In my last post, I was talking about the value-add of me when conducting business with the Caucasians and the Chinese. Since the product is from China, and the user is from US, why is there a need for me to be there? I possess the know-how of the system and understand the requirements of the customer. Although the Chinese can manufacture the thing we want, they lack the ability to provide the final touches. But I am able to deliver the product desirable to the customer. It is neither magic nor uphill tasks that I have to take. It is the simple knowledge and experience that I have gained from my work in Singapore. Packaging is so important in this modern world. You can make a very good product, but without a proper packaging, it loses its shine. I liken my service in this case as being a gift wrapper, giving the gift the final touch so appealing to the recipient. Of course the Chinese are smart and will learn the ropes very soon. So what do I do? It is the continuation of our innovation and improvement of services to the customer that keep us ahead of our suppliers or competitors.
Korean car manufacturer, Hyundai, can't make engines as good as the Japanese, but are able to keep their car sales on par with Japanese because they can continue to keep their car outlook so appealing that give their Japanese competitors a run for their money. HTC phone is considered a late comer in mobile phone market but it is making a big impact because its appealing look and feel, nevermind if it is really as good as the iPhone. The essence in making a product is not about making it so perfect. It is about making it desirable to the user. When profits start rolling in, it is when you take this money to invest in further development for the version 2, 3 onwards.
Coming back on the point about my experience and know-how that put me on the edge. As Singaporeans, we are considered the most westernized Asia. The cosmopolitan environment of Singapore gives us the exposure to the world. Also, as a first world country, our level of expertise is on par with the western world. It is not that we have to idolize the Americans or Europeans or try to be like them. As a small country like ours, we have to keep ourselves abreast with things. The only resource we have is our brains. We do not have deep oil wells like the Arabs have that can last them another 150 years. We have to capitalize on our strengths and continue to provide the services the world needs. The last thing we want to be, is to be complacent about ourselves.
MM Lee once said something which has set in my mind deeply. He said the world will continue to exist and operate even without the existence of Singapore. But the world will change if America or China ceases to exist. I would liken Singapore as a small puddle of water alongside a wide flowing river. If we do not do anything to this puddle of water, it will be stagnated and eventually be dried up by the sun. We have to deliberately create an inlet and outlet to divert some water in and flow out. Then the puddle water will not dry up and will always be kept alive by the flowing river.
Saturday, April 4, 2009
Being Bilingual is Beautiful
I just came back from a business trip in China and Hong Kong. In China, I worked with the local people. Most of them could not speak or hear English, even the educated ones. Some could read simple English though. We dealt with Westerners, Indians and Filipinos there. In the many meetings, the Chinese, our partners, appeared clueless, because they couldn't understand a word in English. Suddenly, I felt myself so important and useful because I understood both languages. I became their interpreters and helped bridge the gaps between the customers and suppliers. Although, I must admit my standard of Mandarin is not polished, it is enough to converse with the local Chinese. I was held with high regard in the group, just for being bilingual. Furthermore, my strong ability to document all the work done by the Chinese and present to the Westerner counterparts, made my presence so important.
I felt fortunate that the education I was given in Singapore has geared me to posses such soft skills so important when conducting business at international level. In those days when I was a student, Mandarin was never held a high regard socially and when you spoke it with your friends, you were deemed as 2nd class. I even despised myself for knowing how to speak in the language. Today, I just regret that I didn't put enough effort in improving my Mandarin. I was brought up in an English speaking family and couldn't speak a word of Chinese when I started school. My parents couldn't speak well in the language either. I was like deemed to be the more "angmoh" type. I struggled with my Chinese subject all my years in school and had never done well in the subject.
Our MM Lee, recently reiterate the importance of nurturing Mandarin to our young today. He has relentless, all his life, stressed the importance of learning Mandarin. Today, as being a third generation of Chinese immigrants in Singapore, I am grateful to him for his long running initiative which still very much alive today. The only gripe I have though, is the ban in Cantonese language over TV in Singapore since the 70s, that has caused me the inability to speak Cantonese in Hong Kong. For that, I lose the edge to my Malaysian counterpart who possess the Cantonese speaking knack, picking up from the countless Hong Kong dramas they usually watch. One point that I don't quite agree with MM Lee is that dialect will interfere with learning Mandarin. Children has the ability to pick up several languages simultaneously.
Nonetheless, looking at the economic outlook for the next few decades, China is continuing to its quest as a big economy powerhouse. It has become the 3rd largest economy in the world today. Being a Singaporean, we are just a little sailboat which needs to sail with the wind. Possessing the skill of the 2 most important languages, it's like having a powerful engine and a powerful sail in the boat. In order to differentiate ourselves from Mainland Chinese, is to possess the ability to bridge between the East and West. In the very cosmopolitan nature that Singapore has, it is our very edge against the typical mainland Chinese. It takes a generation to learn a language. To those non-Chinese speaking Singaporeans, my advice is to go forward to pick up that language. You will learn to appreciate.
Related links:
1. Speech by MM Lee Kuan Yew
2. Yahoo News
I felt fortunate that the education I was given in Singapore has geared me to posses such soft skills so important when conducting business at international level. In those days when I was a student, Mandarin was never held a high regard socially and when you spoke it with your friends, you were deemed as 2nd class. I even despised myself for knowing how to speak in the language. Today, I just regret that I didn't put enough effort in improving my Mandarin. I was brought up in an English speaking family and couldn't speak a word of Chinese when I started school. My parents couldn't speak well in the language either. I was like deemed to be the more "angmoh" type. I struggled with my Chinese subject all my years in school and had never done well in the subject.
Our MM Lee, recently reiterate the importance of nurturing Mandarin to our young today. He has relentless, all his life, stressed the importance of learning Mandarin. Today, as being a third generation of Chinese immigrants in Singapore, I am grateful to him for his long running initiative which still very much alive today. The only gripe I have though, is the ban in Cantonese language over TV in Singapore since the 70s, that has caused me the inability to speak Cantonese in Hong Kong. For that, I lose the edge to my Malaysian counterpart who possess the Cantonese speaking knack, picking up from the countless Hong Kong dramas they usually watch. One point that I don't quite agree with MM Lee is that dialect will interfere with learning Mandarin. Children has the ability to pick up several languages simultaneously.
Nonetheless, looking at the economic outlook for the next few decades, China is continuing to its quest as a big economy powerhouse. It has become the 3rd largest economy in the world today. Being a Singaporean, we are just a little sailboat which needs to sail with the wind. Possessing the skill of the 2 most important languages, it's like having a powerful engine and a powerful sail in the boat. In order to differentiate ourselves from Mainland Chinese, is to possess the ability to bridge between the East and West. In the very cosmopolitan nature that Singapore has, it is our very edge against the typical mainland Chinese. It takes a generation to learn a language. To those non-Chinese speaking Singaporeans, my advice is to go forward to pick up that language. You will learn to appreciate.
Related links:
1. Speech by MM Lee Kuan Yew
2. Yahoo News
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