A Myth of My Own
A Myth of My Own
I have my own founding myth. It predates my decision to go into business for myself by several years. But it remains the bedrock of my career. It is a wellspring of my passion and my enterprise, the ultimate explanation of all I have done.
It took place when I was engaged in what I believed to be a struggle for survival. After finishing my bachelor's degree at the University of Hong Kong, I moved to the US and earned degrees at the University of Chicago and the University of Michigan. I had decided that I wanted to spend the rest of my life in the US. The problem was that my visas had expired, and I was supposed to leave. When I didn't go, I became, officially, an illegal alien.
I knew others in my situation who got around the problem by entering into fictitious marriages. I didn't want to do that. I was determined to be legal and above board, and I spent $20,000 -- more money than I had -- on fees to a lawyer to figure out how. After running up his charges, he told me that my situation was, essentially, hopeless. Meanwhile, China was opening itself to business from the West, and several large companies offered me jobs. They withdrew the offers when they learned of my immigration status. I felt as if a golden opportunity was opening to me, and at the same time being snatched away.
I borrowed some money from friends and an uncle. Another friend gave me food, a place to stay, and emotional support. I sat in his apartment day after day and typed up more than 1,000 job application letters until the typewriter broke.
One day, near despair, I walked into Philadelphia's Cathedral of Saints Peter and Paul. I'm not a Catholic. I'm not even a Christian. I don't really know what to do in a church. But that somber, lofty, baroque-style edifice seemed to be a place where I needed to be.
I knelt in the pew and silently addressed God. "If you can let me stay in this country legally," I proposed. "I promise to help pull China and America closer together." (I figured that this was something God would want my help on, though I can't tell you exactly why.)
Later, I found out that I was doing what psychologists call "bargaining," and that it's a stage people go through on the road to accepting the death of a loved one or a cherished dream. It's assumed to be futile, some even think it is self-destructive. Fortunately, I didn't know that then.
What my bargaining did was make me look deep within myself to find something of great importance to which I was singularly equipped to make a contribution. I found a reason for me to be on this earth. I had discovered a story of which I could be the hero. I had forged my own myth.
Not long after, my prayer was answered. Some would argue that it was because I found a highly skilled lawyer who was committed to my case. I don't presume, however, to know the means by which God might realize His will.
As my fortunes changed, I realized that I would not have promised God to do something I really didn't want to do. In a troubled moment, I discovered a vocation, an identity, a reason for my existence, a focus for my energy.
I think those of us who work on our own must have our own personal myths, visions of our lives as we would like to live them, visions of the world as we would like to leave it.
And if you make a vow, as I did, you keep it. We should keep such vows because they define the core of our being -- the things that set us apart from those who are just in it for the money.
A Myth of My Own - To learn more about this author, visit James Chan's Website.
Like this article? Share it with your friends
 |
Free Download - A Final Thought on A Good Friday By James Chan |
A Myth of My Own
I have my own founding myth. It predates my decision to go into business for myself by several years. But it remains the bedrock of my career. It is a wellspring of my passion and my enterprise, the ultimate explanation of all I have done.
It took place when I was engaged in what I believed to be a struggle for survival. After finishing my bachelor's degree at the University of Hong Kong, I moved to the US and earned degrees at the University of Chicago and the University of Michigan. I had decided that I wanted to spend the rest of my life in the US. The problem was that my visas had expired, and I was supposed to leave. When I didn't go, I became, officially, an illegal alien.
I knew others in my situation who got around the problem by entering into fictitious marriages. I didn't want to do that. I was determined to be legal and above board, and I spent $20,000 -- more money than I had -- on fees to a lawyer to figure out how. After running up his charges, he told me that my situation was, essentially, hopeless. Meanwhile, China was opening itself to business from the West, and several large companies offered me jobs. They withdrew the offers when they learned of my immigration status. I felt as if a golden opportunity was opening to me, and at the same time being snatched away.
I borrowed some money from friends and an uncle. Another friend gave me food, a place to stay, and emotional support. I sat in his apartment day after day and typed up more than 1,000 job application letters until the typewriter broke.
One day, near despair, I walked into Philadelphia's Cathedral of Saints Peter and Paul. I'm not a Catholic. I'm not even a Christian. I don't really know what to do in a church. But that somber, lofty, baroque-style edifice seemed to be a place where I needed to be.
I knelt in the pew and silently addressed God. "If you can let me stay in this country legally," I proposed. "I promise to help pull China and America closer together." (I figured that this was something God would want my help on, though I can't tell you exactly why.)
Later, I found out that I was doing what psychologists call "bargaining," and that it's a stage people go through on the road to accepting the death of a loved one or a cherished dream. It's assumed to be futile, some even think it is self-destructive. Fortunately, I didn't know that then.
What my bargaining did was make me look deep within myself to find something of great importance to which I was singularly equipped to make a contribution. I found a reason for me to be on this earth. I had discovered a story of which I could be the hero. I had forged my own myth.
Not long after, my prayer was answered. Some would argue that it was because I found a highly skilled lawyer who was committed to my case. I don't presume, however, to know the means by which God might realize His will.
As my fortunes changed, I realized that I would not have promised God to do something I really didn't want to do. In a troubled moment, I discovered a vocation, an identity, a reason for my existence, a focus for my energy.
I think those of us who work on our own must have our own personal myths, visions of our lives as we would like to live them, visions of the world as we would like to leave it.
And if you make a vow, as I did, you keep it. We should keep such vows because they define the core of our being -- the things that set us apart from those who are just in it for the money.
A Myth of My Own - To learn more about this author, visit James Chan's Website.
Like this article? Share it with your friends
 | |
 |
No article feedback found. |
| |
Leave Your Feedback |
 | |
| |||
|
To learn more about the Evan Elite Author Program please contact us. |
 | |
|  |
Subscribe to James's articles
 | |
|
|  |
 |
|
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.
|
|
|
 | |||||||
|
 | ||
 |
||
 |
||
 |
||
|
| ||
 |
| 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. |
|
|
 |
| Modeling the Masters: Learn the true secrets behind Walt Disney's business success factors & grow your company! Video produced by Phanta Media |
|
|
 |
"Learn straight from Evan how you can Make a Full Time Income (And More) from a Website"
Click Here To Learn More |
|
|
|
|
Get advice & tips from famous business owners, new articles by entrepreneur experts, my latest website updates, & special sneak peaks at what's to come!
|
|
|
 Essence of Leaders Instant Scripts Closed Door Sales Competetive Advantage Article Online Marketing Course |
|
 | ||
 |
Top 50 Productivity Blogs
Top Blogs To Watch In 2008 | |
 |
Top 50 Political Blogs
Top Political Blogs of 2009 | |
| ||
 | ||||
| ||||
|
| ||||
| ||||
|
|
|
|
|
||||||||||||
|
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!
|
|
|
| ||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||
|
|
||||||||||||