Monthly Archives: July 2008

Programming in the Large

Smart people thought of this question long and hard before. Companies after companies tackled it with years of patience and large amount of resources. Books and consultants profit from it for decades. There are even computer languages designed just for … Continue reading

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大业系列之二:知青下乡

先看基础篇,再往下读。记住:成功不在点子,而在执行能力。全世界都能看这博志,你赢在更好地执行能力。没错,别妄自菲薄。再去读一遍基础篇。如果你准备好了,你一定行,也一定会赢。 假设你有IT的背景,有协调的能力,有点组织能力。中国的农村,是你最佳的空间。农村是集体共有的资源,平均教育水平低,没有什么资讯系统可言,生产力低。从另一个角度看,管理,组织,IT能带来最大的生产力提升的空间。美国的农民生产力,是中国的20倍。如果你找到一个农村,提升他们的生产力10倍,你能赚多少钱? 首先,农民们得信的过你。最简单就是你的同乡。中国人乡土情深,你说同一种乡音,分析给他们听,才能走下一步。感情及信任,是一切的基础。 做什么呢?最简单的是产销链。一样的作物,农民拿多少?市场卖多少?中间到哪去了?如果好好经营,去掉中间人,缩短产销链,大家都有好处。 再来是专业化及个性化。一村种一种庄稼,和全国每一村都不同。这庄稼要好好选:以自然条件为主,农民知识为辅。市场需求和经销,是下一步的工作。大家种大米,这村种香米。大家种桃子,这村种水蜜。 当然最赚钱的是新产品。农产品需要几年才能获利,不能全村一下转种。要有计划的更新,一亩一亩,一家一家,大家有组织的做。几年后就成了个产业。然后往下个村推行。 比较有魄力的做法是把整村租下,改种新作物。现成的农民,成了你的员工。他们的地,就是新的工厂。只是不制造,而是耕作。农民的收入改成工资,而不是卖农产品。既然决定权在你,资金由你出,成本风险在你,将来的收益也是你的。农民担心的是你倒了这么办?你必须给他们个保障:银行里一笔保证金,如果公司倒了,农民不会一无所有。盈利分红更是激励士气,降低成本的好办法。 这是个十年大业。没有决心,不要进来。这也是最有意义,最赚钱的事业。

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æ°´æµ’ PodCast

其实我是要学PodCast怎么做。但第一步是要有材料,我这没什么创造力的人,去那里找材料呢?在北京时,买了套评书CD。那时就转成MP3,放在iPod里听。想想就用它吧。自然会考虑产权的问题。但我的CD还在海上,看不到许可的细节。记忆中,没有任何许可。也就是说,那些CD是我的,如同物理财产。等我拿到CD时,如果我无权分布,那就得把这些撤下喽。 I was to learn the mechanics of podcasting, but having contents appears to be the necessary 1st step and I don’t have any. While I was in Beijing, I bought this audio book and quickly ripped them into MP3 … Continue reading

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成大功,立大业,发大财:基础

这系列是我对中国这代人的期许。尤其有高校资历,又在北京,上海,深圳的外企做了5年左右的年轻人。会介绍些创业的观念。我认为成功率颇大,但没有一步登天的。 你得有高校资历,至少5年工作经验,最好10年包含2至3年的管理经验。不然也得有协调沟通的能力。 你得有点创业冲动,也愿意做些牺牲:优越的待遇,大城市的生活,一呼百诺的威风,悠闲的假期,等等。不必也不该全丢,但总要舍几个。 找一二个伙伴。路是很远的,需要有伴同行。不能用配偶,可以是朋友。创业伙伴最重要的是能同甘共苦。平日留意个性相投的人,观察他的为人处事。时间到了,看能不能共襄盛举。不要被背景财力迷惑,那是能补足的。性格是不大能改的。 中国没有健全的退场机制。创业的后果:倒了,卖掉,或继续盈利。上市的机会不大。也就是说,要做好长征的打算。可以一二年没赚钱,不能把将来退休的本赔进去。自己人已经投入了,不能把家人在拉进去。 想好自己的能力,经验,及性格。能力是出身,知识,学问,或训练。经验是上场实战的刀疤。性格是待人接物的风格。这些是别人无法取代的,也是你竞争的本钱。 中国人讲“谋定而后动”。我常告诫年轻人:“武功没练好,一下山就被人杀了”。再回头读一遍,你准备好没?

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Tips for Travellers

When travel via air, carry-on are restrictive, but checking-in comes with the worry of lost or, worst, being looted. They are so vulnerable. What if a stranger reaches in? Are my jewlery safe? They may touch my underwear! TSA may … Continue reading

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New job, New company, New blogs

I decided to create a new blog for my new employer, Juniper Network.

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New Forbidden City

Starting July 20th, Beijing will be an easy to move-around city only for the Olympians. First the most expected: only cars with license plates that are even can drive on the even days, odd plates for odd days. This means, … Continue reading

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To Localize or not, that’s the question

Too many dread the request from headquarters every year or so, “Your term is coming to an end.” What follows is the all-too-common maneuver to renew. As designed, and often so used, the generous bundle of compensation and perks commonly … Continue reading

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Red Moon Bar

Three years ago, I stayed at Grand Hyatt for several days waiting for my apartment to be ready. All family members came with me. I left them on their own and went to work. One night, I came back and … Continue reading

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The Not-So-Economist

I enjoyed The Economist so much that I am willing to pay US$303 a year to receive an issue every week in my mailbox. Nearly US$6 an issue is the highest rate in the world. The same subscription costs US$129 … Continue reading

Posted in Books & Reviews, Peek into my mind | 4 Comments