Change isn't easy, but it is the key to our future!

I spent last weekend to train 39 business executives in Tuy Hoa City in two topics, “Problem solving and decision making” and “The arts of business leadership.” At the beginning of the first course, class was divided into seven groups. Each of executive was asked to think about three problems they are facing at the workplaces and discussed with their group members to select the most critical single problem for the whole group to solve using new problem solving techniques. The first session went through with much of frustration from more than a haft of class members. Some participants told that they did not understand what the trainer wanted to do. However, the second session and the second course went well and everyone spoke highly about the courses after all. We are talking about educational reforms to change the ways we run our work. However, change isn’t easy! I trained people what I was taught from American business school. I hope that I will do more teaching work to lead change, to transform Vietnamese business communities. Change is the key to our future!

Living styles

Mr. Tran Hoang Bao, lecturer of the Ho Chi Minh City University of Economics said,"Vietkieu who grew up in the North the Central and the South have different questions when they firstly landed in Vietnam. A Northerner Vietkieu would ask about investment opportunities, a Central Vietkieu would ask about houses of relatives and tombs of ancestors. But, a Southerner Vietkieu would ask where are fun places or delicious restaurants.

Confucianism, Taoism and Management - Click here to view it on Saigon Economics Time

KHỔNG, LÃO và QUẢN LÝ

Tạp chí Fortune trong số ra hồi trung tuần tháng Ba đã có một loạt bài tìm hiểu những bí mật sử dụng thời gian nhằm thực hiện công việc một cách hiệu quả, đạt được sự nghiệp chính trị hay kinh doanh lẫy lừng của một số các nhà lãnh đạo chính trị và các nhà quản lý danh tiếng như Thượng Nghị sĩ John McCain, Chủ tịch Công ty Starbucks Howard Schultz, Tổng giám đốc Nissan và Renault Carlos Ghosn, Tổng giám đốc Goldman Sachs Hank Paulson…. Sự đúc kết đơn giản đến bất ngờ: Để có được sự vĩ đại, mỗi người chúng ta luôn phải tự hỏi mình: Nhiệm vụ công việc của ta nhằm đạt được điều gì? Ta thật sự sử dụng thời gian của mình vào việc gì? Và cuối cùng, ta đã ngộ được vô vi chưa? Suy gẫm mới hay những nhà quản lý danh tiếng nêu trên thành công nhờ áp dụng triết lý Khổng Tử và Lão Tử vào trong sự nghiệp kinh doanh của mình!

Nhiệm vụ công việc của bạn nhằm đạt được điều gì?

Từ thời Xuân Thu Chiến Quốc, vào khoảng năm 479-221 trước Công Nguyên, Khổng Tử đã viết, “Giống như các thiên thể không ngừng tuân theo quỹ đạo của mình, một người giỏi giang luôn xác định rõ và cố gắng để đạt mục tiêu cuộc đời mình.” Điều này có nghĩa, muốn cho cuộc sống có ý nghĩa, mỗi người nên làm hết sức mình để theo đuổi, khắc phục, phấn đấu và tìm tòi, không bao giờ bỏ cuộc khi đối mặt với khó khăn và trở ngại nhằm đạt được những mục tiêu của mình, giống như những vì sao đi theo con đường đã vạch ở trên trời. Khổng Tử viết “một người giỏi” nhằm ám chỉ một thiểu số quân tử thời xưa. Nếu tái sinh trong thời đại tri thức ngày nay, ngài sẽ vui sướng biết bao vì thiểu số thời ấy bây giờ có lẽ trở thành đại đa số. Tuy vậy, số người hiểu được nhiệm vụ công việc của mình nhằm đạt được điều gì cho bản thân, cho tổ chức và cộng đồng xã hội có lẽ vẫn không hề tăng lên cùng chiều! Nhìn hẹp trong khía cạnh kinh doanh, đáng buồn hơn cho các quốc gia con cháu của Khổng Tử ở phương Đông, trong đó có Việt Nam, khi các doanh nghiệp phương Tây coi việc xác định mục tiêu kinh doanh là bước khởi đầu của sự nghiệp, con cháu của Ngài vẫn còn rất mơ hồ về tầm nhìn, về sứ mệnh kinh doanh của tổ chức! Đáng lo lắng nhất là các đơn vị thuộc sở hữu nhà nước hiện nay, thay vì tái cấu trúc doanh nghiệp nhằm chuyển đổi vấn đề hiệu quả của tổ chức xuống từng công nhân để họ giúp họ làm việc thông minh và chăm chỉ hơn, cũng như tiếp nhận, xử lý và truyền tải thông tin kinh doanh cần thiết để tìm kiếm các cơ hội kinh doanh, hầu như người ta xác định nhiệm vu công việc nhằm đạt được nhiều quyền lợi vật chất cho riêng cá nhân mình!

