Hong Kong on Business
I have travelled for work several times but in 2011 I took 2 trips to Hong Kong
as part of a major project at work. There are a lot of success stories here and
some lessons learned - but the project was overall a great opportunity with very
positive outcomes. This was kicked off as an IT project but the scope of discussions
were operational. Before leaving for Asia I met with the US team to make sure all
stakeholders were on-board.
It was big business The trips were all business. On landing I met
our office manager in Hong Kong and the Vice President of our Asia operations. After
briefing on the latest progress, it was a quick trip to the hotel for an early morning
meeting with our joint venture partners. The days were long and we had several formal
meetings and informal work sessions.
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Live your life fully. Whether it is a trip to the exotic orient, Little Rock, Arkansas,
or a day in the office - live life fully. Be present in every moment and make the
most of every opportunity.
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The relationships In business, just as in life, relationships are
key. It is dependent on "transactions" between people. Whether those transactions
are purchases, agreements for work, hiring and firing, it is a series of social
transactions. Clear communication and building understanding to eliminate uncertainty
was part of the first order for the trip. Establishing clear channels and
expectations helped focus the meetings for the rest of the sessions. In Hong Kong
I built several good relationships and those continue to this day.
Just being there. There is so much to see when you travel for work
or pleasure. When you leave your home country there are differences in culture,
in infrastructure, food, and language. No matter the circumstance, being in a foreign
land is a great opportunity. Even with 16 hour work days, there was time to see
mainland China and just soak in the culture.
Live your life fully. Whether it is a trip to the exotic orient, Little Rock, Arkansas,
or a day in the office - live life fully. Be present in every moment and make the
most of every opportunity.
