and over again for a business that even themselves they don’t
business that even themselves they don’t
business that even themselves they don’t really know how it would turn up you see
success is never guaranteed success is
success is never guaranteed success is always unsure so what is it that drives
always unsure so what is it that drives
always unsure so what is it that drives people in the moment of carpe diem is it
people in the moment of carpe diem is it
people in the moment of carpe diem is it obsession
obsession
obsession is it greed is it ambition maybe it’s
is it greed is it ambition maybe it’s
is it greed is it ambition maybe it’s all of this but I think there’s
all of this but I think there’s
all of this but I think there’s something more to it if there is one
something more to it if there is one
something more to it if there is one thing that I learned over two hundred
thing that I learned over two hundred
thing that I learned over two hundred interviews is that one of the most
interviews is that one of the most
interviews is that one of the most important things that helped successful
important things that helped successful
important things that helped successful CEOs overcome incredible difficulties is
CEOs overcome incredible difficulties is
CEOs overcome incredible difficulties is the idea of benefiting the others and
the idea of benefiting the others and
the idea of benefiting the others and not only achieving their own goal
not only achieving their own goal
not only achieving their own goal hardship can be overcome if our journey
hardship can be overcome if our journey
hardship can be overcome if our journey is not only about ourselves when you
is not only about ourselves when you
is not only about ourselves when you look at companies like Alibaba and you
look at companies like Alibaba and you
look at companies like Alibaba and you ask yourself how can they become so big
ask yourself how can they become so big
ask yourself how can they become so big how can they become so influent well
how can they become so influent well
how can they become so influent well among the many good things that they’ve
among the many good things that they’ve
among the many good things that they’ve done I think they’ve mastered one wrong
done I think they’ve mastered one wrong
done I think they’ve mastered one wrong whoa comedian Nick avoided by reforming
whoa comedian Nick avoided by reforming
whoa comedian Nick avoided by reforming and allowing the economy to grow they
and allowing the economy to grow they
and allowing the economy to grow they are allowed to grow themselves too
are allowed to grow themselves too
are allowed to grow themselves too because impact is the driving factor
because impact is the driving factor
because impact is the driving factor behind successful companies and
behind successful companies and
behind successful companies and successful people it was certainly the
successful people it was certainly the
successful people it was certainly the case with my book what really helped me
case with my book what really helped me
case with my book what really helped me to go through those very hard moments
to go through those very hard moments
to go through those very hard moments was the hope that what I was doing was
was the hope that what I was doing was
was the hope that what I was doing was not only about myself I really wanted my
not only about myself I really wanted my
not only about myself I really wanted my message to get through I wanted to share
message to get through I wanted to share
message to get through I wanted to share my stories and today being here with you
my stories and today being here with you
my stories and today being here with you looking back I know that that trip that
looking back I know that that trip that
looking back I know that that trip that journey was worth it because the people
journey was worth it because the people
journey was worth it because the people that I met along the way told me that
that I met along the way told me that
that I met along the way told me that just do it matters much more than what
just do it matters much more than what
just do it matters much more than what if so I stand here before you today
if so I stand here before you today
if so I stand here before you today imploring you to consider what would
imploring you to consider what would
imploring you to consider what would happen if just for a moment we would all
happen if just for a moment we would all
happen if just for a moment we would all our knowledge that where we are and what
our knowledge that where we are and what
our knowledge that where we are and what we have is the best place to start
it would certainly be worthy of being
it would certainly be worthy of being called carpe diem thank you
called carpe diem thank you
called carpe diem thank you [Applause]
”
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