Bạn thật sự đang dùng thời gian vào việc gì?

Bạn có bao giờ ghi nhật ký công việc hàng ngày chưa? Hãy chịu khó ghi chép nhật ký thời gian từng giờ mỗi ngày trong khoảng vài tuần và đừng có ngạc nhiên khi thấy bạn đang thật sự sử dụng thời gian vào những việc gì! Một trưởng phòng hành chính bức xúc kêu lên, “Em phát ốm vì theo dõi điện thoại, chit chat, thư điện tử, tin nhắn qua máy điện thoại di động, chè chén, cà phê sáng, ăn trưa với khách và … họp!” Bắt chước tạp chí Fortune, tôi đã khảo sát vài lần về số lần cà phê tiếp khách, số lần nhận và gửi thư điện tử, số lần gọi điện thoại và số lần họp so sánh giữa các giám đốc Việt Nam và Mỹ. Thật thú vị khi biết rằng các giám đốc Việt Nam có số lần điện thoại gấp đôi các giám đốc Mỹ. Trong khi các giám đốc Mỹ sử dụng thư điện tử gấp đôi các giám đốc Việt Nam. Ngoài ra, số giờ tiêu tốn cho các cuộc họp của các giám đốc Mỹ và Việt Nam xấp xỉ nhau, xoá tan ý nghĩ doanh nghiệp Việt Nam họp nhiều!

Bạn đã ngộ được vô vi chưa?

Vô vi là khái niệm triết học của Lão Tử. Người đạt được vô vi biết được khi nào hành động và khi nào không hành động. Khi đạt được vô vi, bạn đạt đến trạng thái tinh thần trầm lặng nhưng tỉnh táo, tập trung nhưng vẫn tiếp nhận. Khổng Tử cũng nói về điều này, Ngài viết, “Giống như trái đất đón nhận mọi thứ từ mặt trời, một người quân tử đạt được đức hạnh tột cùng bởi đón nhận mọi thứ không hề có thái độ phân biệt đối xử.” Vậy, bạn đã ngộ được vô vi chưa? Xin đừng băng khoăn vì vô vi nhằm mục tiêu đạt được hạnh phúc trong cuộc sống. Chừng nào bạn làm việc mà không để ý đến chiếc đồng hồ như Thomas Edison và đồng nghiệp của ông, hoặc nhìn lại đời mình, nếu bạn cảm thấy đã được sống qua một quảng thời gian hạnh phúc nhất cùng với đồng nghiệp hay nhân viên các cấp, đấy là lúc bạn đã ngộ được vô vi rồi còn gì!

A woman without make up

Yesterday I spent few hours going around Kharcov downtown. Fast food chains such as McDonald, Pissa, Coke ... are available. It is similar to other Western cities, Kharcov has its walking street, city square, city hall, Catholic churches which have golden domes, etc. Especially, Kharkov has Mother Square located inside a forest. At the Square I saw an everlasting fire and the sound of mother's heart. It is very symbolic. Going to another park where locals sell paintings and souvernir gifts, I saw a woman who I took her photo above. Her face looks like the face of the mother statue in the forest. Kharcov does look like this woman - a woman without make-up.

Teaching Management in Kharcov

Kharcov is a big city but it is almost forgotten by the world. From the sky, you can see many huge deserted plants. At the Kharkov airport, many former Soviet civil aircrafts are landing on the ground forever. The airport station is old and poorly organized. Custom officers are awkward. It seems that the government does not have any interests in developing this airport. Kharcov still has many huge buildings with a diverse city's transportation system building during the Soviet's regime. Roads are wide but their surfaces are getting worse. The city still maintains the electric railroads and electric buses for the public. Nature in Kharcov is similar to middle, southern states of America. I come to the city at the beginning of summer. Trees are green and wild flowers are blooming because weather is warm. However, on the streets people are walking or waiting buses silently. What are they thinking of, I wonder.

