China Myth Podcast

THE CHINESE HONEYMOON PERIOD highlights 10 Chinese cultural concepts that are widely misunderstood but essential for understanding HOW Chinese people think, WHY they behave the way they do, and HOW to create more positive communication patterns that lead to more constructive cooperation. Practical Definition:   信任  Xìnrèn is the level of trust in another person, while Truth-Default is the tenden...

THE CHINESE HONEYMOON PERIOD highlights 10 Chinese cultural concepts that are widely misunderstood but essential for understanding HOW Chinese people think, WHY they behave the way they do, and HOW to create more positive communication patterns that lead to more constructive cooperation. My Definition: Chinese instinctually feel opposing forces (陰陽 yīnyáng) create gray areas (灰 huī) to operate...

THE CHINESE HONEYMOON PERIOD highlights 10 Chinese cultural concepts that are widely misunderstood but essential for understanding HOW Chinese people think, WHY they behave the way they do, and HOW to create more positive communication patterns that lead to more constructive cooperation. My Definition: Liyi (利益 lìyì) is the perceived personal benefit(s) of deepening Guanxi. LinkedIn Post on Dece...

THE CHINESE HONEYMOON PERIOD highlights 10 Chinese cultural concepts that are widely misunderstood but essential for understanding HOW Chinese people think, WHY they behave the way they do, and HOW to create more positive communication patterns that lead to more constructive cooperation. My Definition: Guanxi (关系) is the relationship between two people that represent their expectations from each...

Listen to my conversation (just 3 minutes long) with Sophia about the best practices for negotiating with Chinese people, especially when they are non-committal. And leave me a question or comment. There is nothing more important in our world today than improving how we communicate and negotiate with Chinese people. https://www.genejhsu.com/chinamythpodcast

There is a "literal truth" and a "relative truth " with ALL THINGS CHINA.  Literally, NO ONE precisely knows what happened except Peng Shuai and her accused, Zhang Gaoli.  That said, you probably want to know what happened in "absolute terms" relative to Western values and the #METOO movement. However, it is also valuable to examine situations like these in the proper...

Replay of our Zoom Meetup on September 28, 2021 to celebrate the end of Season 1 of the China Myth Podcast -- 10 episodes to help you learn HOW Chinese people think, WHY they behave the way they do, and WHAT you can do to influence their behavior in a positive way. What Chinese cultural concepts build our foundation for playing and winning the China game, in other words, create new communication p...

How can you stop those frustrating circular conversations and prevent them from spiraling out of control? What is the best tactic to allow your Chinese partners to preserve Face when they are wrong or make mistakes, and why is preserving Face and giving them an offramp so important for your overall success in China? The final episode of Season 1 reminds you of the journey ahead, from the Chinese h...

Why do so many seasoned China veterans say, "China is a land of contradictions?" This episode walks you through the major emotional influences of Chinese 心态 (xīntài), which combined with knowing someone’s Liyi (利益) calculation is a recipe for success. Ultimately, this is where our advantage lies in doing business in China—deploying more positive imagination and purpose-driven curiosi...

How do you embrace another way of thinking when it is vastly different from your own? ANSWER = Decode their 心态 (xīntài) and reprogram your attitude In Chinese culture, 心态 (xīntài) goes beyond how someone thinks. It includes the state of their psyche and attitude toward how certain things make them feel based on the associated Face or Mianzi. A person's 心态 (xīntài) is an integral aspect...

In order to gain a complete picture of how Chinese feel, we need to understand the concept of 委屈 (wěiqu), which is how Chinese people feel whenever they perceive they have lost something of value. One of the many challenges foreigners face is A) sensing what might cause someone to feel 委屈 (wěiqu) or wronged and then B) deciding whether it is worth making an adjustment. Most foreigners, includi...

China is not homogenous, and there are no absolutes in anything we say or analyze about how Chinese people think and behave. Chinese state-owned enterprises (SOEs) represent a sizable demographic and reflect China’s Iron Rice Bowl Mentality, and it is a helpful contrast for understanding Chinese cultural dichotomies with the West. This episode also illustrates what every Chinese person has been co...

Chinese people will always figure out a way to compensate themselves for any missing goodwill from you, so we will introduce Jack, my first local channel partner in China who came in at the highest level of Guanxi and as trustworthy as they come. So how could this relationship sour, and what could have prevented Jack from lying, cheating, and stealing (Goodwill Extraction)? DOWNLOAD CHINA MYTH POD...

