Feedback Form
Home Features Mastermind Forums About Advertise Blog Network Contact Be An Author

A Final Thought on A Good Friday

A Final Thought on A Good Friday

It doesn~{!/~}t take much to be a entrepreneur. It takes a drive to be independent, to carve out a niche in the world for yourself. It takes the courage to choose what you want to become, and to face the ordeals of making it happen. It takes a certain foolhardiness. There~{!/~}s no safety net to catch us if we stumble. Entrepreneurs know this very well. This is why we deserve to rule the kingdoms of our own desire.

Entrepreneurs like you and me do not pretend that we are wealthy or powerful like the real tycoons. This is why we call ourselves entrepreneurs. But because we depend only on ourselves to make a living and no one else, we are subject to no one else on earth. We respect the real tycoons as much as we respect ourselves.

My grandfather really was a tycoon of sorts. At the turn of the twentieth century, when he was in his early teens, he left his village in southern China near Canton. Poor and without anything to his name, he went to Honduras and became very rich. He was the first person in that country to own a private plane. He also owned a lumber yard, a candle import business and a glass factory. He was wealthy enough to retire at age 40. He was a friend of the then president of Honduras. His friend asked him to represent Honduras as its ambassador to China, but he said no. He moved instead to San Francisco.

I got to know him when he was old and had moved back to Hong Kong to live with his eldest son, my father, and his favorite daughter-in-law, my mother; and to die there. I was a small child.

I liked the salami and cheese that my grandfather had shipped to him from America, but I was particularly fascinated by what was written on a parchment scroll. It was one of his prize possessions, protected under glass atop the chest in which he stashed his valuables. I remember climbing up to read the calligraphy.

The parchment was a celebration of industriousness, surmounted by the Chinese character for hard work, written large in bold black brushstrokes. This declaration followed in smaller characters: ~{!0~}I take a walk up the rocky hills with my umbrella open. I see a man who collects firewood. I look at him and see that he is poor. His skin is wrinkled. His feet are sore. I jeer at him for being poor. He looks back at me and says: I make a living on my own. Every grain of rice I eat I earn with my own labor and with a clear conscience. I~{!/~}m as much of a hero as anyone.~{!1~}

Entrepreneurs need not be wealthy and powerful potentates. We need only be individuals who stand on our own two feet. We search for our heart~{!/~}s desires. We hone our talents and skills. We try to provide some of what the market wants. We make a living on our own, not expecting anyone to feed us. We welcome riches, fame and power if they come. But if they never materialize, we know that we still live our own lives. We are not at anyone~{!/~}s beck and call. We kowtow to nobody.

There will be sunny days and stormy nights, mornings of foggy silence and afternoons of parched desperation. But knowing that we are doing what we want, that we are true to our principles and our talents, and that we answer only to ourselves is a source of joy that will always be with us.





A Final Thought on A Good Friday - To learn more about this author, visit James Chan's Website.

Like this article? Share it with your friends

Article Feedback
 Article Feedback No article feedback found.
  Leave Your Feedback
article feedback

Article Feedback

To learn more about the Evan Elite Author Program please contact us.

About The Author


James Chan
(Visit James's Website) James Chan, Ph.D., is president of Asia Marketing and Management (AMM), a Philadelphia-based consultancy specialized in advising U.S. firms on exporting American-made products and services to China and forging business relationships there. Since he founded his practice in 1983, James Chan has advised more than 100 U.S. companies in expanding their businesses in Asia. To view his background online, go to AsiaMarketingManagement. com. He is author of the book, Spare Room Tycoon at SpareRoomTycoon.com. Dr. Chan is the expert interviewed by three financial managers in the 60-minute DVD titled "Secrets of Business Success in China." The 60-minute DVD is a teaching tool for business schools and international executives. It is available on Amazon.com here.

