Wealth Without Borders Podcast

The mission of Wealth Without Borders Podcast is to provide a wealth of advice to Expats, whether financial, educational, or business-related. We were founded in Shanghai and in China 8 is a lucky number. “8 squared” is even better! We deliver one piece of valuable international advice using “8 questions in 8 minutes." http://www.wealthwithoutborders.net/podcast

Reducing Friction between East and West with David Thomas 07/26/2021

Reducing Friction between East and West with David Thomas Doing business in Asia isn’t a piece of cake, especially for Western entrepreneurs who got used in Western culture. There’s just a lot of differences on the way businesses works from the legal backbone and the clients. Do you want to learn how you can effectively deal with the challenges of doing business in Asia – primarily in China, and be a successful entrepreneur who is able to build long term relationships with Asian communities? Be guided as David treats you with the knowledge you’ll need to reduce this friction between business cultures of the West and East. David Thomas is a keynote speaker and a thought leader and entrepreneur. He equips business leaders with the knowledge and tools to navigate the cross-cultural challenges involved in doing business in Asia Pacific, and helps them develop their own strategy for success in the region. David is well-known in Australia as a ‘China Expert’ with a wealth of experience in financial services, business and investment, having lived and worked in London, Hong Kong and Sydney for years. In this episode, David talks about the friction in Western and Eastern cultures of business and discusses ways on how to deal with that. Here, he shares tips and tactics, mentions books and practices, and helps you be an effective entrepreneur in the Asian countries through correcting misconceptions and mistakes. This is where he unravels the reason on why Asia is just so unique in global aspects. What you will learn from this episode: Understand why a friction between the East and West is present in business practices Discover how to deal with the Asian business’ challenges as you learn about the importance of long term relationships Find out why Asia is unique in the global market and what makes it a great continent to practice business with “There's no shortage of places you can go to build relationships within Asian and Chinese communities. You can do that in your own hometown, and you should start doing that today. You'll learn a lot.” – David Thomas Topics Covered: 01:55 – David describes his ideal clients. 02:14 – Problem he solves for his clients: Reducing friction between east and west businesses in order for the business outcomes to happen – allowing a foreign business to do business in Asia. 03:21 – The typical symptoms: People are moving too quickly without spending time in research and appreciating the difficulties in a foreign country. 04:00 – The mistakes: Ignoring the challenge involved in building long term relationships which are critical in the way Asian businesses function. 05:20 – David’s Valuable Free Action: Download and read his free ebook called 3 Cups of Tea at and transform from being a stranger to becoming a part of a trusted relationship. 06:01 – David’s Valuable Free Resource: Start with your hometown in building relationships with Asian and Chinese communities. 06:59 – Book Alert: “Mr. China: A Memoir” by Tim Clissold at 08:05 – Question: “What makes Asia unique globally?” Key Takeaways: “We always have to remember in the West that in the East, there's never really been an established legal system, and the way business gets done in Asia is amongst friends, families, trusted networks. To penetrate those networks, you have to spend time building those relationships, and that's usually the bit that takes the most time and bit that people are most impatient about.” – David Thomas “In America and the West, we're used to taking people to court if they create any problems for you. In Asia, that's not how it works. You have to spend that time on the relationships.” – David Thomas “You need to think about Asia like you might of Europe. Europe has many different cultures, languages, dialects, food, or completely different ways of thinking and doing things, and Asia is just the same. It has the same issues and presents itself in just the same way.” – David Thomas People / Resources Mentioned: 3 Cups of Tea at China: A Memoir by Tim Clissold at Ways to Connect with David Thomas: Website: LinkedIn: Ways to Connect with Howard Whiteson: Website: Podcast: LinkedIn: /episode/index/show/wealthwithoutborders/id/19927598

Never Underestimate the Power of Social Media with Nadezhda Bukina 07/19/2021

Never Underestimate the Power of Social Media with Nadezhda Bukina How do you deal with the lack of cultural awareness when it comes to your business’ expansion in a land that is foreign from yours? Putting in efforts and sacrificing things as you spend time marketing your company indeed bring disappointment and apathy once everything fails to work. There’s this sadness of missing an opportunity that could have brought you to wonderful heights, but have you ever given it a try to consult the right professional for an effective marketing style? In today’s time, we’re surrounded by a never-ending cycle of continuously modernizing tactics. It’s a must that you keep yours updated, but that’s a piece of cake now as Nadia is here to give you a treat! Nadezhda Bukina is a marketing professional from Kazakhstan who came to China 3 years ago. Fast forward to today, she is a CEO of social media and marketing agency in Hangzhou, the 'Silicon Valley' of China. In this episode, Nadia talks about the power of social media with regards to bringing your business into successful heights. Here, she mentions the mistakes that hinder you from achieving your goals in the corporate world, and also shares ways on how you can overcome the discouraging effects of your downfalls. What you will learn from this episode: Know how cultural gaps affect your performance and emotions towards your business Discover why it’s a mistake to try and solve everything by yourself without asking for a professional’s advice first Find out how powerful social media is with regards to boosting and expanding your business’ growth both in China and the world “Constantly audit the accounts that you have and efforts that you make and see if they bring the necessary return on investment. Sometimes, we just get too caught up into investors; business-wise, it’s not the best decision.” – Nadezhda Bukina Topics Covered: 01:41 – Nadia describes her ideal clients. 02:17 – Problem she solves for her clients: The cultural gap of not having the cultural perception and heritage of the locality where they want to expand a business. 03:27 – The typical symptoms: The discouragement and apathy towards having the efforts wasted into a missed opportunity. 04:29 – The mistakes: Not asking advice from professionals, not researching, and rushing into decisions without a strategy. 05:13 – Nadia’s Valuable Free Action: “Constantly audit the accounts that you have and efforts that you make and see if they bring the necessary return on investment.” 05:52 – Nadia’s Valuable Free Resource: Traditional Excel, Power BI, and any analytical tool that keeps you updated with your company. 06:30 – Book Alert: 07:23 – Question: “Does somebody, as a business, absolutely need social media?” 07:51 – The Answer: “When is an essential time to bring in social media?” Key Takeaways: “Nowadays, there are so many consulting companies and consulting professionals that can give you advice for just any price and sometimes even voluntarily. Not asking this advice, not researching by yourself, and rushing into decisions, not having a strategy – I would say these are the biggest symptoms.” – Nadezhda Bukina “Anything that helps you keep updated with what's happening in your company and in your marketing department is a good choice.” – Nadezhda Bukina “B2C social media is a must. B2B social media is desirable.” – Nadezhda Bukina “In regards to B2B, if you're a professional, LinkedIn is the best social media for you.” – Nadezhda Bukina People / Resources Mentioned: Ways to Connect with Nadezhda Bukina: Website: LinkedIn: Instagram: Ways to Connect with Howard Whiteson: Website: Podcast: LinkedIn: /episode/index/show/wealthwithoutborders/id/19854497

From Overwhelm to Clarity with Maria Pastorelli 07/12/2021

From Overwhelm to Clarity with Maria Pastorelli Are you in a state of overwhelm where you feel like you are in no possession of enough time to get things done? We are taught that being busy is good for us and the things that what we do, but in contrary, it isn’t actually the case at all times. Do you want to free yourself from the suffocating area being overwhelmed makes you feel? Do you want to know how you can finally switch from overwhelm to the beautiful experience of clarity? Sit back and relax as Maria treats you with a gift today! Maria Pastorelli has lived in China for the past 11 years, 10 of which have been spent in the coaching and training industry. She has worked with hundreds of individuals with diverse backgrounds, and despite being something of an introvert, Maria is the Founder of the and the . In this episode, Maria talks about the transition from feeling overwhelmed to having the clarity you’ve always dreamed of. Here, she mentions the mistakes and misconception of being busy as a good thing, and shares ways on how you can start walking away from overwhelm. What you will learn from this episode: Know why accelerating your tasks burns you out Discover the magic learning how to say no brings to your life Find out how you can experience clarity after being overwhelmed for so long “We are told that being busy is good and so, doing more is always good, and I don't agree with that. Sometimes, stepping back is the answer.” – Maria Pastorelli Topics Covered: 01:52 – Maria describes her ideal clients. 02:17 – Problem she solves for her clients: Dealing with the overwhelmed state of doing a lot of things. 03:01 – The typical symptoms: The thought of not having the time to get things done. 03:57 – The mistakes: Trying to accelerate tasks and trying to get more done. 04:55 – Valuable free action: Try to do less and learn to say no. 06:20 – Valuable Free Resource: From Overwhelm to Clarity at 06:59 – The most impactful book/concept/program/talk: and 07:36 – The Clarifying Question: “What is the one thing that you can do so that by doing it, everything else is easier or unnecessary?” 08:51 – The Lesson: Finding clarity is valuable but is not an easy thing to do. Key Takeaways: “People are usually pretty smart, but in a state of overwhelm, our survival instinct kind of kicks off.” – Maria Pastorelli “Go on the opposite direction and try and do less. Slowing down and taking the time to reflect on what are you doing, why you're doing the things you're doing, and what is the purpose of the overall direction – that is extremely valuable.” – Maria Pastorelli “Learn to say no to the things that are not crucial and vital for a couple of days. Making the time by saying no to social events or some unimportant and non-urgent tasks can give you that block of time to work through some of the key issues of being overwhelmed.” – Maria Pastorelli People / Resources Mentioned: Ways to Connect with Maria Pastorelli: LinkedIn: Ways to Connect with Howard Whiteson: Website: Podcast: LinkedIn: /episode/index/show/wealthwithoutborders/id/19778771

Advising Foreign Companies on Risk in China with Ann Sophie De Meester & Art Dicker 07/05/2021

Advising Foreign Companies on Risk in China with Ann Sophie De Meester & Art Dicker Doing business in China when you’re from a foreign country could be one of the most confusing yet colorful experiences you could have in life. There’s no black and white on what’s legal and not. It is like a huge gray area with no fixed answers to what exactly is fit for you to do. Do you want to learn how you can reduce risks you can face while you’re on your journey towards a successful venture? Don’t you have an idea how foreign advisers can help you but is curious on how beautiful they can transform you and your business into? Ann Sophie De Meester is a director of Acclime China, co-manages the team and focuses on maintaining strong client relationships. Over several years working in China, she has built extensive experience advising foreign companies on tax compliance for various cross-border operations. She specializes in intercompany transactions and compliance, and is fluent in Danish, Norwegian, Swedish, English and Chinese (Mandarin). Art Dicker has over 13 years’ experience in China, predominantly on China and US venture capital financings and cross-border M&A. He has also advised many US technology, manufacturing, and consumer companies on structuring their investments and operations in China. Art is a frequent speaker in both English and Chinese on cross-border investing at top tier Chinese universities and industry conferences, and is the founder and co-host of the China Business Law Podcast. In this episode, Ann Sophie and Art talks about the risks on doing business in China and how they help clients on reducing such risks through various ways. Here, they share why being too cost-focused and afraid of advisors bring you to the mistakes of your venture, and discusses how powerful a foreign adviser’s help is. What you will learn from this episode: Discover how your eagerness to hear robotic answers trigger you towards business mistakes Know why you shouldn’t be afraid of having a conversation with an advisor as early as possible Find out how you can reduce risks as you do business in China “Everyone has a different risk profile, and risk is a moving thing; it’s not clear black and white.” – Art Dicker Topics Covered: 02:46 – Art describes their ideal clients. 03:20 – Problem they solve for their clients: Reducing risks in different ways. 04:21 – The typical symptoms: Clients wanting to hear robotic answers through asking yes-or-no questions 05:30 – The mistakes: Clients becoming too cost-focused. 06:38 – Valuable free action: “Don’t be afraid to talk to advisors and leave your assumptions at home.” 07:43 – Valuable Free Resource: Visit their websites and LinkedIn accounts at , , and and for free consultations and advices. 08:30 – The most impactful book/concept/program/talk: 09:36 – Question that they should have been asked: “Why hire us as foreigners to help you with your China problems?” Key Takeaways: “Sometimes, clients can be a little too cost-focused, which may be short term is good for their cash flow, but long term can end up costing more. Too focus can be too much cost-focus.” – Ann Sophie De Meester “I don’t think you should be scared to reach out to an advisor earlier rather than later and assume that you know it’s going to cost you so much. There’s not too much harm in reaching out to someone in the first place to give you a very high level of feedback.” – Art Dicker “For any advisors out there listening to this, oftentimes professionals like us come across to new clients and talk about how great we are with all the famous cases we’ve done and so forth, but actually, really what the client wants to know is that ‘You’re listening to me and you’re understanding my problem, and you are taking the time to give me something that I can use, and you’re not just giving me a cookie cutter answer.’” – Art Dicker People / Resources Mentioned: Ways to Connect with Ann Sophie De Meester: LinkedIn: Ways to Connect with Art Dicker: LinkedIn: Ways to Connect with Howard Whiteson: Website: Podcast: LinkedIn: /episode/index/show/wealthwithoutborders/id/19708460

