I know the title is a bit exaggerated, but it's really my very first business trip. I really did not know what to expect from the trip at the beginning. All I knew was the tickets and expenses are expensive and I should make full use of it, on top of the recess week I sacrificed. But I don't like to anticipate things, foresee what will happen, to prepare the feeling. No, I don't do that. Maybe because I'm too lazy to think about it, or I just like to slack around.
So it came to the first day. Upon arrival, we got a slash by the local, on the taxi fare. But in the end it was 15% more than usual price, so just forget about it. The first day in the expo was 'shocking' to me. Basically my team was to pull customers to our booth, StarFish Fx, to ask them to register for free account for forex trading.
I was not prepared for this, OMG please. Ask me to sell things, push sales, pull people. I hate this kind of work, like I don't really entertain people who do this kind of job when I visit expo. But there, I was asked to to so. SO, just do it! I thought it was easy, like people will just sign up sin they already 'knew' what it trading, and we were inculcated that Chinese are FREAKING rich. With fluent cantonese, I thought I could just give the crowd a big shot, grab uncountable customers. In fact, they are not the kind that I expected. Most are just layman, human seeking free gift, farmer and don't give a shit about what you're selling. Just pushed me away, acted as if I was not in front of them etc.
There goes my first day. Debrief meeting talked about sales and my leader did encourage us. While bathing, I tried to reflect on myself. Conclusion was : No matter how much I hate the job, I gotta do it, step out from my comfort zone and try new things.
The next day, revitalized and off I go! More people now! But sales was still an egg. I really wanted to give up. Was thinking what the heck am I doing here. So I just loitered around. Surprisingly got to know some sales girls. This is why I don't like to anticipate, because out of my expectation, the girls came to talk to us. It was good, kinda happy ( this is normal to a guy ). Then I went to some franchise office to talk about franchising. Eye opener to me, and it really got me interested. But in the end of the day, still, the sales is the result and it's fucked up to me.
Last day, chiong agian, and I grabbed 2!!!!! 2 freaking traders signed under me!! best news of the day! It kind of letting me know that I am actually capable in handling this thing, just that not everything in life is smooth.
A super nice steamboat marked the end of the event. There, I met a guy, at his late 20's, doing quite good in his career compared to others at his age, imo. He is a friend to a well known investor (famous throughout the world). He has a 6 digit income per month, he's versatile and most importantly he knows what he wants and where to go in the next decade. He spoke to us, my team a lot about financial issue, the current economics trends and the future one, at a point of time, he woke me up from my comfort zone, like how he did on himself. For a second, I felt like I gotta master all the knowledge regarding the finance, monetary and economics. For that second, I did not feel like I am an engineer. I felt so powerless to be an engineer to have no power in the market. And I felt so lucky to be able to listen to all these things. Continued asking my friend more about the corporate world related questions. I really felt as if I am growing. If you notice, you realize that you grow up when something touches you, wakes you up, force you to think. Yes, that was the feeling I had. Fortunately, I am the youngest among all, means I have the highest potential in terms of youth. It really made me think a lot. How to deal with money, how to gain my first 1M, how FAST should I go, how rich I want to be.
Put aside the stressful thought, off we went to ShenZhen and Hong Kong. Had an freaking awesome shasimi. Like Fxxxxxxxg delicious. I am not a fans of raw fish but even that caught me, you know how fantastic it is.
In Hong Kong, I paid DISNEYLAND a visit. It's not my cup of tea but generally it was okay. At least I am lucky enough to accomplish the dream of thousands of kids. Dinner for the night was again, fabulous! Oyster from 6 countries and FRENCH crab with white wine. $700HKD a meal, really enjoy to be a human.
Did not get to shop much but still, as an experience shopper, I got a good deal for authentic leader cover for my MacBook Air! The evening of the last day was to visit the Hong Kong office. There, I met another young millionaire. He's one of the youngest CEO in Hong Kong. Back then, he was only 26, 5 years after venturing in sales market. He shared his philosophy and experience with us. The key things that I've gotten:
1. In business, it is personality, connotation and self-cultivation
that makes you success.
2. The ultimate goal in business is not only to make you rich, it also build yourself as a great person.
3. Set no limit to yourself. Financial freedom before 30 is not difficult, aim for more and put in effort.
4. Marketing is not about selling the product, but to sell you as a trustworthy person.
I think the for entire trip, not the food and nice hotel that make it worth so much, rather the conversation with the two great guys and virgin experience in steeping up to be a salesman add so much value to the trip. Enlighten me, motivated me and make me believe that we can really get what we want. =D
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