Smaller Overseas Entrepreneurs Find China Too Frustrating

Re:Smaller Overseas Entrepreneurs Find China Too Frustrating by jhancock on Saturday November 07, 2015 @11:52PM (#10527550)

I think if you reflect on "contracts mean nothing and guanxi with people in power is everything" you may find the seed to an answer.

China has 1.4 billion people. There are many that will follow a contract or work with you to adjust agreements to both parties' mutual benefit.

If you are leveraging guanxi, ask yourself why you feel it is ok to further empower a person that is causing harm to society. There are many in China that do represent your values. When you engage in guanxi, you are "feeding the dragon": empowering the wrong people and dis-empowering the right people.

note: when I say "you", I don't mean you personally.

[ Parent | on HN ]

Re:Smaller Overseas Entrepreneurs Find China Too Frustrating by squidlogic on Sunday November 08, 2015 @03:16AM (#10527927)

You are also correct. There is a beautiful simplicity to business interactions when you tell them up front: hey, I'm only going to tell you the truth, I'm not going to buy you gifts and alcohol and prostitutes. I'm just going to try to find the best outcome for all of us.

So much easier.

Yet so much harder.

But that's China ;)

[ Parent | on HN ]