Jean-Yves Laguillez, Emotion Digital Co-founder 06/28/2021

Jean-Yves Laguillez, Emotion Digital Co-founder Are you an entrepreneur who is from a Western country but has recently decided to enter the Chinese market? Are you eager to do business in China but knows nothing about the how-to’s? Do you want to know how you can be successful in entering China and its unique market? Listen as our guest for today guides you towards your dream success. Jean-Yves Laguillez is an authentic China expert. He is a C-level Executive, has a very strong experience in developing businesses, marketing strategy, and sales strategy, and has been leading companies in China and the Asia zone for 10 years. In this episode, Jean-Yves talks about the Chinese market and its difference from the Western ones. Here, he shares the importance of knowing your audience and the right marketing strategy to use in relation with the ineffectiveness of Western approaches on succeeding in a Chinese-based business. What you will learn from this episode: Discover how necessary it is for you to know the right marketing strategy in entering the Chinese market Know why Western approach doesn’t work in China Find out the importance of thinking more like a Chinese once you enter the Chinese market “You cannot succeed in China with a western approach.” – Jean-Yves Laguillez Topics Covered: 01:43 – Jean-Yves describes his ideal clients. 02:34 – Problems he solves for his clients: Educating customers on their specific channel marketing strategy that they need to define and implement to succeed. 04:00 – The typical symptoms: Being disappointed on the investments’ returns, not knowing the audience, and going too fast on traditional e-commerce platforms. 05:03 – The mistakes: Copying the western strategy. 06:23 – Jean-Yves’ valuable free action: Think first about their entry or strategy and their management level. 07:12 – Jean-Yves’ Valuable Free Resource: Visit to access free coaching calls and webinars on the basics of China market. 07:41 – The most impactful book/concept/program/talk: Webinars that explain how to enter China market. 08:14 – Question that he should have been asked: “What advice would you give from your personal experience in China to develop a business?” Key Takeaways: “You cannot succeed in China with a western approach.” – Jean-Yves Laguillez “In China, it is very important to think more like a Chinese.” – Jean-Yves Laguillez “You need to act fast to be successful in China because China’s speed is seven times about Western speed. In China, every day is another day, so you really need to adapt all the time.” – Jean-Yves Laguillez “You cannot run a business from your own country without eyes in China.” – Jean-Yves Laguillez People / Resources Mentioned: Free Webinars/Coaching Call at Ways to Connect with Jean-Yves Laguillez: LinkedIn: Ways to Connect with Howard Whiteson: Website: Podcast: LinkedIn: /episode/index/show/wealthwithoutborders/id/19637504

Shenzhen Art Community Leader with Gloria Carnevale 06/21/2021

Shenzhen Art Community Leader with Gloria Carnevale Are you an artist or an art enthusiast who is looking for a platform where you can gain inspiration and encouragement as you dive deeper into the world of art? Do you want to know someone who works on connecting artists in various locations and be involved in art discussions? Are you eager to start a new journey towards the beauty of art and how it benefits the world? Join us as Gloria gifts you with a treat today. Gloria Carnevale is an artist, designer, educator, curator and speaker who has lived and worked in Shenzhen for the past nine years. She is a founding member of International Shenzhen Artist Forum (ISZAF) and is currently the Co-Chair. In this episode, Gloria speaks about ISZAF – an independent foreign and Chinese artist network, platform, and community that supports and encourages both artists and non-artists in diving into the beautiful world of art. Here, she shares what ISZAF does for people, the resources you can overwhelm yourself with, and what you can do to avoid being too stressed by the professional life you’re living. What you will learn from this episode: Discover what ISZAF is, who they are, and what they do; Know where you can connect to other artists and enthusiasts in order to learn more about art; Find out the benefits of creating and appreciating art and how it affects the community. “Take that time and join whatever community empowers you and gives you drive towards the things that you like to do.” – Gloria Carnevale Topics Covered: 01:45 – Gloria describes her ideal clients. 02:09 – What Gloria does for her clients: Connecting the artist community through their Connect, Converse, Convey slogan. 02:56 – The typical symptoms; Being isolated and not knowing your where to’s. 03:30 – The mistakes; Skipping what needs to be done before the deed of establishing something. 04:11 – Gloria’s valuable free action: Connect through WeChat and be part of a community. 04:54 – Gloria’s Valuable Free Resource: Visit ISZAF’s WeChat group through and join art talks and events. 05:35 – The most impactful experience: Learning new things while educating her students. 06:23 – Question that she should have been asked: “What benefits does creating art and appreciating it provide a larger human community?" 07:27 – Bonus question #1: “What inspired you to co-founder this organization in the first place?” 08:31 – Bonus question #2: “What is the benefit for people who are not artists themselves but joined the community?” Key Takeaways: “We connect the artist community, and I think that’s what we do the best.” – Gloria Carnevale “When you’re an artist and you’re moving somewhere, you might be looking for an agent or a studio. You’re trying to start all these professional things right away. But the main thing that you need to consider is the community that you can talk to, that can help you grow with your art and encourage you.” – Gloria Carnevale “I think sometimes we get really sucked into what we’re doing professionally. It’s good to kind of just go out and see what’s going on in the community and kind of expose yourself to different things in the city.” – Gloria Carnevale People / Resources Mentioned: WeChat Group: Ways to Connect with Gloria Carnevale: Website: LinkedIn: Ways to Connect with Howard Whiteson: Website: Podcast: LinkedIn: /episode/index/show/wealthwithoutborders/id/19547219

Investing in the Future of Makgeolli with Julia Mellor 06/14/2021

Investing in the Future of Makgeolli with Julia Mellor The continuously growing industry of Korean alcohol in both local and overseas communities has been a trend for years now, especially because of the exposure it gets locally. Are you one of those people who have always been interested with Korean alcohol, but there’s not many resources for you to use in order to brew? Do you have access to resources that will give you a taste of what Korean alcohol is like, but you’re having a hard time understanding what the text on the bottles says? If you’re here to learn more about Korean alcohol and its industry, then you’re on the right path! Listen and be our guest as Julia guides you towards the world of brewing. Julia Mellor is the first non-Korean specialist in Korean traditional alcohol and founder of The Sool Company, a resource for Korean alcohol education and consulting. In this episode, Julia talks about the Korean alcohol industry, what is special about it, and how big it’s getting overseas. Here, she mentions how you can start brewing in the comfort of your home while enjoying the unique yet wonderful taste of Korean alcohol. What you will learn from this episode: Discover the fast growing industry of Korean alcohol in today’s world Know what makes Korean alcohol special Find out where you can find resources to brew at the comfort of your own home without having a hard time learning the language “Everybody can have a piece of this world. It’s a blue ocean market; there are so many aspects to it, so it’s really down to your creativity of how you want to be a part of it.” – Julia Mellor Topics Covered: 01:31 – Julia describes her ideal clients. 01:54 – Problems Julia solves for her clients: Helping explain resources that are in the Korean language as she translates things into English. 02:29 – The typical symptoms; Not understanding how alcohol has changed and taking it into people’s own countries or areas of interests. 03:15 – The mistakes; Using the free information route by finding resources from YouTube and the internet. 04:09 – Julia’s valuable free action: See Julia’s online classes’ preview to see what interests you in the how-to’s of brewing at home. 04:44 – Julia’s Valuable Free Resource: Visit Julia’s website and get access to downloadable PDFs about Korean alcohol. 05:32 – The most impactful book/concept/program/talk: A podcast episode about a specialist in raising goats who was able to have a very successful business in a very small niche. 06:35 – Question that she should have been asked: “How popular can Korean alcohol be overseas?” 08:01 – Bonus question: What makes Korean alcohol like Makgeolli special? Key Takeaways: “A lot of people do tend to go the free information route by using resources like YouTube and the internet and things like that. A lot of them are inaccurate. A lot of them are just experimentations and people that are just trying it out for themselves.” – Julia Mellor “One of the ways that Korean alcohol can become super popular and successful around the world is when people take that knowledge and know-how and create breweries themselves in their local spaces.” – Julia Mellor “Everybody can have a piece of this world. It’s a blue ocean market; there’s so many aspects to it, and it’s really down to your creativity of how you want to be a part of it.” – Julia Mellor People / Resources Mentioned: Ways to Connect with Julia Mellor: Website: LinkedIn: Ways to Connect with Howard Whiteson: Website: Podcast: LinkedIn: /episode/index/show/wealthwithoutborders/id/19470998

Empowering Online Sellers with their Sourcing and Shipping from China with Simon de Raadt 06/07/2021

Empowering Online Sellers with their Sourcing and Shipping from China with Simon de Raadt The work of drop shipping is quite complex. Many are drawn, but few are chosen. That’s how it goes for them. Do you want to enter the exciting world of drop shipping and get the job right? Are you sick of dealing with customers’ complaints and poor reviews? Do you want to take a step towards a better ecommerce practice? Listen and experience it all with Simon de Raadt! Simon de Raadt is the Vice President of Business Development Europe at HyperSKU. Having lived in China since 2011, he is an experienced executive in cross-border trade and eCommerce logistics. In this episode, Simon brings you to the world of drop shipping as he guides you on the know-how’s and musts of the gameplay. Dive into the world of ecommerce as Simon shares insights on how you can make your sourcing and shipping journey a road towards success! What you will learn from this episode: Discover what drop shipping is and who are the drop shippers; Know how test trials and good-quality services drive you towards success; and Find out how you can succeed along the market through the help of a free ebook. “Make use of the people around you. Most people want to help you anyway.” – Simon de Raadt Topics Covered: 01:43 – Simon describes his ideal clients. 02:21 – Problems Simon solves for his clients: Not having someone to verify and take care of the products’ shipping and delivery process. 03:19 – The typical symptoms; Why shipping good-quality products is a must on keeping your business operating. 04:12 – The mistakes; Why the absence of tests brings you to the pitfalls of the market. 05:02 – Simon’s valuable free action: “Make use of the people around you.” 06:06 – Simon’s valuable free resource: Visit for a free ebook. 06:46 – Book alert: 08:07 – Question that will be valuable as you reflect on this happening: Where is the future for global ecommerce going to? Key Takeaways: “This whole concept of drop shipping is, you don't touch the products yourself. No one is checking it for you. You just have fingers crossed after the order is placed.” – Simon de Raadt “If you don't deliver a good job, customers complain, then your ratings go down. Your Facebook account gets blocked. Your PayPal account gets suspended, and your business stops. All these small pieces kind of have ripple effects that can cause your business to kind of freeze. And I think that will be the end result that nobody's looking for.” – Simon de Raadt “Get started first. Get some experience. Do some trial and error, and then you go into the branding, and you create a whole story around it.” – Simon de Raadt “To be able for Chinese to go global, they need to find a way to integrate with them, to be able to become part of that ecosystem. They cannot compete with it; the same for the other way. ‘We want to enter China.’ They have to integrate. I think that's the key word where the future is going to for global ecommerce.” – Simon de Raadt “I think there's only a few percentage that actually succeed. To be in that, you have to really work hard and get educated.” – Simon de Raadt People / Resources Mentioned: Ways to Connect with Simon de Raadt: Website: LinkedIn: Ways to Connect with Howard Whiteson: Website: Podcast: LinkedIn: /episode/index/show/wealthwithoutborders/id/19384760