TRUTH is a Chinese cultural dichotomy with the West, as well as our tendency to trust strangers (Truth-Default). Learn how Richard used Art of War (AoW) misdirection to discredit me, and how his clandestine activities could have been identified and prevented. DOWNLOAD CHINA MYTH PODCAST LISTENER'S GUIDE https://www.genejhsu.com/chinamythpodcast-cheatsheet China Myth Podcast episodes are also...

Learn how I incorporated “Shanghai life” into my business, and hear the story of an arrogant Brit named Keith and how the power of Yin Yang Guanxi connections can change your fortunes in China. “To be successful in China, you need to manage the different shades of gray because nothing is black or white” - David Chang | China CEO | Philips China DOWNLOAD CHINA MYTH PODCAST LISTENER'S GUIDE htt...

In Chinese, there is a term called (利益 Lìyì) that Chinese people use to calculate how they will proceed in developing Guanxi with someone. This Liyi calculation affects everything, and understanding all its variables can help you solve your dilemmas in China. Listen to how each person’s Liyi calculation affects their behavior, boldness, and expectations. DOWNLOAD CHINA MYTH PODCAST LISTENER&apos...

Our story begins with Vincent as an example of how Guanxi is developed between two people who by default, don't have any hierarchical relationship, but Richard became my direct report before we'd ever even yet.  Discover what's happening beyond perceptions as Guanxi is being developed? What are some subtle signs that everything isn't as it appears, especially when you are in a...

Ever wonder WHY so many cross-cultural ventures in China lead to disappointment? And why are so many of us frustrated communicating with our Chinese counterparts, rather than enjoying the journey into this wonderful culture? I'm Gene Hsu, author of Solving CHINA's Unknown Unknowns and now host of the China Myth Podcast, and my MISSION is to show you how to Listen-In-Context to learn how...

https://chinamyth.buzzsprout.com Ever wonder how Guanxi relationships are developed? What's the motivating factor when a Chinese person extends you goodwill or gives you Face? And in what context does that even matter? When that little voice in your head often hurls you into a myopia-induced negative-self-fulfilling prophecy loop, these stories, concepts, and lessons will show you how to esca...

May 20, 2021, REPLAY RECORDING of Debunking the #1 China Myth Meetup Roundtable. Download China Myth Dilemma & Breakthru Challenge Workbook: https://www.genejhsu.com/chinamyth In the context of traveling to China as a foreigner to conduct business, you will likely receive plenty of advice and insights from various people and sources. So if most business leaders receive training and guidance to...

BONUS LESSON (The Buick Factor) from Solving CHINA's Unknown Unknowns that tells the real story of how I able to attain the resources to "play black and play white" (玩黑的或完白的) while living and working in China as an Expat. Buick cars have special historical significance in China, and a particular Buick car changed my understanding of doing business in China forever. Enroll Sol...

March 16, 2021 -- In case you missed it, here's a link to the replay video ( https://www.genejhsu.com/scuu1-workshop-replay ). Solving CHINA's Unknown Unknowns to Achieve Winning Outcomes is my contribution for improving our relationship with a rising China. The entire program will eventually be $1997, and the standalone online course is $197. But as I mentioned during the event, all ear...

One of the most common lead-in questions to any conversation is to ask WHY .  Sometimes we ask WHY out of curiosity, but at other times we need answers to vital questions. In business, we need clear answers to make decisions and take action, but this often triggers a circular conversation in China. So, why does this happen, and how do I get the answers I need if I can't ask WHY? Follow me on...

Doctor Strange's journey and initial struggle to master The Mystic Arts is a perfect analogy for foreigners entering China. For Strange , no amount of knowledge, talent, or past success provided even one iota of value in his new quest.  His past thinking and experience (his myopia) became his main obstacle. The Ancient One had to strand him at the North Pole and bring him close to death befor...

The most frustrating and challenging aspect of communicating and negotiating in China for most Westerners is dealing with CIRCULAR CONVERSATIONS. But once you understand its origins in the context of Chinese culture, your business objectives, and your emotional biases, you will also know how to reduce their length and ramifications. Follow me on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/genejhsu/ Join...