Comments on: Does China Bring Out Your Inner Entrepreneur?

By: Shakiri Murrain

Shakiri Murrain — Wed, 08 Jun 2011 13:03:05 +0000

This is such a great post! I feel the same way.

I originally came to China (Nanjing) in 2006 and stayed for 3 years. In ’09, I went back home (USA) and it was the weirdest experience ever!

It was like all the ambition was gone. Everything was predictable. In 2009, people were doing the same things as when I left in ’06.

So now I’m back in China….for good
Shakiri Murrain recently posted..Humble Beginnings

By: Jeremy

Jeremy — Sat, 31 May 2008 08:35:31 +0000

@Jesse – and hope that you can get a good bit of good paying gigs, no matter what you want to pursue it for long term

@John – Without the necessary experience to hop into an expat gig, it’s either start at usually very low pay or do your own thing just as you are saying.

But pretty much every Chinese friend I have very much wants to go into business for themselves – very different than back home.

By: John

John — Sat, 31 May 2008 08:28:35 +0000

I think it’s just necessity.

After being in China for a while, you’re faced with a decision: do I stay here and make a career for myself, or do I move on?

If you choose to stay, then you need to look realistically at your options. If you want teaching English as your career, great. You’re set. If you don’t, you need to find something you can do that local Chinese can’t do for cheaper. Most often, this involves a new business.

By: jesse

jesse — Fri, 30 May 2008 08:45:34 +0000

i agree that china does bring out your inner entrepreneur. there are so many opportunities to be had here. although lately i am feeling more strongly about photography as art than using it for business. that being said, it still can make a good chunk of change if you get the right gigs.

By: Jeremy

Jeremy — Wed, 28 May 2008 13:32:19 +0000

@Ryan – That’s a good point about closely re-examining your surroundings.

Still think there is something different in the air that causes him to break out, but it does seem if and when I go back home that the little red stickman won’t go back to his previous abode.

By: Ryan

Ryan — Wed, 28 May 2008 10:31:38 +0000

I always suspected my inner entrepreneur was a skinny red stick man.

I think part of the reason might be because folks get out of their element. When you’re in your home country, hometown, home… you tend to just look at your situation how those around you look at their situations. But when you pull yourself out of it and come to China, you can’t help but re-examine whether or not you want that box waiting for you back home.

Of course, there’s no reason you can’t return home and blaze a new trail, but China’s got a bit of an energy about it. As folks more clever than I have coined it – the Wild East. There’s a sense of adventure and opportunity.

That said, I just got real sick of teaching and love working in my pajamas.

Props again for the sweet new design. And keep those cartoons coming!