How are you? I do hope that you are well and have an easy and relaxed weekend.

Most of the people in the company started their business time on Wednesday for the New Year's Holiday. I started it since the first day of the holiday Dec 29, 2007. Last day of the holiday, I worked on my research report in my office for 7 hours, then I continued it for 5 hours at home. I had not a habit to take my company work in home and I had time enough to complete it in the other New Year's Holidays for they had at least 6 days. This year, it was only for 4 days and I was scared to come back home too late for I did not drive that day. I completed my writing at 2:30 am and I handed it at 9:00 am before the general manager office meeting on Wednesday.

My body was tired and my mind was excited, for many thoughts and ideas had been flowing out of my fingers naturally when I wrote. They were something about business with logicality; they were interesting as I was painting. I could see the feature of the company's organization, products, managements and the enterprise cultures in my mind as I was painting a picture. I painted with brushes and colors. I wrote with words, numbers and charts. Their languages and the materials were different; their nature was same.

I feel that a good painting should bring people an enjoyment with happiness or sadness; a good research report should bring some innovation and positive affect to a company’s development and some people’s work or lives with its new thoughts and theory. So, when I paint, I am easier, freer and more relaxed; when I write, I am seriously and carefully much more. But the excited mood is same.

I am happy that my work has gotten good comments. One of my proposals has been started to put in practice. We will set up a new data department or center to design, collect, maintain, manage, distribute and tail after our multimedia data via improving the database, warehouse and our management styles soon.

I do enjoy the creative writing even though it is very hard. I wrote it for 24 days, I had prepared it for about a half year. I had read many things and made work and reading notes daily. Even though I was in my business trip, I took a computer with me, to collect the opinions from the others. I do feel an especial enjoyment during the researching and writing process. Sometimes, I did not believe that I had a so good idea; Sometimes, I could not help to dance in my office when I found a fire of new thought.

I am making a 5 year's plan for myself: to retire earlier as an artist of painting, music and language or to continue to work in the company. If I chose the latter, I would write an academic book or a dissertation to summary my last 15 year's business practice in the Chinese Securities News and Information field within the coming 2 years via attending my second doctoral degree lessons, to move my 3 years’ English lessons in the Beijing Foreign Language online later for 2 years. No matter what I will choose, I will not give up the art learning on painting, music and languages.

How about you? Have you had any short or long time plan for yourself?
I am just a learner on that art of painting, music, calligraphy, languages and to work on the web site in my free time. I would really like to do a little bit things with what I have learned to make this little web site to be An Electronic Bridge Of Culture Exchange, Friendship and Language Learning. To help the others while to improve myself.

I appreciate your understanding, directions and supports. I do hope to get your friendly help...

If you have any questions, comments or suggestions, please write to shirley@ebridge.cn or shirleyz004@yahoo.com. You are welcomed to publish your opinions in the forum.

Shirley Yiping Zhang
Written and Edited on Sun, Jan 7, 2008