Embracing the Differences with Ian Mote 05/31/2021

Embracing the Differences with Ian Mote Are you guilty of being stuck at a certain place because you’re afraid of the differences you would experience when things change? Don’t you know that it only takes adaptability and you – being willing to embrace a culture – to take a step forward towards embracing differences? Will you take this chance to step out of your shell and explore the wonders you didn’t know you could be? Will you be brave enough to take the risk and live life in all the colors that exist? Ian Mote has been an expat for close to 20 years now. He spent time going around Hong Kong, Dubai, and Shanghai where he now lives with his daughter and wife. A career in banking has taken him all over the region, including every province in China. In fact, this even led to a book entitled “From Chicken Feet to Crystal Baths” – which talks about his travel stories for the past 20 years. In this episode, Ian talks about his journey towards embracing differences he’s encountered while going around places for 20 years. Here, he shares stories about the most memorable and funniest memories he has experienced in life, as well as how he has coped with cultural change and learned to love it – it’s just a matter of time. What you will learn in this episode: Hear a story of an expat and get inspiration from it Discover what it’s like to live with fresh and new starts almost every day Find out what it takes to fully embrace the differences changes bring in life. "If you can say, ‘Well, I've done this before and this is what got me here so it should work again’ – that's not the case. It's always a fresh start. What has worked in the past that has got you to this level might not be relevant anymore.” – Ian Mote Topics Covered: 01:44 – The Expat: The reason why Ian became an expat around 20 years ago. 03:23 – A Home in a Culture: The special thing about the region where Ian currently works. 05:16 – The Creation: How Ian’s knowledge and experiences led to the book he has written. 07:49 – His Coping Mechanism: Dealing with distance away from loved ones. 10:33 – Expats at their Finest: Ian talks about the qualities that best define a successful expat as he shares personal experience in relation to it. 12:30 – The Moral: The biggest thing Ian has learned over the last 20 years of his stay in China. 14:18 – Trip Down Memory Lane: The most meaningful memories Ian has from 20 years of residency in China. 15:32 – Cheers to the Good Old Days: Ian shares the funniest memory he’s ever had. 19:54 – A Change of Mind: The things Ian would do differently if he was given the chance to turn back the clock. 21:07 – Book Alert: Ian shares what his soon-to-be published second book is about. Key Takeaways: “You adapt and find different ways to do it.” – Ian Mote “If you're an expat, you're going to be managing a team, so you need to understand how people react and how to motivate and manage a team. If I hadn't learned more about being a manager of a local team and how people react to what their expectations are, I would never have made that work.” – Ian Mote “People – at the end of the day – are all very similar, and we want similar things for our family and our life.” – Ian Mote People / Resources Mentioned: Ways to Connect with Ian Mote: LinkedIn: Instagram: Twitter: Ways to Connect with Howard Whiteson: Website: Podcast: LinkedIn: /episode/index/show/wealthwithoutborders/id/19305797

From Tai Chi to International Businesswoman with Kathy De Leye 05/24/2021

From Tai Chi to International Businesswoman with Kathy De Leye Are you a Chinese e-commerce seller who wants to sell in Europe, on local e-commerce places and Amazon? Do you experience tax difficulties and struggle with language barriers? Do you want to learn how you can turn your small business into a multimillion enterprise? Listen to this treat, that will surely be of great help to you. Opening a business in a foreign country confronts people with many conflicts. Whether it be laws, traditions, and the how to’s, it is important to know the smallest details whenever you plan to start up in a new land. Kathy De Leye is an international businesswoman who has lived in China from 2009 to 2019. She opened a company with her Chinese husband in Shenzhen in 2017, and they are both currently in Belgium to expand their business. In this episode, Kathy talks about the musts of opening a business in the European market. She discusses the mistakes Chinese people make in terms of the law and other barriers due to lack of knowledge and also shares ways that you can be a multimillion-dollar business owner in the near future. What you will learn from this episode: Discover the pitfalls Chinese people experience in entering the European market Know how a talk with an expert who knows the European market well and that will allow you to both be secure and save money Find out how a mindset change can drive you towards a multimillion-dollar business “Just keep on believing in the business and keep on persevering. Keep on being there for the business, and know that it's going to be a multimillion-dollar business.” – Kathy De Leye Topics Covered: 01:37 – Kathy describes her ideal clients. 01:57 – Problems Kathy solves for her clients: The European struggle with local laws, VAT issues, and languages. 02:33 – The typical symptoms; Why European VAT awareness is a must when entering the market. 03:25 – The mistakes; The reason why underestimating the problem is a huge mistake. 04:15 – Kathy’s valuable free action: “Talk to experts and attend webinars.” 05:01 – Kathy’s Valuable free resource: Webinars. The internet. Search how to sell in Europe. 05:35 – The most impactful book/concept/program/talk: (1) Tony, (2) , (3) 06:25 – Question that will help you nourish: “How do you change your mindset?” 07:53 – Bonus question: The most valuable lesson or action that really helped her in her change of mindset. Key Takeaways: “A lot of Chinese here in Europe, they have difficulties because first of all, they don't understand VAT. They don't know how serious it is. When stock arrives with the wrong certificates, it can be destroyed or be sent back, which has huge costs. And there can be big fines as well, just because they're not compliant with local laws.” – Kathy De Leye “I would recommend people to really talk to experts, not just a Chinese person who says they know the European market. Also, go to webinars. I would really recommend to attend these. It can save a lot of money.” – Kathy De Leye “I know Google is blocked in China, but just find a way to go on Google, and search how to sell in Europe.” – Kathy De Leye “I am a businesswoman. I can be successful in business. It took a long time to change my mindset, but because of that, I now have a multimillion-dollar business.” – Kathy De Leye People / Resources Mentioned: Ways to Connect with Kathy De Leye: LinkedIn: Website: Ways to Connect with Howard Whiteson: Website: Podcast: LinkedIn: /episode/index/show/wealthwithoutborders/id/19219274

When you Master Your Mind, You Master Your World with Rodney Josephson 05/17/2021

When you Master Your Mind, You Master Your World with Rodney Josephson Are you seeking a knowledge that you don’t quite know exists? Are you certain that you really know what you’re saying and what you’re doing? Do you want to practice using etymology and NLP in order to understand language in its finest form? Listen to this episode and be guided to a wonderful treat! Mastering your mind is not an easy task, but you should remember that it gives results to you, mastering your world, once done successfully. Learn how language and programming affects you in this episode. Rodney Josephson is from a different place and time! He woke up travelling, living, working and experiencing life as it comes. He has been working to help people master themselves in order to master their world. In this episode, Rodney shares insights about the concept of programming in language or linguistic terms. Here, he talks about how programming plays a huge role on your progress towards mastering your world and also shares how NLP and etymological dictionaries will help you along the way. What you will learn from this episode: Learn what NLP is and how NPL and etymological dictionaries help you master your mind and the world Know the importance of knowing what you’re actually saying and doing Discover how you can master your world once you’ve fully and successfully mastered your mind “Programming is programming. Either you're being programmed or you get to program yourself.” – Rodney Josephson Topics Covered: 01:57 – Rodney talks about his ideal clients. 03:16 – Problem Rodney solves for his clients: Knowing how to use various tools or methods to seek the hidden truth of what is or how things function. 04:07 – The typical symptoms; Why people not knowing what they’re saying and doing is continuously happening. 05:05 – The mistakes; Not being able to understand why a program is happening, not being able to grab it, and failing to do anything with it. 05:56 – Rodney’s valuable free action: “You have to learn to breathe. Deep breathing.” 06:48 – Rodney’s valuable free resource: Use etymological dictionaries and seek things based on NLP methods. 07:37 – Concept alert: Read things about NLP so you can learn how language functions, then later on start to write. 08:34 – Question that would give great value: When you master your mind, you can master your world. The question is, can anyone master their mind? Key Takeaways: “Through the process of learning NLP, you can get a better picture of the world and how it functions based on language or linguistics.” – Rodney Josephson “To be able to grasp a new idea or a new method or process, the person or the people have to have a different perspective; and the only way to do that is that they have to use various tools or methods to seek the hidden truth of what is or how things function.” – Rodney Josephson “Due to the fact that language, especially English, is one of the most mixed languages in the world with hundreds of contributing languages, most people don't even know what they are saying.” – Rodney Josephson “We've been raised getting programmed in society and these programs run without us even knowing it. If you're not able to understand why that's happening and be able to grab it and do something with it, you're gonna keep repeating the same issue.” – Rodney Josephson Ways to Connect with Rodney Josephson: LinkedIn: Wechat: rodneyarvid Ways to Connect with Howard Whiteson: Website: Podcast: LinkedIn: /episode/index/show/wealthwithoutborders/id/19143707

Why Do Chinese Employees and Western Managers Have So Many Misunderstandings with Jerry Grey 05/03/2021

Why Do Chinese Employees and Western Managers Have So Many Misunderstandings with Jerry Grey Are you a Western manager handling Chinese employees or is it the other way around? Do you want to resolve misunderstandings at your workplace but have no idea where to start with? Listen to this episode and you’ll know why misunderstandings are present at work and how you can act to that. Difference in culture is indeed a huge factor of how people fail to successfully interact with one another. The boundaries and traditions not shared by people involved play a huge role in connecting workers, thus the importance of understanding the other side of the coin. Jerry Grey has lived and worked in the UK, Australia, and China. Apart from business experience and qualifications, he knows China pretty well because he's cycled across it 3 times. He was once a teacher in China, and now, he’s helping people understand China in its real form. Jerry has the honour of being the only guest so far who has no desire to sell you anything. In this episode, Jerry shares insights discussing why Chinese and Western workers usually go through a lot of misunderstandings in their workspace. He talks about the concept of cultural linguistic and the issues that surround that. Jerry also shares a resource and a good advice on how you can be aware of what China is really like, so you can be free from the misconceptions the media has made you think. What you will learn from this episode: Know what cultural linguistic is and how it affects people in their workspace; Discover how important it is to have cross-cultural change management in your HR department; Find out where you could find genuine stories and experience of what China is really like and how that affects your perspective. “Almost everything that you have ever learned about China from reading a newspaper is not correct. There's so much misinformation. China is a very safe place. China is a very stable place. China is a good place to do business.” – Jerry Grey Topics Covered: 02:12 – Jerry describes his ideal clients. 03:04 – Problems Jerry solves for his clients: The cultural linguistic issues present in a company or organization. 04:30 – The typical symptoms; How workplace psychology and national identity can clash sometimes and result to something catastrophic. 05:23 – The mistakes; Why trying to resolve an issue in the traditional way you'd resolve it in your own country is a big mistake. 06:45 – Jerry’s valuable free action: “Employ someone who has cross-cultural change management experience.” 07:26 – Jerry’s Valuable free resource: Go to and be informed of the differences you’ll encounter in a different country’s workspace. 08:10 – Books alert: 09:11: Question that helps you understand Chinese people’s work culture better: Where should a potential investor or business manager go to get information? Key Takeaways: “If I say to a Chinese person, “Hey, what's the best holiday you've ever had?” they'll tell me about Spring Festival or National Day or one of the festivals that they have where they get together with their family and do things. If I asked yourself or somebody from Germany or Holland or a European manager, American manager, they’ll say it was two weeks in an island in the Pacific or something completely different. And this is what I call cultural linguistic.” – Jerry Grey “Workplace psychology and national identity – these two things can clash sometimes. It could end up being production failures, legal problems. It could be all kinds of different things. It could be catastrophic failure of your business.” – Jerry Grey “The manager is the most important person in a company because the manager needs to tell people what to do and how to do it.” – Jerry Grey “If you're in a company and you have a human resource manager who is Chinese, managing Chinese people, even that HR manager doesn't understand the management philosophies. If you've got someone who's trained overseas and understands and has been trained in a management philosophy from overseas, they would do better.” – Jerry Grey People / Resources Mentioned: Ways to Connect with Jerry Grey: Medium: LinkedIn: Twitter: Ways to Connect with Howard Whiteson: Website: Podcast: LinkedIn: /episode/index/show/wealthwithoutborders/id/18965420

