Happy New Year!

Today is Jan 4, 2010 in China. I started my first business day this morning and I just came back from a work dinner with all of the managers of the company.

In 2009, our revenue and profit were increased 30% and 50% than 2008. It is the 4th year that we have kept our high speed increasing in the new company's short history for 7 years.

Instead of escaping before the dinner was finished or just did not attend it as I had often done before I went to the US, I stayed there until the last minute, so that several managers who wanted a ride to leave earlier in my car felt strange for my change -- I did not only escape, but also, I asked them to be there until the dinner was finished even though among about 100 people, no one would pay attention to them. Then I answered their question in my car: one of the things that I have learned in the US is that we help our bosses in every public occasion is just helping the company. To show our subordinates that the top management team is a group of people who are united and harmonious via every little thing is just helping the company to have a stronger cohesiveness. So, one of the managers who has a PHD in my car asked me to help her more in the future. :-)

Even though today is the first business day in the company, I have been working since my New Year's Holiday from Dec 31.

I wrote 30 emails to all of the professors who had taught me, some scholars, managers, work partners and friends who had helped me when I was in the US since their New Year and Christmas gifts -- my paintings with speed post would be there soon.

Then I wrote a paper for the company after reading 19 departments’ yearly summaries since Christmas Eve. One of my habits is to hand in a "New Year’s Gift" ? a paper to the company on each first business day every year. That has been kept for 7 years, the difference is that before I had 7 days’ holiday, this year, I had only 3 days.

I have been researching our company’s Enterprise's Core Competitiveness since 2002, when it was re-organizated (be in merger). At that time, I had read 120 papers about it and I wrote my first paper on the topic. Via the writing, I had a clear understanding about our multi-media strategy and I was confident with our new company. So that, I refused the very kind invitations from my former bosses twice in a national newspaper office with a higher position, higher salary and better work condition when we were in the most difficult time and my salary was reduced 48%.

I was sure that we were creating something more creative and more meaningful for Chinese people with a totally new and stronger melti-media business system with TV, web sites, magazine, securities exchange system and cell phone systems. When we have met the goal, my work condition and salary level would be recovered and raised.

Now, 7 years have past, our company has become the top corporation in our industry in China. Every thing has become better than we had wished.

So, I do feel that the writing itself is in fact a process of studying, thinking and improving. No matter a company or a person, before we do any thing, we must make sure on the theory, to know what we want to do, why and how we do, then we would not shake when we meet difficulties.

So, every New Year's Holiday, I write for the company while for myself.

A good feeling is that writing is getting a joy in my life. When I was writing, even though on the business paper for work, I could feel that I was in a very calm and peaceful heart, words were flowing on the screen of my computer from my fingers, just like a river naturally.

Writing is getting something enjoyment with so much charm, just as I have been feeling from painting and singing. Writing is getting an art in my life.

Do you like writing? Have you written anything for your New Year?

I am just a learner on art of painting, music and English, to work on the web site in my free time. I would really like to do a few things with what I have learned to make this little web site to be an Electronic Bridge of Culture Exchange, Chinese Language Learning & Friendship making. To help the others while to improve myself.

I would like to appreciate your understanding, directions, supports and hope to get your friendly direction and help.

If you have any questions, comments or suggestions, you are welcome to write to shirley@ebridge.cn or shirley004@yahoo.com, or to publish your opinions in the forum.

Shirley Yiping Zhang
Mon.,Jan 4, 2009