Last post for 2008

So the year of the OX is around the corner. Apparently it is all about hard work and patience. I have no problem with the hard work but gosh patience is going to be a killer.

I have read all sorts of predictions, some fortune tellers believe it will be a period of prosperity through fortitude and hard work - I guess nothing new in that so bring it on.




But before I say hello to the new it is goodbye to 2008 with a flash back of family reflections:

• Kids are blossoming as we reach that golden age where they start to make their own breakfast and become such great company. Mind you we might have to bring in the talking stick into family - it's becoming had to get a word in.
• Xmas was a marathon with all the family and my sprained ankle certainly tested everyone's patience but the joy of the kids made it all worthwhile.
• Max has finished pre school and growing up way to fast - my favorite time of the day is just before bed-time when the testosterone fades and he becomes all cuddly and loving.
• Jaz is full of might, beneath that strawberry exterior lurkes a Joan of Arc ready to find a worthy cause, well truth be told she'll put up a fight worthy or not just for the game of it.
• Tim has finished the year off with a "mighty erection" (new outdoor sunroom) which has been a blessing this last week.

Looking forward to a year in the country

• Day 11 at the farm and so far the verdict is all good.
  
• It seems like the longest break I have ever had - weird a mix of freedom and guilt all rolled up.
• I came across this message which I think best describes my hopes for 2009....."The purpose in life, then, is not the gratifying of appetites nor of any selfish desires, but it is that the entity, the soul, may make the earth, where the entity finds its consciousness, a better place in which to live."

So how to live that goal...

• On a practical level - plant more trees on the farm and create a better home life
  
• On a business level - be a voice and change agent in a new way of doing business, pioneering greater efficiency and mobility.
  
• On a community level - get involved in the local community and find out how I can help.
  

China Search Marketing Report (WIP)

Of course with this new enthusiasm for China, the obvious question is about Search Marketing in China.

So to help understand I thought I do some research and prepare a report. I have spent days pouring over china web sites and news posting to my Buzka favorite.

While you wait for me to finalise my report. Let me recommend you take the time to watch a presentation by Google's man responsible for China. Highly recommended viewing.

A quick summary of key messages:

1. Chinese people think Mobile first (Mobile penetration 3 to 1 PC)
2. Patience in China, google makes light of we'll take 5,000 years if we have to. Most appear to have come and failed, Google says too short sighted (of course the video is pretty google eyed so I need to research that further)
3. Low credit card usage (0.2 per Chinese vs 2/American). He then shares the impact this has to ecommerce - would you believe the ebay equivalent - you find something - a courier brings it to your house to inspect and if happy you pay him cash. The implications of this are huge. And also explains why I spent so much time chasing retailers to find their "friend" who would accept visa. And also highlights huge challenges when conducting ecommerce. Google may have the perfect business model for China - advertising not license, product fees.
4. Internet penetration - I found some Asia Internet stats, probably already out of date but you get the idea; 600m Asia (250 china), 800m rest of world and China only 19% usage rest of world 30%.
5. Oh and he shared a quirky search insight - Chinese eye mapping shows they are different as users look a lot more on page - I suspect favors organic search.
6. And as always Google has people power. He totally supports Mr Jacks' view above about new china management - Google's strategy is to empower a great team; to solve new problems and fit China/Global needs and be employer of choice.

Actually after watching it I have a new appreciation for google's game plan. Consider google docs; what a powerful way to achieve global dominance in a nation that doesn't like paying for software. If google dominates China! And then ponder this, in years to come we will benefit as we reap the new products and solutions created for China.
I'm sure I will gain a lot more when I re watch it - meanwhile I recommend you do.

Of course the big questions still remained unanswered:

* Copyright?
* Should we be there?
* How to be there?


And now looks like I better follow Scoble's link and read all about the china web2.0 bloggers.

Other ambitious goals:
Learn mandarin, teach the children mandarin, attend Shanghai world Expo 2010 where Shanghai will be on show to the world as it delivers on its promise of Better City, Better Life.

And find that perfect item that Chinese people need....like a beach ring or umbrella!

A framework to understand Chinese markets

Of course all are huge given the millions of people either way.

The new global game!

Key for most of us is to understand which market(s) do we want to play in and can we.

Managing the Dragon (China)

I started my China journey at the HongKong Airport where I purchased, Managing the Dragon by Jack Perkowski, also known as Mr Jack.

He offers a great autobiog insight into the management challenges of building a huge Auto parts empire. He started in 1990s and tried; a) Bring in Expats - but they didn't understand the cultural differences and that didn't work, b) China Mgmt; also unsuccessful as many were too ingrained in the old govt way, until finally he succeeded with c) new china management - essentially looking for key characteristics for potential managers and then grooming.

A great discovery and yet makes perfect sense. I have seen this strategy also work in western world, especially in industries such as search marketing where there simply wasn't a management talent pool to use.