How to (Painlessly) Invest in Real Estate Across Borders with Lauren Cohen 04/26/2021

How to (Painlessly) Invest in Real Estate Across Borders with Lauren Cohen Have you experienced investing in real estate but haven’t tried doing it across borders yet? Do you want to learn how to develop your investment portfolio across borders and in an international level? Do you want to invest in real estate without any bother of pain? If you do, then you’re up for a great treat. Real estate investment alone is already complicated enough, and the process just gets more complicated in cross-border investment. There, you don’t only consider your home country’s rule, but also the subject countries’ rules and the cross-border rules. You need experts to guide you in every move that you do, and this episode will show you the road towards that cross-border goal of yours. Lauren Cohen is a serial entrepreneur as she works as an International Lawyer, Realtor and Cross-Border Expert. She was originally from Toronto, but now she’s based in South Florida. Lauren is also a best-selling author and sought-after speaker, and she launched her podcast “Investing Across Borders” in late 2020. Lauren’s overriding goal is to help clients navigate the path to invest, live, work and play across borders. Her superpower rests in paving a path to immigration visas through real estate investments. In this episode, Lauren talks about the concept of cross-border investing alongside actions people have been doing wrong that keep them from growing. She shares insights on what people need to know with regard to investing across borders, and also mentions the huge importance of having an expert guide you. What you will learn from this episode: Discover the picture on how real estate investment across borders work; Know the things you must be aware of in order to develop your investment portfolio across borders and in an international level; Find out why it is important to consult an expert before doing anything in the world of investment. “Go to the expert. Just always go to the expert and don't try to become an expert yourself. There are professionals in their professions. Use them and abuse them as much as you can.” – Lauren Cohen Topics Covered: 03:00 – Lauren and her ideal client: A real estate investor or an aspiring real estate investor that wants to develop their investment portfolio, not only in their home country but across borders and internationally. 03:21 – The problem that she solves: The frustration of going to a bunch of different places and not getting the right answers, and trying to figure out who to talk to, who's the right professional. 04:03 – The typical symptoms people experience: Not knowing where to start and not having the proper guidance. 04:48 – The common mistakes people make when they're trying to solve those problems by themselves: They create a lot of legal problems for themselves. 05:44 – A valuable action listeners of this episode can implement right away: Consult with a cross-border tax advisor before you do anything at all. 06:43 – Valuable Free Resource: (1) with coupon code: INTERNATIONAL and (2) with coupon code: REI4FREE 07:25 – A book that has been the most impactful in her life: by Michael E. Gerber 08:21 – One question that will give great value to the audience: “Why should you hire me?” 09:50 – Lauren and the book she wrote: Finding Yourself Aligning in the Business Immigration Process. Key Takeaways: “A lot of people, especially investing into the US, there's so many companies that help you invest in the US but they pay no attention to your home country. And so here you are, suddenly you're investing and they're like, ‘here's your plan’. But what happens when you go back to England, or go back to Canada, or when you file your tax return in China or wherever? Nobody's giving you that guidance. So, you're going to end up with a lot of challenges, and you may end up losing a lot of money and having a lot of legal problems in the process.” – Lauren Cohen “Consult with a cross-border tax advisor before you do anything at all. Just always go to the expert and don't try to become an expert yourself because we are trained to be experts for a reason. There are professionals in their professions. Use them and abuse them as much as you can.” – Lauren Cohen “I think every entrepreneur is guilty of working in their business at some given point, but if you work on your business, you're going to be able to scale.” – Lauren Cohen “I'm a very impact-driven entrepreneur. I'm not a typical lawyer. I'm not a typical entrepreneur, and I'm definitely not a typical realtor. I'm all of those packaged into one, so I have the professionalism, and the business acumen, and the understanding and the scope of knowledge, and the expertise to guide you through this process painlessly.” – Lauren Cohen Ways to Connect with Lauren Cohen: Website: LinkedIn: Facebook Group: Ways to Connect with Howard Whiteson: Website: Podcast: LinkedIn: /episode/index/show/wealthwithoutborders/id/18872720

E-Commerce in China - From a Legal Perspective with Daniel Albrecht 04/19/2021

E-Commerce in China - From a Legal Perspective with Daniel Albrecht Do you want to enter the Chinese market but you have no idea of the whats and hows? Have you tried involving your business with China but you experienced a huge differential shock? Do you want to know the essentials of the market, especially e-commerce? If so, sit back and relax as we dive into the system with today’s guest. Daniel Albrecht is a German lawyer based in China. He specializes in trademark law, commercial law, as well as corporate and labor law. Daniel also assists his clients in drafting and negotiating complex contract documentations, aside from advising international businesses on the acquisition or sale of public and private companies. It was in 2004 when Daniel had his first professional encounter with China as a law clerk. In this episode, Daniel guides you towards the Chinese market as he discusses the country’s e-commerce law. Here, he explains how important it is for companies to be prepared if they want to be involved with the market. Moreover, Daniel shares insights business owners should know in order for them to properly situate themselves in the e-commerce system. Listen as he makes e-commerce law easy in just eight minutes of interview. What you will learn from this episode: Discover how e-commerce works in China Know the difference between European and Chinese e-commerce markets Learn more about the pitfalls of wanting to join the Chinese market “Register your trademarks in China, register your IP in China. Otherwise, somebody will see it and register it for you.” – Daniel Albrecht Topics Covered: 02:13 – Daniel’s ideal clients: A family-owned business with 50 to 500 employees, and embassies in China. 03:06 – The problem that he solves with regards to e-commerce: Clients’ problem with fakes. 03:58 – The typical symptoms people experience when dealing with problem of fakes: Not being prepared and lack of market observation. 04:57 – Common mistakes people make when they try to solve the problem by themselves: They have no language abilities. 06:00 – Valuable Free Action: Prepare yourself and your activities as early as possible 06:48 – Valuable Free Resource: . 07:31 – The concept or talk that has been most impactful in his experience: Working in Chinese law firms. 08:17 – The difference between the Chinese and the European e-commerce market. 09:24 – Last question: Is there a ballpark as to how long it would take to obtain a trademark for one's company or sector? Key Takeaways: “If you visit an international exhibition in your own country, or in a second country or in China, register your trademarks in China, register your IP in China, otherwise somebody will see it and register it for you.” – Daniel Albrecht “My most important experience was to work for Chinese law firms, because during this time, I gained a feeling for how Chinese companies function internally and also how Chinese lawyers work and think, and this is from time to time a little bit different from our mindset. And that was maybe the most valuable experience during the last couple of years.” – Daniel Albrecht “If you are not familiar with the preparation, you have no chance to prove evidence because nobody takes it seriously.” – Daniel Albrecht “I think a lot of companies are not aware that we have no Amazon here or let's say we have Amazon but the market as a whole is not dominant. It's a niche company here with market share about one point something percent. If you want to do commercial activities, you need to be aware that there are other social media platforms.” – Daniel Albrecht “I’m quite worried because if people are calling or waiting from overseas, quite often they forget the time difference and then you'll get messages in the night or whenever.” – Daniel Albrecht Ways to Connect with Daniel Albrecht: Email: [email protected] Website: LinkedIn: Ways to Connect with Howard Whiteson: Website: Podcast: LinkedIn: /episode/index/show/wealthwithoutborders/id/18778307

Strengths Oriented Leadership: The World Through Bee Glasses with Matt Beadle 04/12/2021

Strengths Oriented Leadership: The World Through Bee Glasses with Matt Beadle Have you noticed that you’re not improving and/or perhaps, you’re not happy with what you do? Have you been recently bothered by the eagerness to do better, but you keep on failing each time you try? Do you want to see the world through a bee’s perspective? Do you want a change of mindset that will lead you towards a successful life? As human beings situated in this pandemic, we tend to think of nothing but ways on how we can survive; however, that’s not even an easy thing to accomplish. People are getting emotionally unstable for more than a year now, and this is affecting the way they think and see life. In order for us to get better, we need change to happen; however, that will only happen if you’ll allow it to take place. Matt Beadle is a British ex-pat that is currently situated in Germany. He works as a management consultant and facilitator, and this allows him to specialize in leadership development for young and new managers. Matt works with Fortune 500 companies and global players across the world and is also an author of four books. He’s a regular speaker and presenter at business events, panel discussions, and TV shows, and is actually a Chelsea fan. In this episode, Matt guides you towards seeing the world with your bee glasses on. Here, he discusses how a bee approach is different from that of a fly, and how a changed mindset would result in a happy and bountiful life. What you will learn from this episode: Discover the difference of a life under fly glasses and bee glasses approach; Find out how the bee glasses approach actually helps you see the world differently and live a better life; Know more about the beauty of strengths orientation and having your mindset changed towards a bee glasses approach. “Sign of excellence is experiencing genuine joy and flow when you're doing things that you're great at and they come easy to you.“ – Matt Beadle Topics Covered: 02:12 – Matt and his ideal client: An organization that cares about their staff and wants to help their staff develop themselves. 02:40 – What is the problem he solves: The epidemic of focusing on weaknesses. 03:33 – The typical symptoms people experience: Trying to be a jack of all trades. 04:32 – The common mistakes people make when they're trying to solve the problem of being good at everything: Work harder and work faster. 05:24 – A valuable action listeners of this episode can implement right away: Get a cup of coffee and sit down for a pause. 06:19 – Valuable Free Resource: The five signs for talent: desire, rapid learning, flow, glimpses of excellence, and satisfaction. 07:17 – A book that has been the most impactful in Matt’s experience: and his own book 08:25 – The beauty of strengths orientation and changing your mindset towards a more sort of bee glasses approach: It works in all walks of life. Key Takeaways: “Can I go through life wearing these ‘fly glasses’ where I'm only looking for the crap, or can I put my ‘bee glasses’ on and look for the color and the talents and the development, and try and spread that around a little bit? That is what I've noticed.“ – Matt Beadle “Why are we expecting people to be great at everything? Why don't we encourage people to focus on their talents and try and be great at a handful of things, instead of being jack of all trades? You wouldn't ask a plumber to build something out of wood and expect it to be top quality. You wouldn't ask a pilot to incise, you know, an operation into somebody's chest and expect them to be a great surgeon. So why do we expect executives and business people to be good at everything?” – Matt Beadle “Have a think about how you do something, not what you do, not the role on your business problems cognitively, and go through those five steps. And when you recognize those five things, then you're almost certainly looking at and dealing with talent.” – Matt Beadle “The beauty of strengths orientation and changing your mindset towards a more sort of bee glasses approach is that it works in all walks of life.” – Matt Beadle Ways to Connect with Matt Beadle: Email: Website: LinkedIn: Ways to Connect with Howard Whiteson: Website: Podcast: LinkedIn: /episode/index/show/wealthwithoutborders/id/18690752

