Olina Qian

Just came back from a great dinner with a friend. He is a serial entrepreneur, his first startup was aquired by a big company. Now he is working on the 2nd one in mobile industry.

During our conversation, I found out that we really think alike and his viewing point is really interesting! So I decided to record it down for my future reference and hope it can bring value to you too!

For example, in terms of Entrepreneurship. He said it is a road with one way traffic. So you really need to think about it before you jump in. You need to make sure you really like it. Since it can ends in two ways: Either you succeed, then you will wonder it is by luck or by your ability. So you want to do it again and replicate your success. Or, your failed, then you want to apply your previous experience to the next startup, until you succeed. Maybe you won’t be succeed eventually, but Entrepreneurship is a life style, not a career. Does it sounds familar? Haha, yes, my friend Yu-kai Chou always said the same thing before–Entrepreneur is a life style. But it is good to hear it from an seasoned entrepreneur.

Also, in terms of China. He agreed that there are lots of opportunities in China. But before you go back, you really need to figure out what is the important thing to you. Since Chinese Culture is so different to US. In China, people like to succeed over night. It is also not as open as US. In US, it is a fair game, people respect loyalty and hierarchy. But people from China are raise individually, so everyone has his own goal and own pace. In US, kids are raise in a team environment. So the game rule is different. If you like to take the adventure in an orderless society, China is for you. But if you like to follow rules and live in an fair competition. Maybe you should stay in US.

In terms of Networking, he said it is the most important thing for business. Your boarder of network decides your opportunity to talent. It also formes your supporting group who shares the same vision with you. I do appreciate it when I heard he weight networking a big deal. Sometimes it is really hard to evaluate how good you build up your network, but I always believe networking is important. Try to break down every business, you will find out it is all about people and people relation. So who you know, how well do you know them, furthermore, who knows you does matter in business. But be aware that networking in China is different to in US. In China, it doesn’t matter how many people you know, it matters if you know the key person. In US, both vertical networking and horizontal networking are equally important.

In terms of success, he thinks good amount of CURIOSITY can contribute a lot to success. He also believes many people do have Vision, but execution is more important for an entrepreneur, with a little bit luck.

He was graduated from MIT, so he thinks MBA is a good experience, it can transform people’s life. If you have opportunity to go MBA, try to go to the top tier school and do it full time. So that you can get two years of free time to work on whatever you passionate about. Of course you can have a startup idear before you go MBA, but don’t let it become your limit. Be open minded and try to absord as much as you can. Then you will find out your mind setting will be different.

I really like his point of view in mistake. He considers mistakes are given, which means you can never avoid mistake. But your attitude can make a difference. You can’t really control that you make a mistake, but you can totally decide what you can do with your mistake. So even if you are in the worst condition, try to make the best out of it. Mindsetting is really important in this case, like how you access it and how you react. In Dale Carnegie course, we say: if life gives you a lemon, bitter and sore, try to make a lemonade out of it!

His viewing point in Marriage is interesting too. He considers it depends on your tolerent of messiness in your surroundings. Yes, tolerant level does matters. Also it depends on your acceptance range of difference.

I asked him how to build a successful startup. He told me just go do it with passion. I said, but it is difficult, right? He looked into my eyes, and say:

IF YOU THINK IT IS DIFFICULT, IT iS!

Also he told me, if you want to do it, you should do it now, since it is your life! –Thanks for the encouragement! What a valuable session I got today!