Other insights in the book:

1. Receivables a real issue; cash flow and profit have in the past been the same thing when the govt owns all and so 6 months payment can be quite normal
2. Legal & banking systems - young and different don't assume the protection
   
3. Importance of keeping face and respect at all times.
4. Team work and respect for comrades. I read a great example of this in bizCult, due to the economic meltdown rather than "dumping" staff the Asian model is to work together to survive with executives and management taking pay cuts. “In the Confucian mindset, the right thing to do is to share the burden. There’s that sense of collective responsibility whereas in the West, it’s more about individual survival,” Michael Benoliel, associate professor of organizational behavior at Singapore Management University (SMU), tells China Daily.

Oh by the way Jack has a blog on China "Managing the Dragon" - it is wonderful to finish reading an auto biography (well almost) and then read his blog and hear his views on current news.

October = China and becoming a Godmother to a 22,000 tonne ship

I have been so remiss in posting and now don't know where to start.

I best kick off with a headline of a lifetime!

I LAUNCHED THE NEW MV DAMGRACHT SHIP IN CHINA

I was invited to officially launch a 22,000 tonne ship in China, Nanjing on the Yangtze River.

My husband deserves all the credit as he was invited to launch the ship and then perhaps good old luck landed me the prize job of joining him for a week in Shanghai as guests of honor, of Dutch Shipping Company, Splietoff, to do the customary cracking of champagne. Our hosts, John and Martin, treated us like royalty and I have described it as up there with Childbirth and Marriage.





To top off this amazing experience I also enjoyed a paradigm shift. I have a new understanding of our world and optimistic of the future as we see the east meet the west. China is amazing, the people are wonderful; friendly and inspiring and certainly not like I expected. But hey I have only spent one week there - what do I know. So for me the journey to understand has just begun and hopefully I can share some insights on the way.

Thanks Warren for passing on the Scobleizer post, he has captured it brilliantly as always, I recommend reading his post disruptive factories . An insight into how china is evolving beyond manufacturing to cut out the middle man and deliver customised solutions like Peppers and Rogers long ago promised. I made a comment on his blog I was so excited, as it may not be approved... and it would be a shame to waste any dialogue, here it is;

I have just spent a week in Shanghai on holidays and I have had a complete paradigm shift on China. OK I understand Shanghai is not China but nonetheless it is an example of what is possible.(Apparently Shanghai is very different to Beijing, and different again to some of the industrial cities up North, no surprise given its rich and diverse history)

I’m still trying to capture and digest the trip but 3 things stand out:
1. The Affluence! I had no idea but when you think 20m people in Shanghai - all they need is 10% affluence and that’s my whole town buying premium. So I guess what this really brings home is the impact of millions of people.

2. The level of aspiration is contagious! Everyone appears motivated to better themselves.

3. Just do it! Says more about China than perhaps US these days. Driving on the Central Yan highway … we saw 2 guys holding a guy up a 12 foot single ladder fixing the power lines….oh and what made it more interesting was that the ladder was on the top of a truck.

Like others, I have come away rethinking all my china stereotypes and dreaming the future may be brighter as we seek a “fusion of the east and west”.

Sounds like the “one to one” future maybe possible with Liam in China

Benefits of CEO transition period

Let me reflect on the benefits I have noticed in the last month as I extract myself as CEO from the day to day running of the business.

1. Connecting with customers....I have filled up some of my time reconnecting with past contacts and making new contacts. As unproductive as that may sound (to task orientated people) the results have been signficant. Take this morning's sales pitch - what a great opportunity to discover and understand the strengths and weaknesses of our business model.

2. Sitting in a planning session - not as CEO in charge - but as someone who has been there and wonders what could have been. For the 1st time in about 4 years - instead of facilitating the session we thought I should sit in and let the new CEO facilitate so he could have a stronger position/influence. Ironically by handing up CEO responsibility & Facilitor I was totally liberated which allowed me to challenge and stretch the teams thinking like we hadn't done before. The result was exhausting but nonetheless enthusiastic and thought provoking.

what a great wish

Every now and then I confess I click on a horoscope ad (sure you never do) ....this one so captures my desires I just need to log it as a wish...I couldn't have translated my wish better....

Being more introspective, and focusing more on alone time instead of the outer world, will help you gather in some of your passionate energy and recharge your inner needs. You will become more interested in visionary ideas, and this will help you to use your latent creativity. Your desire for security is strongly connected with quality material possessions, and how much money you have. Your earning ability will dramatically increase, which will provide for enough left over both to enjoy life and put aside savings.

Your dreams of creating a perfect home sanctuary will come true. Many of your deep desires to make changes in your outer world will draw the attention of others. Your abundant optimism will attract great benefits and resources. You could spend time creating visions for large groups of people and helping them achieve their highest dreams. This will create a new sense of self-worth in them, and in you as well.