Chinese Mobile Industry Rainmaker with Karl Weaver 04/05/2021

Chinese Mobile Industry Rainmaker with Karl Weaver How do you endear yourself to the Chinese and make a lasting impact on a country like China? The mistake many of us make is to stereotype people but that only makes us foolish. When you’re in a country like China, there’s one thing that you should learn - treat people with respect regardless of country, belief or religion. Contribute to making a change to better society and don’t solely focus on making an income. Karl Weaver has 3 obvious passions: wireless technologies, softball or baseball and finally, speaking, reading and writing Mandarin Chinese, the latter of which he’s been doing since 1982. Indeed, Karl was pretty much the first person to sell a computer to China in 1989. Those are his passions aside from his family, friends, and his career. In this episode, Karl highlights the goodness that Chinese people have shown him. The stories he shares of meaningful memories experienced in Taiwan and Greater China prove that more than the place being magical, it’s the people themselves who are special. The respect he showed them was met with fondness and kindness, making it easier to adapt and become successful in a foreign place. What you will learn from this episode: Find out the 80/20 rule you need to consider, especially for a business person, when you're not in your native country Find out the key things you need to be consistent with when you are an expat so you contribute to bettering society and not just generating income Find out the predictions made to get a sense of the expat world in China in future “Treat people the way you would expect them to treat you. Don't be pretentious, don't be condescending and realize that everyone is just a person just trying to survive.” - Karl Weaver Topics Covered: 02:43 - How Karl became an expat 03:30 - How it was back when Karl was living in Taiwan in terms of technology and food 04:19 - What makes life so special in Taiwan that Karl stayed longer than three years 04:50 - The courtship style in Taiwan that Karl finds fascinating 06:07 - Sharing a personal story of an expat’s struggle that Karl experienced and the kindness of the Taiwanese people 09:26 - The important lessons Karl learned in terms of dealing with people of a different race and religion 10:56 - The 80/20 rule that Karl advises 12:32 - The three key things that you need to be very consistent with when you are an expat 14:52 - An interesting highlight of an experience in sports while living in China 16:51 - The one biggest lesson Karl learned being an expat 18:35 - Sharing his most meaningful memory while living in China 19:45 - How you don't have to be Chinese to do things successfully in the Chinese world 20:55 – Karl’s significant predictions over what will happen in the ex-pat world in China 23:58 - Why recruiters need to have an unbiased view with hiring foreign nationals for the Chinese market 26:45 - What Karl would have done back when he started living in Taiwan Key Takeaways: “Taiwan is a magical place because of the people, who are very westernized. But I think more than the physical presence of the place, it's the people that make the place in Taiwan so special.” - Karl Weaver “I think this is a very important rule in life, especially for a business person, especially when you're not in your native country, which is the 80/20 rule. Well, listen 80% and talk only 20% because you're out of your comfort zone.” - Karl Weaver “I always try to use EQ when dealing with the Chinese world and dealing with the Chinese people, trying never to stereotype.” - Karl Weaver “I believe there are some key things you need to be very consistent with, which is your tenacity, your persistence to live in a different world and a different way of doing things is very, very critical. You just never know when you might be unintentionally insulting somebody, it can happen.” - Karl Weaver “This is the most important thing that I've learned, which is that when you're dealing with another culture, these people may speak a different language and they may look a little bit different than you but their thoughts and their emotions are virtually the same.” - Karl Weaver Resources: Ways to connect with Karl Weaver: Website: LinkedIn: Ways to Connect with Howard Whiteson: Website: Podcast: LinkedIn: /episode/index/show/wealthwithoutborders/id/18615773

Build the Solution to Your Own Problem with Jay Thornhill 03/29/2021

Build the Solution to Your Own Problem with Jay Thornhill Can’t think of a business to start in China? Are you interested in creating a company in China? Finding a business idea that ticks with the market is sometimes a hard thing to do. Look into the problem you face yourself and find a solution that no one has done yet. Jay Thornhill is the Co-Founder and Head of Product Development for Baopals. Baopals (baopals.com) was launched in March 2016 and opened the gates to Taobao, Tmall and JD for non-Chinese. Over 3.7 million products have been purchased on Baopals in 4 years, and the co-founders are the only foreigners ever awarded "Top 10 Up-And-Coming Entrepreneurs" by the Shanghai government. In this episode, Jay Thornhill shares how, from his own challenges of dealing with an inconvenient and non-enjoyable shopping experience, he found a solution and made a business out of it. That way, he not only made shopping easy and fun for himself but other non-Chinese people too. What you will learn from this episode: Find the easy way to navigate Chinese platforms and shop conveniently in China, even if you are non-Chinese Discover where people get what they want, or get their money back and get the same type of response and communication every time from the team behind the platform Find out what you should do if you want to start a business in China so you won’t get bogged down with all the legalities “Focus on solving a problem that you face personally, and make sure it's a problem that other people haven't solved already. That's when you're really on to something. And don't get bogged down too much in the kind of legality of it and worried about all the formal setup you need.” - Jay Thornhill Topics Covered: 01:50 - Making it easy for people who don't know how to navigate Chinese platforms to shop in China 02:32 - Making shopping on Chinese platforms for non-Chinese people easy and enjoyable 03:52 - How the language gap, communication issues, platform design and user interface cause problems for non-Chinese people in their shopping experience 05:16 - Why asking somebody else to buy for them on Chinese selling platforms is one mistake non-Chinese people are making 05:53 - One valuable free action is to discover good products and sellers in China here: 07:23 - A book that helped Jay deal with stress, pressure and the emotional roller coaster of having his own business: 08:19 - What should I do if I want to start my own business in China? Key Takeaways: “First, make sure you have a viable product that people really want and seek out honest feedback and criticism, so that you get on that right track. And then if you need help sorting the rest out later, go to our business services page and get in touch.” - Jay Thornhill “I think it's good for people to delve into the sphere of psychology and neuroscience because when the pressure hits and emotions flare up, you might say things or make decisions that you regret. And in business, that can be very costly.” - Jay Thornhill “If they want to discover good products and sellers in China, they can do that for free if they go to the Baopals blog, or they follow us on WeChat. And they could check out a section of our site called Discover where they can see what other expats in China are buying and collections they're creating and sharing on the platform.” - Jay Thornhill Resources: Ways to Connect with Jay Thornhill: Website: LinkedIn: Ways to Connect with Howard Whiteson: Website: Podcast: LinkedIn: /episode/index/show/wealthwithoutborders/id/18505895

Set Smart Goals; Achieve Balance; and Thrive with Tommaso Sora 03/22/2021

Set Smart Goals; Achieve Balance; and Thrive with Tommaso Sora How do you improve your process, position yourself better on the market, create a professional-looking presence online to impact sales? Not being able to do things the way it’s done in the digital world today gets you lost in the process. Finding technical solutions and understanding its framework will help achieve your goals and make your business thrive. Tommaso Sora is the founder and managing director of Sinaweb, a Shanghai-based digital web agency that develops Web and WeChat applications and solutions In China and for China. In this episode, Tommaso shares how he creats solutions through web applications to improve business processes, find new channels or ways to sell one’s product, or solve business problems for a more relevant digital presence. What you will learn from this episode: Learn about the technical solution and framework needed to improve the way things are done today in the digital world Find out how to articulate your value proposition by telling your story so people can resonate with you Discover one methodology that helps you get organized to have a clear idea of what you want to do and plan for the future “What are the small steps that we can take to put the pieces together, instead of just looking at an outside solution that we don't know very well. Needs to prepare a little bit before having a consultant that can then help you.” - Tommaso Sora Topics Covered: 01:36 - Catering to individuals or organizations who need a tailor-made or a package solution for web application processes 02:44 - Providing technical solutions or frameworks to improve the way things are done today 03:19 - How failure to tell their story despite having a great value proposition is a symptom of a client’s problem 04:24 - Mistakes clients usually do before consulting with Tommaso 05:00 - A valuable free action that can help solve the problem you have now: Stop for a moment and see what other resources are available instead of just looking at an outside solution that we don't know very well. 05:53 - The best way for Tommaso to meet people and talk about things 06:23 - How does the methodology of Getting Things Done [GTD] work Key Takeaways: “Sometimes if we're looking about improving a process, we're like finding new ways of doing things. The solution is easy, to see people that they want to change, but they're not really willing to take new steps to actually do it.” - Tommaso Sora “This way of methodology, Getting Things Done [GTD] increases productivity if done in the right way. It helps organize you as you take small steps, do things and feel satisfied with what you do because you achieve some goals.” - Tommaso Sora “I think it's important for everyone to have something, to have a tool that helps them to withstand the outside pressure of the world, then go from inside.” - Tommaso Sora “One advice I can give is to set your goals and be satisfied. Go and achieve and finish on time.” - Tommaso Sora Ways to Connect with Tommaso Sora: Website: LinkedIn: Ways to Connect with Howard Whiteson: Website: Podcast: LinkedIn: /episode/index/show/wealthwithoutborders/id/18419831

Through the Looking Glass: Experiences Working with Chinese Organizations with Sean Upton-McLaughlin 03/15/2021

Through the Looking Glass: Experiences Working with Chinese Organizations with Sean Upton-McLaughlin Many companies are now expanding overseas and it is challenging to adapt to a different market workwise and culturally. How then do you rise above this situation and come up with a win-win outcome? It's very important to build trust and camaraderie, as well as to actually understand the way the Chinese market and companies are handling their businesses and processes. That way you know what’s going on; you find and learn ways to adapt to the culture. Sean Upton-McLaughlin is a PR & Communications professional who specializes in working with foreign companies wishing to enter the Chinese market and Chinese companies looking to expand internationally. He has previously worked for Weber Shandwick, Huawei, and other Chinese tech firms. In this episode, Sean shares how you need to put in the time and effort to have face-to-face experiences, talking and being around Chinese people and the community. You can read as many books as you want but there is no substitute for having on-the-ground experience if you want to make it and thrive in China. What you will learn from this episode: Learn how to successfully expand your company globally without having to worry about adapting to a different culture Find out why, in addition to being on the ground in China, you also have to take the time to speak and interact with Chinese people face-to-face Learn how to look beyond your experiences and accomplishments and really put in the time and effort to know how things operate in the Chinese market “The thing that has been most impactful to my own experience is not just being on the ground in China, but taking the time to speak and interact with the Chinese people face to face, most simply talking to them at work and then going to their own community, going to dinners with them. There is no substitute for this.” - Sean Upton-McLaughlin Topics Covered: 02:04 - Who for him is an ideal client 02:12 - Helping bridge the working and cultural divide between China and the West 03:23 - How having rose-colored glasses won’t let you see a forest with trees on it 04:05 - Why trying and jumping on too directly and early into the Chinese market is one big mistake 04:57 - One valuable FREE action that will help you understand the Chinese market: Check out Sean’s articles on management difficulties in China on his website. Click here: 05:37- Useful organizations that will help you solve your problems concerning the Chinese market 06:41 - An impactful experience that helps him navigate the Chinese market and which he recommends everyone doing it 07:45 - Should Westerners think about working for Chinese companies, Chinese tech companies? Key Takeaways: “I help to connect both sides to help them see that they're both working towards the same goal and to find a way to maybe not do everything perfectly for one side or the other. But you make things work so that everybody can have a win-win outcome.” - Sean Upton-McLaughlin “Especially in the professional world, they are very experienced, they have many accomplishments, and they are often convinced that they are right, they will always be right. And that it's very hard for them to see past that hubris or experience. And if you have rose-colored glasses on, you can't see the forest for the trees in many cases.” - Sean Upton-McLaughlin “What often is a very big problem is that if you are unable to be on the ground in China. It's very hard to kind of make that cultural leap. And so, starting off by being members of Chamber of Commerce, whether actually through the organization or groups on LinkedIn or other places. That is a very good way to get your toes wet and to start hearing experiences from people who have been working in the Chinese market in this example, for a number of years.” - Sean Upton-McLaughlin “You can read as many books as you want. But unless you have that experience yourself, there really is no substitute.” - Sean Upton-McLaughlin “We see many companies now expanding overseas, but people might worry about whether or not they could make it in that culture. It does take a lot of commitment. It is not for everyone. But there is, I think, an enormous opportunity for those with the drive and the interest to try and figure out what's happening with these Chinese companies.” - Sean Upton-McLaughlin Ways to Connect with Sean Upton-McLaughlin: Website: LinkedIn: Ways to Connect with Howard Whiteson: Website: Podcast: LinkedIn: /episode/index/show/wealthwithoutborders/id/18327962

