Go for Gold

Cross posted at http://blogs.sun.com/syw

Humor me. Have a piece of paper and draw the productivity curve of yourself over the next 15 years. Most people’s curve steeply go upward during their younger years (30 to 45) and flattens out as they age (50+).

Humor me again. Draw a curve of China’s economic growth over the next 15 years. If you think the break-neck speed will continue forever, you are crazy. Most people predict a gradually flattening curve after about 10 years.

If you are 27 to 35 years old in China, do you see the amazing similarity of your curve and the country’s? Do you realize this overlap happens once and only once? China will not have the same growth rate again. Therefore, the opportunity is reserved only for one generation, and that’s you. Not me, a geezer, not those who are still in college or just graduated.

Or, we can reverse the angle of the conclusion, if this generation does not answer to the call, China will not grow as fast for the next 15 years. History has forged you and China together. Isn’t that exciting?

Be entrepreneurial, take risks, innovate. Whatever you do, don’t fail China. Don’t fail yourself. Don’t fail history.