Olina Qian

I went to the All Ivy League Mixer last night in San Fransisco, since my previous coach Deep Sahni was the guest speaker there. It took me one and half hour to get in the city and half an hour to find the parking spot. By the time I arrived, the event was almost over.

So I walked around to meet several interesting people while eating cheese(Oh, I love cheese!). After the event, Deep suggested we went to grab some food together. I ate already before I went, but I love to talk to Deep, so I went five other people.

It was very up-lifting experience when you listen to Deep, he certainly bought lots of positive energy to me. It is very easy to meet smart people in Sillicon Valley, but it is rare to meet wise people like Deep who is willing to share the wisdom. And below are what I learned last night, hope it brings some value to you too!

1. In order to advance your career, you should start to talk to people work in other departments of your company and see what you can help with them. Start to do it today!

2. Understand that MBA is only an element, not an enabler for your career success.

3. We all should learn to deal with unknown and deal with life changes. Every changes present an opportunity to learn.

4. East coast is like a box, everything is set up perfectly, you just need to find your niche and fit in. West coast is more about creation, building, it is a hub of creating the world! So you can find more opportunity in Silicon Valley. There is not much place like Sillion Valley, in France, they can easily deny your apartment application just because you are asian, but here, you can almost do whatever you passionate about and make this world a better place.

5. Everyday there is new opportunity to meet new people and do something interesting, you just need to throw yourself out there.

6. If you want to go back to China as a Director, you need to become a Director here. Since compare to local Chinese people, they have their strong networking and resource there already, only if American company send you back , then you have the advantage to compete with them. But how to get to that level, you have to talk to people, become a leader here first. What to take to get you there? Involve in the community and understand the business process.

7. You have to fail to learn. So don’t be afraid of mistake. In Asia, people think you are stupid when you make mistake. In US, we consider mistake is a great way to learn.

8. American is external focus. Try to know how market, competition and customer are doing instead of focus on you.

9. You should get out of your system, throw away your definition from china, and adapt the American culture.

10. Business school’s supply and demand: Student supply and company hiring.

11. As an immigrant, you need to play the game three times better than others to be succeed here, before they let you lead the game.

12. Risk tolerance can be very important, you should be willing to take the risk.

13. Americans like to talk about Basketball.

14. When people has different opinion, you should ask why they think that way instead of explain to them your opinion.

15. You should have the ability to get things done, instead of thinking all the time

16. American is playing fair game. Not like Asia, there are lots of other elements counts.

17. Have you wash dishes in the restaurant just for the food and lodging? If no, you are spoiled, you need to experience the difficult situation and will to take the risk!

18. Your opinions stop the process of building things.

19. Ever play with five years old kids? Make it a free flow, play with them, start to build things, create things instead of telling them what to do.

20. Asians are arrogant in silicon valley, we think we are smarter than US people, it is very dangerous!

21. Before people go to executive roll, you should try to do two years in sales, two years in financial and 2 years in operation.

22. Try to learn from everything you see, instead of judging it. Pay attention to what people say and try to find out what you can help in the game.

23. Americans know what they don’t know and they are ok with it, so there is such a thing called H1B.

24. Success in life is not choosing the right path, it is choosing the least worse path.

25. Americans listen very carefully.

26. Start to produce result now.

27. How people judging you in the game:

a. Are you constantly adding value to the team. AKA Airplane Theory, if you will take a five hours flight to somewhere, will you make your neighbor feel that he is glad to have your company or he rather seat in the restroom for five hours in stead of going back to you?

b. IS the team more productive or less productive after you get in.

At last, Deep asked us: Think about this society is like a soccer game, someone yell at the auditorium, complains about their skill of playing. Busboys are seating around the field, delivering water and feel the shake of the game. And someone are running on the field, playing the game.

Where are you in the game?