Talent Fishers - How to Hire the Right Talents in China and Asia with Fabien Guerin 03/08/2021

Talent Fishers - How to Hire the Right Talents in China and Asia with Fabien Guerin In addition to looking at job descriptions and resumes, how do you find not just the best but the right talent for your organization? Optimizing your chances to hire for the long-term requires the essential steps of preparing, planning, writing a script, and enjoying the interview. Fabien Guerin is the Founder & CEO of Talent Fishers with Executive Search in China and with six offices in China. In this episode, Fabien talks about how it is important to know who you are as a company, define your HR brand and value proposition so you hire the right talent that will benefit the company long-term. What you will learn from this episode: Learn how to hire talent that brings value beyond looking at the competitors and the job description Find out why you need to objectively sell your organization to the right talent Discover how to have valuable time in the interview to find and search for the right talent “Knowing who you are is extremely important. If you don't objectively sell your organization, then the person is going to join for the wrong reasons.” - Fabien Guerin Topics Covered: 01:34 - Who are his ideal clients 02:28 - Questions that need to be asked to uncover the problem that needs to be solved 03:25 - How lack of vision and unity in the organization presents symptoms of the company’s problem 04:24 - Why knowing who you are is extremely important 05:00 - One valuable free action that helps solve client’s problem: prepare, plan, write a script and enjoy the interview 06:00 - The need to define your HR brand and your value proposition 06:47 - What’s the reason for creating Talent Fishers? 07:46 - Why is it so important to invest enough time, resources, energy and money to select a non-transactional search partner with a consultative approach? Key Takeaways: “A lot of people think that our job is actually to type a few keywords in the database, extract a couple of resumes, give a call and then pray that everything is going to go well. It's much more than that, there’s actually much more value to add to the process. If you don't fish for talent properly, it doesn't work.” - Fabien Guerin “The key issue is actually to rely on a team for what we're looking for and what's relevant as well as to focus on what they will get from the talent.” - Fabien Guerin “You need to prepare; you need to plan scripts. You need to be organized if you want to have a valuable experience during an interview, you need to have as much time to prepare as the time you spend with candidates.” - Fabien Guerin “The key is to define what's your HR brand? What's your proposition? And then you're ready to go.” - Fabien Guerin “You have to be ready, don't take chances, prepare, know who you are, sell, search for the right talents, and then you're going to find the right people for long-term.” - Fabien Guerin “You need to optimize your chances. It is not hiring for tomorrow, it's hiring for the long-term and to benefit the whole organization.” - Fabien Guerin Ways to Connect with Fabien Guerin: Website: LinkedIn: Ways to Connect with Howard Whiteson: Website: Podcast: LinkedIn: /episode/index/show/wealthwithoutborders/id/18230900

Teaching Chinese Culture from the Outside In with Nic Doering and AJ Donnelly 03/01/2021

Teaching Chinese Culture from the Outside In with Nic Doering and AJ Donnelly China is one of the challenging countries to get into. The same speaks truly of the Chinese culture. What benefit would you gain from learning the Chinese culture and tradition? Understanding and learning them improves your way of life and impacts greatly the way you connect and relate with people every day. Nic Doering and AJ Donnelly are the British husband and wife team who co-founded Cultural Keys Chinese Culture Centre, a Beijing-based start-up that teaches traditional Chinese culture to companies and individuals. In this episode, Nic and AJ share their experiences -- both the bad and the good-- living in a challenging country like China. Here, you get to take a glean on how they are making a good time, turning around those difficult situations into opportunities for learning and growth. The mindset they displayed shows a lot of the qualities needed of someone living in a foreign place. That there’s no reason to complain, that it’s better to come from a place of humbleness, of curiosity, and willingness to learn so you have that worthwhile experience of things surrounding you. Most importantly, learn to smile, it always goes a long way. And that, believe there is always a way, there surely is, no matter what your best way is. What you will learn from this episode: Find out helpful ways you can explore, enjoy, and embrace the Chinese culture and be a successful ex-pat in a challenging country like China Find out the positive qualities to imbibe as ex-pats to get you through the day and treat any difficult situation as an opportunity to learn and be appreciative of the place you are in Learn how to have that leap of faith that no matter what, there will always be people who are willing to help and things will turn out well in the end “Chinese culture is the most important thing to me. And that's the basis of how I live my life and what we do with our company. We try to let people understand the value that is in traditional Chinese culture and how it can improve their lives.” - Nic Doering and AJ Donnelly Topics Covered: 01:47 - How Nic came to Beijing 02:26 - AJ recalling how he came and stayed in China 03:30 - Nic comparing Beijing from the place she used to live in the personal and business perspectives 04:06 - Having the convenience of the city just an hour away and a slower more traditional pace and aspect of life in the suburb 05:59 - What gives AJ the idea of starting Cultural Keys 08:33 - How is it like coping with being far away from their place of origin 10:27 - Ways you can be a successful ex-pat in China 12:16 - What to them are the advantages and disadvantages of being an ex-pat 14:53 - How having faith in people turn around difficult situations while living in China for many years 15:59 - There is always a way -- no matter what the best way for you 17:43 - An inconvenient but funny experience they went through as a couple 20:08 - AJ’s funny experience -- mistakenly took what he said as terrorist for a tourist with him arrested for questioning 23:25 - Why Nic would keep a diary if she’s given the chance to go back when she first started in China 25:45 - What's the value in learning Chinese culture? Key Takeaways: “You live in Beijing city, you're part of that metropolis, that city life. Out here, we have the convenience of the city as an hour down the road but we also have that slower pace of life, and more traditional aspects of life living out here.” - AJ Donnelly “I really want to do something, to help people understand more about China, to access China, because I'm a big believer in the idea that if you understand the culture if you understand the history, you understand the people in the modern world better.” - AJ Donnelly “If you know where you want to go, if you know what you want to achieve, you will find a way to do it. Never believe that there is no way. There sure is.” - AJ Donnelly “I think I wish I'd learned the language before I moved here. That would have made my life infinitely different. I would never have had to rely on other people. And I would always have known what was going on and I think I would have settled in much, much quicker if I'd had the language sooner.” - AJ Donnelly “I would say it's the ability to accept the unpredictable, you can't be afraid of just totally random things, particularly in China. I think that's the key to surviving in a place like China.” - Nic Doering “I think for me, it would be, you know, write things down as a diary or whatever and take more photos. Because I think it's always interesting to sort of look back and see, not only what decisions you made because you probably remember what you decided to do, but you might not remember why you made that decision.” - Nic Doering “I think, in any new situation, it requires a leap of faith, and the vast majority of times it is going to work out for you. Maybe not in the way you thought, but it will.” - Nic Doering Ways to Connect with Nic Doering and AJ Donnelly: Website: LinkedIn: Twitter: Instagram: Facebook: Ways to Connect with Howard Whiteson: Website: Podcast: LinkedIn: /episode/index/show/wealthwithoutborders/id/18135485

How to Go Further Faster with Raquel Ramirez 02/22/2021

How to Go Further Faster with Raquel Ramirez More than the challenges and limitations we talk about women these days, how do we encourage women to take concrete steps to be more intentional and strategic in their growth and achieving their goals? We say, vouch for her, recommend her, speak well of her, and encourage her to be bold to take those steps to invest in herself. Raquel Ramirez has an 18-year background in the public, private and international sectors, including prominent roles held in the Mexican Foreign Ministry to the United Nations. She is known as a keynote speaker globally, including in the USA, Mexico, Switzerland, and China. In this episode, Raquel shares that women can achieve more beyond their expectations. With the right insight, support, and guidance, they can take on more risks to be more relevant to the community. That women hold power within them to make significant contributions to the world. And more importantly, that they will likely more to succeed if they invest and bet on themselves. What you will learn from this episode: Find out what mistakes women mostly commit so they know how to get clear on their strengths and talents so they likely succeed faster Find out valuable resources for more women support and uplifting for them to be able to succeed in a much faster way Learn how women can create an impression of being confident and having something of value and importance to say “The fundamental ground to build on is self-awareness. Just know that your mistakes don't define you; the lessons do.” - Raquel Ramirez Topics Covered: 01:45 - What for her is an ideal client? 02:07 - The problem that Raquel responds to: The gap between what women are achieving today and what women can be achieving. 03:24 - Symptoms of the problem women find themselves in: Women are feeling overwhelmed, unseen, unheard, a lot of times unsupported, or with the lack of having strategies on how to achieve their goals. 04:06 - Mistakes she believes women do: Not asking for help, being afraid to be vulnerable, but ultimately, and more fundamentally, not actively seeking a mentor or a coach. 04:46 - What consolidating self-awareness can do to start solving women’s problems. 05:24 - A three-day FREE masterclass you can look forward to in December entitled ‘How To Get the Top Six Skills in Order to Improve your Career.' Visit here: https://sites.google.com/view/rrconsultingforher/career-master-program 06:00 - Quintuple-packed value of resources to make women achieve faster in their goals 07:51 - One meaningful piece of advice she has for women: I encourage women to become aware of their patterns and their power to choose a different way to respond to the different situations they face. Key Takeaways: “When women are trying to solve problems on their own, I view it as taking the slower path. I believe that one of the mistakes is not asking for help, being afraid to be vulnerable, but ultimately, and more fundamentally, the mistake of not actively seeking a mentor or a coach.” - Raquel Ramirez “The beginning of solving this problem is consolidating a self-awareness. I encourage people to get clear on their strengths and talents and start holding them today.” - Raquel Ramirez “How do we as women make our presence felt in different conference rooms? Be ready to be between the first and the third person to speak when you're in the meeting because this creates an impression of being confident and having something of value and importance to say.” - Raquel Ramirez “I truly believe in the impact that using affirmations in overcoming our difficulties can do.” - Raquel Ramirez Resources: A three-day FREE masterclass you can look forward to in December entitled ‘How To Get the Top Six Skills in Order to Improve your Career.' Visit here: For powerful, scientifically validated personality tests to help you grow and find your way in life, click here: Book Resource: Ways to Connect with Raquel Ramirez: Website: Facebook: Instagram: Ways to Connect with Howard Whiteson: Website: Podcast: LinkedIn: /episode/index/show/wealthwithoutborders/id/18039767