James Chan is a Platinum author on EvanCarmichael.com
About The Author

View Author Blog
View Author Blog

View Author Video
James Chan Video - James Chan, Ph.D., created the phrase "The China Formula" to help Americans understand China in one word. Dr. Chan is President of the Philadelphia-based, independent consultancy, Asia Marketing and Management (AMM). AMM specializes in advising U.S. manufacturers, trade associations, and information companies in building business relationships in China and in exporting American-made products and services in China and Asia. To view AMM's detailed profile online, go to: www.AsiaMarketingManagement.com.
View Author Video

Free Downloads


James Chan's

Complete
List Of
Marketing
Articles

Name
Email
If you enjoyed this article, get James Chan's Complete List of Marketing Articles For FREE!

More James Chan
Pennies From Heaven
Independent Businesspeople Live Intense But Often Lonely Lives
Balancing Work and Life
The Spare Room Tycoon As An Independent Entrepreneur
Good Times Bad Times
Surviving Feasts and Famines
Eating Out in China One Night in Shenyang
There Is Only One Certainty About Starting Your Own Business
What Do Men in China Do
Home Office Personal Space
Free Downloads


 
 
 


Evan Elite Authors
John Power  
David Barr  
David Acheson  
Evan Elite Authors

Become An Author
Have you written articles that would be of value to entrepreneurs? Become an expert on our site by publishing them! Expose yourself to a wide audience, drive more traffic to your website and get more sales! Click Here for details.
Become An Author

Evan's Latest Video
Modeling the Masters: Learn the true secrets behind Walt Disney's business success factors & grow your company! Video produced by Phanta Media
Evan's Latest Video

Business Opportunities
"Learn straight from Evan how you can Make a Full Time Income (And More) from a Website"

How to Start An Online Business

Click Here To Learn More
Business Opportunities



Evan's Newsletter
Get advice & tips from famous business owners, new articles by entrepreneur experts, my latest website updates, & special sneak peaks at what's to come!
Name:
Email:
Evan`s Newsletter

Free Downloads
Business Checkup Icon Business Checkup
Dismiss a Franchise Icon Dismiss a Franchise
Power of Concentration Icon Power of Concentration
Take the Lead Icon Take the Lead
Recession Proof Icon Recession Proof
Free Downloads - Complete List

Entrepreneur Tools and Guides
The Top 10 Guy Kawasaki Posts - Best Posts for Entrepreneurs
The Top 10 Guy Kawasaki Posts
Best Posts for Entrepreneurs
 
Email The Reporters
Email The Reporters
Press Release Builder
 
Entrepreneur Tools and Guides

SEO For Africa
SEO For Africa
Simiao Israel Mazia Boane, Maputo, Mozambique,
Simiao Israel Mazia
Boane, Maputo, Mozambique
SEO For Africa

If I Were A Startup...
Gord Hotchkiss, $113k to $1.5 Mil in 5 years
Gord Hotchkiss
$113k to $1.5 Mil in 5 years
Stephen Pollack, $1.2 to $16.2 Mil in 3 Years
Stephen Pollack
$1.2 to $16.2 Mil in 3 Years
If I Were A Startup... - Complete List

Famous Entrepreneurs
Ben Cohen Jerry Greenfield, Ben & Jerry's
Ralph Lauren, Polo Ralph Lauren
Ralph Lauren
Polo Ralph Lauren
Famous Entrepreneurs - Complete List

Entrepreneur Advice
Donald J. Trump, Trump University
Donald J. Trump
Trump University
Jeffrey Gitomer, The Sales Bible
Jeffrey Gitomer
The Sales Bible
Entrepreneur Advice - Complete List

Popular Articles
(Premium Authors)

     7 Reality Checks for Building the Possible Dream
By Molly Gordon
     9 Strategies for Resolving LifeWork Conflict
By Molly Gordon
     Are You in the Mood for Success
By Molly Gordon

Have A Suggestion?
Toronto Salsa Classes / Toronto Salsa Lessons Email us your ideas on how to make our website more valuable! Thank you Sharon from Toronto Salsa Lessons / Classes for your suggestions to make the newsletter look like the website and profile younger entrepreneurs like Jennifer Lopez and Sean Combs!
Have A Suggestion?

More Evan Carmichael
More Information