China Ocober 2009

I spoke at a Career Transition conference in Stamford CT to 200 people on Wednesday on short notice. The speaker was sick and I filled in - very well received. I wore my new yellow panda tie and led off a story about riding the fastest train in the world (Mag Lev 267mph) and ascending the tallest builing in the world (the Bottle Opener) - both in Shanghai China on last Friday.

China was vibrant and thriving. People were bustling and dressed in Western clothes. Kids and families were healthy, and western society norms was clearly in evidence. There are new highways everywhere, and clusters of apartment buildings are rising everywhere. The government owns all the land (and leases it for 70 or 99 years) and has bought out dilapidated housing and farms and rebuilt areas with great haste.

Crowds were everywhere especially given the 60th anniversary celebration on October 1in Beijing (everyone then gets a week off) the day before we arrived. Our group of 16visited The Great Wall, the Forbidden City, major gardens and canals (Suzhou - 9 million people)) and West Lake (an enormous lake in Hangzhou - 13 million) and many other sites. Shanghai is the future of the country - very modern and thriving. You can even find European restaurants if you really digg around. Unfortunately we were fully programmed.

This country is focused, competitive, happy and healthy due to increased prosperity, and on the move. It is very strategic and clearly addressing some of its pressing needs - imporving the lives of the middle class and a major greening campaign is under way.

I will share more thoughts as I process what I learned from my experiences.