China Blonde with Nicole Webb 02/15/2021

China Blonde with Nicole Webb We know for a fact that moving to a new place, a different country is no breeze at all. How much more if you’re a trailblazer spouse/partner who got no job, stays home, takes care of the kids and supports the spouse? How do you face the challenges brought about by moving into a new country like China? Find your tribe and stretch out of your comfort zone. Going to places you wouldn’t normally go will help you change perspective. Hailing from the land of the long white cloud, New Zealand, Nicole Webb moved to Australia as a teenager with her family. There she went on to pursue her dream of becoming a television journalist and newsreader with Sky News. She then moved to HK in 2010 and to China in 2014. In this episode, Nicole shares how she identifies herself with trailblazer spouses and partners -- the struggles and tribulations they face when moving to a new place like China. She attributes loneliness and loss of identity as among the challenges facing these trailblazers. She’s not without ways and means to find a solution to this dilemma with her own experience. And she counts social media as the one big factor in connecting with other like-minded people. And that it’s important to give it [adjustment] the time it deserves. What you will learn from this episode: Learn how to be a confident trailblazer spouse or partner who is secure in the thought that she has a lot to contribute to her new-found community and the world at large Find out ways to connect with like-minded human beings who are also trailblazers looking for important necessities Learn how to find your purpose when moving into a new place so you won’t lose your identity “Often, I think it can seem quite an insurmountable task when you arrive in a place like China, you are out there on your own and, your spouse is off to work doing what he or she does. It takes time and to really give it the time it deserves. It can be an incredibly enriching and lasting experience, and often even a better one for the trailblazer.” - Nicole Webb Topics Covered: 01:53 - Nicole defines who her ideal client is 02:57 - She shares the need for spouses or partners to take the time it deserves to settle in and find their feet in a new place like China 04:00 - Why loneliness becomes a symptom of the problem for the trailblazers 04:54 - Giving her thoughts on spouses trying to pigeonhole themselves into a certain box which shouldn’t be the case 05:54 - One actionable tip you can do to help solve a trailblazer’s problem: Find your tribe and step out of your comfort zone. 06:32 - One valuable free resource that can help a trailblazer spouse find her place in her new-found community in China: Facebook group - Shanghai Mommies 07:22 - Talking about her blog, ‘Welcome Musings in Hongkong’ that connected her to a lot of other expats 08:10 - One great resource for anyone moving to China: Key Takeaways: “I think as an ex-pat, social media is something that can connect you with people all over the world that are in similar shoes to you.” - Nicole Webb “I started an ex-pat blog, ‘Welcome Musings in Hong Kong’. And I think that just helped to connect me with people from all over the world as well.” - Nicole Webb “China Blonde, I think would be a very great resource for anyone who's thinking about moving to China, or anyone who's thinking about moving anywhere out of their comfort zone, for that matter, because it takes you through all of those trials and tribulations of moving from your beloved country and setting up in a new country.” - Nicole Webb “I think what I'd like to say on help solve is just to remember that it takes time to settle in and time to find your feet.” - Nicole Webb “One of the problems is that we often try to pigeonhole ourselves into a certain box, which is what I did as well as a newsreader. I thought that's kind of all I am. And you forget what you have done over the last 10 or 20 years and what makes up you as a whole. And that can be so many other things besides that work title that perhaps you've been in the past.” -Nicole Webb Resources: One great resource for anyone moving to China: Ways to Connect with Nicole Webb: LinkedIn: Ways to Connect with Howard Whiteson: Website: Podcast: LinkedIn: /episode/index/show/wealthwithoutborders/id/17948870

The High Cost of Transition with Jerry Jones 02/08/2021

The High Cost of Transition with Jerry Jones There are challenges other than being expensive in bringing people from different places and making them do one thing. How do you then uncover the hidden cost and reduce it to get your resources, energy, and time to more meaningful investments? Hiring qualified people is helpful. And it is best to tap into your current pool of talents to avoid dealing with adaptation issues. The concept of ‘divide and conquer’ comes in handy in this regard. Jerry Jones is a Leader, trainer, coach, consultant, and communicator whose passion is partnering with people to do their thing better. He has worked with entrepreneurs, global educators, executive leadership, trainers, teachers, coaches, families, and individuals who have a vision for what could be but struggle to get there in both professional and personal capacity. In this episode, Jerry talks about how challenging it is to deal with transient organizations. To seemingly solve the problem, they try to provide perks and fancy things to their people which don’t help as problems are beneath the surface; that’s where they failed to look into. Jerry shares how he peels off the layers where hidden costs are found and help reduce it to lessen the cost of doing international business. What you will learn from this episode: Find out the common transition problems so you learn to channel your money, resources, energy, and time to the right investments and people Learn how to hire qualified people so as to avoid problems of adaptation all over again Find out the concept of ‘divide and conquer’ to help you create a solid plan and move forward “It's taxing to bring people from different places and to get them to try to do one thing. And so, I tried to uncover what those costs are, whatever they are, and reduce them.” - Jerry Jones Topics Covered: 01:46 - Jerry defines his ideal clients 02:22 - Robert shares about the problem his clients encounter and which he helps solve 03:28 - How miscommunication and mistrust add up to the symptoms in the transition problem 04:26 - What people do wrong in trying to solve problems on their own and before consulting Jerry 05:04 - Jerry sharing his thoughts about the ‘wrong-end investment’ 06:32 - Free resource to help you deal with transition problems. Head over to 07:15 - Jerry sharing the concept of ‘divide and conquer’ 08:01 - How can people connect with their people? Key Takeaways: “It's taxing to bring people from different places and to get them to try to do one thing. And so, I try to uncover what those costs are, whatever they are, and reduce them.” - Jerry Jones “They think that if they give more perks or more fancy things along the way that it'll take care of people's problems, but the problems are really beneath the surface. And that doesn't help.” - Jerry Jones “They're investing a lot of money, energy, time resources into people who haven't been through the process of adjustment and adapting yet. And if they would move that investment to the other end and really invest in the people that they already have, it's a much higher return.” - Jerry Jones Resources: Free resource to help you deal with transition problems. Head over to Ways to Connect with Jerry Jones: LinkedIn: Ways to Connect with Howard Whiteson: Website: Podcast: LinkedIn: /episode/index/show/wealthwithoutborders/id/17862476

How to FLEXPAT Your Career - Choose Jobs Abroad You Enjoy with Francis Kremer 02/01/2021

How to FLEXPAT Your Career - Choose Jobs Abroad You Enjoy with Francis Kremer How do you navigate a new place with the language barrier and cultural differences being a possible hindrance? How do you thrive and become successful in living and working as a flexpat in a foreign country like China? Flexibility and open-mindedness to the possibility of what China has to offer give you an edge to enjoy your stay there. Sure, there are sacrifices to be made as you are away from family and home. But being positive about the good life the new place can offer makes one appreciate staying in China. Francis Kremer is an expert in sales, the latest manifestation of which is as the Sales Director in the Chinese Electric Vehicles (EV) market, a massive part of the automotive industry. His role is to make a Chinese company truly international in scope. In this episode, Francis talks about how everyone was apprehensive about his decision to become a sales guy in China. Undeterred, he pushed through with it—four years in China and no signs of regret on his part. Although he has made China his home, it is not without struggles to be living there. He’s got plenty of tips on how he dealt with challenges at work, his personal life, and his everyday life in China. He also made known what a flexpat is and the qualities one should possess to make it in a foreign land. What you will learn from this episode: Learn to look through the lens of positivity and find inspiration in the littlest of ways to see you through the day Learn how to be open-minded, have the initiative, and become resourceful when faced with problems while working in China Get an insider’s tip on what to expect when living and working in China “It’s very important that you should be a master in your skill, you should have something that you can bring to the table that you can do better than anyone else.” - Francis Kremer Topics Covered: 01:46 - What made Francis decide to be an expat 03:25 - What endeared him to be living and working in China 05:06 - How does he deal with being away from family and home 07:06 - What important qualities an expat should have to thrive in China 08:47 - Francis shares how different a holiday experience is in China compared to Europe 13:16 - How does he define a flexpat 17:42 - What the future looks like for flexpats with the onset of the virtual trend 22:40 - Sharing happy experiences he has around China 25:02 - Why he would have wanted to come to China earlier Key Takeaways: “I really enjoy being in China and to feel this development that people do something from scratch and they enjoy it.” - Francis Kremer “Whenever I think that I'm far away from home, I think, well, this is my home, and I take my family with me.” - Francis Kremer “What I learned from myself is to understand, okay, something's work differently than I thought. And I have to cope with it somehow, and nobody's going to help me. I have to get it done.” - Francis Kremer “Currently, it's a very comfortable situation, because I'm an expat, well-paid, and with a low cost of living in China. Not sure if this stays this way. But I think there will be a change in this industry; there will be many opportunities for people who want to try it. But they will not be in a position to sell themselves as the very kind of small species that wants to be well-paid and well-treated with everything with what is associated with an expat job.” Francis Kremer Ways to Connect with Francis Kremer: Website: LinkedIn: Ways to Connect with Howard Whiteson: Website: Podcast: LinkedIn: /episode/index/show/wealthwithoutborders/id/17771987

Your Mindset Matters 2020 with John Peck 01/25/2021

Your Mindset Matters 2020 with John Peck How can changing your mindset change your way of living, way of working and way of creating your future? Breaking through the glass ceiling and shifting paradigms may be a hard thing to do, but it’s never impossible. Your mindset matters. And when changing your mindset for the better, you must remember your future rather than your past. You must keep moving forward and break the shackles that are limiting you from growing and allowing positive change into your life and work. John Peck is a lifelong trainer and coach, from martial arts to mindset. He teaches audiences throughout Europe and Asia a comprehensive process of transformative mental paradigm shift. Through his remarkable system, John facilitates positive, profound and permanent change in any area of your life. In this episode, John shares how you can break through the glass ceiling and change your mindset through the help of coaches. He also reminds us to remember our future rather than our past. What you will learn from this episode: Discover how to shift paradigms and change your mindset Learn why remembering your future is important and better than remembering your past Know more about how to break through the glass ceilings in your life and welcome change “Remember your future because people spend most of their time remembering their past.” - John Peck Topics Covered: 02:02 - John defines his ideal client 02:31 - Breaking through the glass ceilings, the areas in your life where you feel stuck is the problem John helps solve for his client 03:06 - Typical symptoms clients experience: Frustration or anger in the office or at home 03:59 - Why trying to go through it and do it alone is the biggest mistake you can make? 05:10 - John’s valuable free action: “Remember your future because people spend most of their time remembering their past. And I help people pivot to begin to see themselves in their future because the body, as an expression of the subconscious mind, and our subconscious mind doesn't know the difference between the past, present and the future.” 06:29 - John’s valuable free resource: Go to to register for John’s webinar 07:14 - Books Alert: 08:33 - Question that should have been asked to John: “How do I shift my paradigm and shift my disempowering paradigms into empowering ones?” Key Takeaways: “As you are creating future memories, so you create your future memories. It’s a type of goal setting and visualization but you create a future memory, and then you begin to repeat that memory every day instead of repeating the old things from the past.” - John Peck “Most people gather information, and information does not lead to transformation. If information changed our lives, we'd all be thin, healthy, wise and rich.” - John Peck “‘How do I shift my paradigm?’ is the question and: ‘How to shift my disempowering paradigms into empowering ones?’ And the answer to those questions is basically you need a coach to be able to do that because we're not aware of everything that we're perceiving.” - John Peck People / Resources Mentioned: Ways to Connect with John Peck: Website: LinkedIn: Ways to Connect with Howard Whiteson: Website: Podcast: LinkedIn: /episode/index/show/wealthwithoutborders/id/17677061

