Loud Thoughts

I came to silicon valley in the mid-80s. The valley was buzzing with energy. It took me two weeks to find a job, an entry level software programmer at a start-up company. The bosses talked about the big dream IPO all the time. I kept busy pretending knowing what I was doing. I rented an apartment close to work and came over to the office to figure out the complex code when there was nobody in the office. It was almost our daily routine: finish dinner, walk to the office, study the code, with wife on my side reading her magazines. I got three raises in a year. Later I learned that I was pretty under-paid to begin with and the bosses didn’t want me to even think of changing job. That was the good time.

I went to Beijing in 2005. That place reminded me of silicon valley in the 80s. Everyone has a big dream. Everything is within reach. Work hard, be smart, and reward will come. Do you see that wonderful, sinfully luxurious penthouse? That’s so-and-so’s house and he was just like you and me several years ago. Let’s push this project through and reap our rewards. Yeah!

That’s right. Just because everyone becomes millionaires does not make you one. You need a strategy. This is where Frank’s 2-by-2 matrix becomes interesting.

You can work for an MNC (Multi-National Corporation) or a Chinese company. This company can address China market or international market. So we have 4 permutation. Out of these four, the MNC addressing international market is no interesting, since that’s where everyone is battling. We have three other options: 1) working for an MNC for the China market, 2) a Chinese company for the China market, or 3) a Chinese company for the international market. The question is, which one has the highest expected return for the investment you are about to make: several years of your gainfully employable life.

Which market is growing faster? Which company will have a better competitive advantage in that (or both) market?

Yep, my employment at Juniper ended on October 30th, 2009. It lasted 474 days.

Wife told me this simple recipe when I was left to feed myself in the states. I managed to burn my stew. It was still delicious and sustained me for 3 days until the chef came back.

The chef then showed me the right way of doing it. The stew was even more delicious without the burnt aroma.

Cut one onion up and put it down the pot as the first layer.

Cut meat into large chunks. Season them heavily. I used salt, pepper, soy sauce, and rosemary. Put them into the pot as the second layer.

Cut tomatoes into large chunks. Put them into the pot as the third layer.

Another onion, the fourth layer.

Add some cooking wine. I really don’t know how much. I poured as if I was drinking a normal cup.

Cover the pot tight. Turn on medium heat. Check in about 15 minutes. If the liquid is boiling, turn down to simmer for another hour or 90 minutes. Keep an eye on the liquid level (or watch the steam). I like this stew relatively dry.

When I did it, I added potatoes as the second layer. I felt it was genius of me.