Week 6 - time for special projects

Yes! As I look at the week ahead I can start to see the transition in-play as I am finding time to focus on gooruze and the ineedhits special project (more on that next week).

Still a few key meetings but mostly about coaching and adding value which is where my future is heading. Adding value is of course fun - plenty of thanks and a chance to step back.

Best of all I managed to view all 250 gmail alerts of what is going on in the industry.

My passion today is fueled by the frustration that ineedhits is not included in comments like ....
"Yodle, which recently received a $12 million round, for a total to date of about $15 million, has quickly moved up into what might be called the “top tier” of independent local SEM firms. Others would be ReachLocal and WebVisbile, both of which are older and have more customers."

We should be in that list but I guess without the funds we will always be seen as a small business player. Money/funding speaks intent and commitment like nothing else. Sure they are high risk but "fortune follows the brave".

How can we take ineedhits out of the shadows into the limelight? What more can I do?

Congratulations to websitepros and web.com I see they are ringing the bell at NYSE - new listed company wwww. that is a great story and must be such a wonderful high for the executive team and board.

Better the devil you know

week 5 CEO transition...

Of course one of the hardest things about change and leaving a team you have worked with for 5 years, is establishing new relationships and working with new personalities.

As a CEO I have been spoilt with a hand picked, management team sure we have issues but we all share similar goals, follow similar philosophies and of course we know each others nuances.

With new opportunities emerging I’m gaining a glimpse of managing new personalities and the challenges that come with getting to know each other. Change is like leaving a comfortable marriage where you just “get each other” and you head out to a world of dating, sure there is the thrill of the new adventure but the price is the anxiety of the unknown.

Thankfully it is only what happens in the day and I can come home to a house full of cuddles.

"pull back we are getting sucked in"

I can hear some dramatic star trek scene playing in my head .... "pull back we are getting sucked in"

Week 3 transition - So much on and afraid to say the gravity pull of the business drew me in a couple of times in the last week - more than I would have liked.

Of course I shouldn't be too hard on myself as I still do have direct responsibility for a couple of key items. And I was adding value which I'm sure was welcome.

But gee it is hard to each have a hand on the wheel in transition. I fear I may have taken the stage away from my coCEO - who is doing such a great job stepping into the job.

Next month we transition marketing so that will be a good extraction.

Meanwhile on the building new opportunities - the distant grass is green. Some great possibilities - the key will be "patience" to find the best long term path and the ability to say no.

Meanwhile, I facilitated a great planning session last Friday with the shopjobs team - what a refreshing, passionate team (I love it all 9s & 10s scores in the planning process - they wont settle for 2nd place). With the benefit of a 4 hour planning session which created a 1 page 120 day action plan they are off and running; signing up deals and working with dynamo speed for a June/July Beta launch.


OK gotta fly out to a business partner lunch - I think I have had more of them in the last 3 weeks than the last 4 years.

Day 3,4,5 Transition

mmm I think daily posts might be too ambitious for now - maybe weekly is a big step from none before.

Hopefully I'll get back to this later to finess but for now.....because my mind is spinning with thoughts which need to be captured, and I'm feeling guilty for lack of posts..

ok brief reflections of the last 3 days;

1. Enjoy the extra time and feeling of "lightness". Funny how when you know you are moving on you just get on and do it! Finishing off outstanding matters with a renewed enthusiasm for the "too hard basket". If only you could apply that thinking to everything - oh yes heard it before ...live every day like your last.

2. Great transition session with CoCEO last night. A very informal discussion which was well worth it. Make the time to have these "chats" as this is when the precious handover gems about interpersonal stuff arises. You know the between the lines; dealing with people, sharing hidden motivations & insights that you have gathered over the years working with Directors and Team.

3. In with the new out with the old. I've read it before greatest risk with new product managers is they "can do better" than their predecessor so out with the old. You've probably heard that saying "not created by me" syndrome. And of course normally the person leaving doesn't care as they are moving on.

I recall when I left BankWest one of my programs was axed after some time - at the time I felt a little dissapointed but maybe I would have come to the same conclusion if I was there.

The great thing about change is the opportunity to review everything and challenge all existing initiatives... the bad thing is some of those initiatives are dumped without full understanding of the background.

Lightbulb moment! Create a solution which removes all emotion from the discussion and create a joint "review list" and together 2 heads better than 1 assess these against the current environment - do they still make sense. Of course by making this a rationale activity - no manager is going to be protective of old and will probably be forthcoming of items which are probably tired and in need of review. We have added it to next week's agenda - so be interesting to see how it goes. I'll keep you posted.

4. Need new picture to let go. The transition plan has to have forward goals for the person transitioning. My last 3 days have been a balancing of optimizing transition of the old but also building an appealing picture of the new to help with the desire for transition and ability to let go.

ok who knows what today brings...but better get on with it.