How You Can Start Selling in China with Confidence When You Have No Experience and Limited Budget with Heidi Dugan 01/18/2021

How You Can Start Selling in China with Confidence When You Have No Experience and Limited Budget with Heidi Dugan Do you want to expand your market to China but don’t know the basics of Chinese business culture? Are you confident with your sales strategies for China? Do you want to know how you can successfully sell in China? Heidi Dugan is a TV host, celebrity, author, entrepreneur, and China Market Expert. These are the terms often used to describe her. Having lived and worked in China for over 24 years, she has her own TV show with 6 million viewers daily and is Director and Founder of Arete Group, which helps foreign companies expand and succeed in China. Her influence across China has been recognized through her coverage on ABC News, Australian Financial Review, Harper’s Bazaar, and China Daily. Heidi was recognized by the Australian Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade as one of the 45 people who represent the breadth and depth of the friendship between Australia and China. In this episode, Heidi shares her insights on the importance and benefits of having a clear and planned pathway in expanding your market to China. She also talks about how cultural understanding and continuous business learning is important as well in expanding your market, specifically in China. What you will learn from this episode: Learn how to expand your business in China even with no knowledge Discover the reality of Chinese business culture and remove any false expectations Know more about what stage you are at and what you should do if you want to expand to China “We erase people's doubts and concerns, give them absolute clarity on how they can enter one of the biggest markets in the world. And basically, we help them succeed.” - Heidi Dugan Topics Covered: 02:41 - Heidi defines her ideal client 03:16 - Problems that Heidi solves for her client: Erase doubts and concerns, and give absolute clarity 04:00 - Fear due to lack of knowledge, unsuccessful stories, and false expectations are some of the symptoms 05:02 - Being paralyzed and confused or jumping into things with no knowledge, two common mistakes when trying to solve the problem 06:50 - Heidi’s valuable free action: “I think advice is what people need. And so, if they go to the website , they can log in and select a 15-minute call with me. I can go through things, see if they're ready, and see what stage they're actually at.” 07:24 - Heidi’s Valuable free resource: Go to to download Heidi’s tool 08:16 - Books Alert: , , and 09:32 - Question that should have been asked to Heidi: What is the next thing that people should do, besides getting the 15-minute phone call and the download? Key Takeaways: “China as a market is incredibly confusing. So, people have this sort of confusion of, "Where should we start? What should we do?" And then they also have a real fear of it because of their feeling of a lack of knowledge, and also some of the stories that they may have heard from other people that perhaps were not that successful.” - Heidi Dugan “When people come to the China market, because they don't know the culture and the market, they think, ‘Well, we don't know anything.’ And what happens in those circumstances, they put all good business knowledge to the side, and they do some really silly things, like handing their brand, even their product over to someone they don't know, to let strangers market them to China.” - Heidi Dugan People / Resources Mentioned: Ways to Connect with Heidi Dugan: Website: LinkedIn: WeChat: HeidiDugan Ways to Connect with Howard Whiteson: Website: Podcast: LinkedIn: /episode/index/show/wealthwithoutborders/id/17589788

Making Business People Look Like Superstars with Una Zhu 01/11/2021

Making Business People Look Like Superstars with Una Zhu Are you struggling to find the perfect photo as your profile picture? Are you stuck with a casual, not-so-professional, and cropped out photo of yourself? Does it even portray the true you and the potential you behold? Do you think you will be able to get an awesome first impression on your clients with that? Professionalism and new connections start with the right profile picture. For others to see your potential, you must show them a face that carries passion, power, and authenticity. How can you expect to attract more clients and make good first impressions if your headshot does not speak about who you truly are? Una Zhu is a portrait photographer who focuses on business portraits. She specializes in relaxing people so their true personality can shine through! In this episode, Una shares the importance of a professional headshot and how it is the key to important first impressions and getting potential clients. What you will learn from this episode: Discover how to look more professional in your profile picture and at the same time, show your authenticity Learn more about how communication can happen through the use of a proper profile picture Find out how to attract more potential clients and make long-lasting important first impressions through a picture “I believe the headshot makes us real in the virtual worlds.” - Una Zhu Topics Covered: 01:40 - Una defines her ideal client 01:55 - Problems that Una solves for her clients: lack of professionalism and bad first impression through the use of profile pictures or headshots 02:48 - The importance of a professional headshot, why you shouldn’t undermine the power of a profile picture 03:47 - Professionalism and potential in a headshot, how finding the right photographer is a necessity to show yourself and your business 04:58 - Una’s valuable free action: “You know what we can do is just simply going through the media and the company website to see if those existing photos core represent yourself truly and professionally. We are taking our career seriously, and the fact if you're willing to invest in a quality professional image shows that you also invest in your education, career, and personal development. So, I believe that professional headshots give your prospects an idea of how you will represent them in the care you’re, well, taking, and meeting their needs.” 05:43 - Una’s valuable free resource: Go to 06:30 - Concept alert: What is actually the fundamental of beauty to life? 07:24 - Question that should have been asked to Una: What makes me become a portrait photographer? Key Takeaways: “The use of the photo profiles has become as usual as actually email addresses, and professionals who deal with clients and shareholders, in particular, need the right photos to help them to establish the very important first impressions on, you know, social media.” - Una Zhu “Choosing the right photographer who can really portray you authentically is important.” - Una Zhu “I believe that professional headshots give your prospects an idea of how you will represent them in the care you’re, well, taking, and meeting their needs.” - Una Zhu “It's a question that keeps recording in my mind, so I started to revalue what I’m really interested in, and human emotions are always intriguing to me. I want to freeze the moment of a smile, a laugh, a sense of realness of how you will see this person face to face.” - Una Zhu Ways to Connect with Una Zhu: Website: LinkedIn: Ways to Connect with Howard Whiteson: Website: Podcast: LinkedIn: /episode/index/show/wealthwithoutborders/id/17496521

Breaking the Wall of Assumption to Build a Force of Understanding with Valérie Hoeks 12/14/2020

Breaking the Wall of Assumption to Build a Force of Understanding with Valérie Hoeks Are you sure you’re on the right track with your joint venture with the Chinese? How sure are you that you really know what you’re doing? Are you starting to have problems understanding the Chinese or are you just putting those problems under the rug? Collaborating with the Chinese unlocks a new world full of possibilities, more leads, and higher sales. Though it may sound exciting, you wouldn’t want to get on the wrong side of it. How should you deal with joint ventures with the Chinese? Do they have the same perspectives as the Europeans have? Before diving into and committing your time and business to a joint venture or collaboration with the Chinese, it is important to understand the similarities and differences of both parties. Change and difference are unavoidable. Break the barriers. Break the walls, and build a force of mutual understanding, and connection in order to achieve a fruitful collaboration. Valérie Hoeks is a seasoned sinologist. She supports management teams throughout intercultural integration processes in post-M&A and JV scenarios in finding strategic and practical alignment among managers. In this episode, Valérie talks about the value of understanding the differences between how the Chinese run a business from how Europeans do it. She shares her insights as well on how you can run a better connection with your Chinese partners through mutual understanding and communication. What you will learn from this episode: Discover the importance of being aware of different perspectives in a joint venture Learn how you can improve internal commitment and support from your team and counterpart Find out how to deal with the cultural and work differences of the Chinese from the Europeans “You can break through that wall, the only thing you need is time to establish a connection and a true effort of mutual understanding.” - Valérie Hoeks Topics Covered: 01:44 - Valérie defines her ideal client 03:07 - Problems Valérie solves for her clients: Inability to understand the Chinese counterpart and lack of alignment and communication 04:10 - Frustration, disbelief, and doubt, why understanding the counterpart and good communication is needed in avoiding the bad scenarios 05:10 - Closemindedness, and sticking to one’s perspective is one of the common mistakes 06:26 - Valérie’s valuable free action: “I believe communication is a make or break of the Chinese collaboration. So, without a structural communication setup, all efforts taken prior to the step may be lost. So, this setup is for free, right. So, to better understand the interests of your Chinese counterpart, and related parties, and together and maintain support for your proposals, it's really crucial to ask the right questions and read between the lines.” 07:30 - Valérie’s valuable free resource: Go to to know more about how you can break the walls of assumption in your business 08:23 - Person Alert: 08:58 - Question that should have been asked to Valérie: Why should we change? Are the Chinese people also willing to change? Key Takeaways: “I believe communication is a make or break of the Chinese collaboration. So, without a structural communication setup, all efforts taken prior to the step may be lost.” - Valérie Hoeks “So, to better understand the interests of your Chinese counterpart, and related parties, and together maintain support for your proposals, it's really crucial to ask the right questions and read between the lines.” - Valérie Hoeks “I believe that awareness of the different perspectives is really the first step towards a successful collaboration.” - Valérie Hoeks People/Resources Mentioned: Ways to Connect with Valérie Hoeks: Website: LinkedIn: Ways to Connect with Howard Whiteson: Website: Podcast: LinkedIn: /episode/index/show/wealthwithoutborders/id/17199824

The Wealth Generating Secrets of LinkedIn in China with Tamar Hela 12/07/2020

The Wealth Generating Secrets of LinkedIn in China with Tamar Hela How well do you know the online world? How sure are you that your marketing strategy online is working successfully? Are you making the most out of it or are you all over the place and not getting enough leads from it? We are in the so-called “digital renaissance” now because of the big change the pandemic has brought upon us and our businesses. Adjusting to the current situation is a must, but how can you make sure that you really are getting the most out of it online, especially in LinkedIn, the website that connects businesses to new opportunities and sales? Tamar Hela is an entrepreneur based in Shanghai and the COO of the digital agency, Genius Encel. She helps Fortune 500 companies generate leads through LinkedIn. In this episode, Tamar talks about how to maximize the use of LinkedIn in order to generate better leads and sales for your business. She also shares the importance of having a LinkedIn strategy to ensure that you are targeting the right clients who are able to get the most out of your business and pay you back! What you will learn from this episode: Learn how to generate more through LinkedIn Discover the power of having a LinkedIn strategy Find out how having a specific target and knowledge on who you’re prospecting can help your business gain more clients and sales “Marketing is never for fun. It's always for a purpose, and the purpose is the bottom line, which is money.” - Tamar Hela Topics Covered: 01:47 - Tamar defines her ideal client 02:19 - Problem Tamar solves for her clients: Lack of lead generation and inability to keep the sales funnel full 02:52 - Why understanding the true purpose of marketing and long-term thinking will help you save your business? 03:37 - Hiring an expert instead of doing it alone, how getting help from an expert in this digital renaissance is important 04:29 - Tamar’s valuable free action: “Be really specific with your targeting, and get to know who you're prospecting. It's almost like being an assassin online. If you can understand more about your target than anyone else and identify their pain points, and also show them how you're going to solve it, that's the best thing you can do.” 05:16 - Tamar’s valuable free resource: Go to to know more about LinkedIn and prospecting 05:53 - People Alert: and 07:13 - Question that should have been asked to Tamar: How did my agency had success? Key Takeaways: “Be really specific with your targeting, and get to know who you're prospecting.” - Tamar Hela “If you can understand more about your target than anyone else and identify their pain points, and also show them how you're going to solve it, that's the best thing you can do. Otherwise, again, it's just kind of here, there, everywhere without any sort of purpose. So be very purposeful in your targeting.” - Tamar Hela People/Resources Mentioned: Ways to Connect with Tamar Hela: Website: Blog: LinkedIn: Ways to Connect with Howard Whiteson: Website: Podcast: LinkedIn: /episode/index/show/wealthwithoutborders/id/17095097

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