The traffic light and global integration (posted on Saigontimes weekly

Thanks to my network of friends, I often travel along the country. Hanoi is a historic capital city, but it is small, especially for roads. Recently, Hanoi has established the traffic light system. It seems that this is an automatic control system, because I do not see anyone to operate it. When I visit Nha Trang (my home city ten year ago,) I am surprised because it is a small city, which has about 300,000 people, but the city also established traffic signal on some main roads downtown. A friend, who is working at the Communication and Transportation Department, told me the reasons, "Our city is small, it does not need a traffic signal system indeed. However, we need to train people to get acquaintance to the modern system." In Ho Chi Minh City, where I am living, the traffic signal system has many forms, high and low, old and new. Interestingly, in some main roads, policemen still operate the flows of traffic manually. They use an operational box etablished next to the traffic light to control the flows of traffic. To my knowledge, in order to establish the city traffic system, we need to collect data on the flows of transportation in the city. The interval of red or green lights will be decided depending on the time period of a day and the flows of vehicles. The police, who stands in a corner of a street, can not see the whole system. He can make decision at his cross road but he damages the traffic flows in other points of the city. We can draw the lessons of operating traffic system in Vietnam and view them under the light of the regional, global integration process of the country: Ho Chi Minh City, a big city, but it is still struggle with old and new ways of doing things. Nha Trang is learning to adapt the new life and Ha Noi is courage moving forward! Besides, when the country gradually integrates into an interdependence economic trading system, you can not make decisions without thinking about the others!

An MC at entry level

The first time in my life, today I do the job of an MC for my former employer. I am not satisfied with my performance. I need to practice and learn more to become a professional. Am I too old to do so?

Working harder or working smarter

"What do you think about Vietnamese?" "Well, your people are hard working and very determined." I have never heard about "working smart" when foreigners perceive about Vietnamese in general. For a long time, I did not recognize the difference between "working hard and working smart." Studying "work planning and time management" I believe Vietnamese must start learning working smart to transform their destiny.

Kid is kid

Calista visited our home. According to her Dad, she is five years old and that was the first time she stayed out of her family. Probably, she is a typical American kid. She said, "I don't need you to ask my Dad for the permission." She got permission of course, took her back bag and rode with me and my daughter on motorcycle to my house. "Your house is far away! Your house is small and hot! (My daughter turned the air conditioner to the lowest range but our side her room it was still hot.) At 9pm, my wife was anxious looking an American kid eating. 1030pm, my wife started worried because she saw Calista still wanted to play with my kids. 11:30pm, Quyen was tired and felt sleep. Ngoc came back her room to prepare for her study. Calista took her back bag and knocked Ngoc's bed room asking to take her home. Ngoc woke me up and I saw Calista in front of my bed room. She looked like a tiny soldier. I recalled an old story, "The Small Prince." All my family members surrounded her and were laugh when she said, "Because nobody wants to play with me, I must go home now!" She started to cry. My wife and Ngoc took her home. On the way, she felt asleep because it's cool and Saigon was quiet. However, she did wake up and say "Good night" when she was in her Mom's arms.

Writing from Hong Kong International Airport

It is interesting! I am standing and writing from an internet corner at HK International Airport. This is the world's best airport! There is no sense of terrorism! I do not see any police. I spent one day at the airport and got an Asian and an American meal. Burger King makes me remember my old time when I was a graduate student in the U.S. I look forward seeing my home city, HCMC. Thinking about TSN Airport I am sad. Thirty years have passed today, April 30, but my country is still strugling with poverty!

Human deficiency- stories in an elevator

Have you ever met a situation like this? My friend asked suddenly when he met me in the elevator led to our office on the 14th floor. He was not wait for my words but continued to tell his problem. "You know, I love my mom so much and take her from my home province to HCMC. However, my mom and my wife can not live with each other peacefuly. Mom gets angry when I tell her what is wrong and right from the story occured between two beloved folks. Mom says that now I have a young and beautiful woman and I do not pay much attention to her. She says she needs not to stay in HCMC and insists me to send her home. Another friend, who was with us in the elevator, followed my friend's foot steps. He added, "I have something in common. I probably get a good job compared to other members in my family. However, it appears that my brothers and sister do not like me as they did when I was a student. They feel a complex when they see gifts I buy for my mom. I said goodbye to my friends but I was thinking much about a story that another friend told me yesterday. He said, this year he was a star at his office. The sales volume, he earned, was highest among his colleagues in his company. Bosses call him for every meeting and some consultations. However, the more connections he gets from the bosses, the less friendship he receives from friends and colleagues. Is there any correlation among three stories? I much do a research and tell you later.

A positive sum game

My family went to Dalat for vacation. We went to Dalat market for lunches everyday. The first day, we went to a very crowded restaurant. Waiting for the available seats, another restaurant's owner, who was selling soft-drinks, waved and offered us the seats. We got lunch and did not forget to reward her some drinks. We went to another restaurant the next day. The owner was so busy with many customers while her neighbor did not have anyone. The neighbor went to the busy one. She washed dishes, cleaned tables and delivered meals. When I asked, "why do you work for your competitor?" With a smile, she said, "Tomorrow, if I am busy, my neighbor may help me."

A hundred mile relative away may not as important as neighbors

Today, many countries are aware of the importance of international trade to their economic development. When countries are sending more and more delegations overseas to look for trade opportunities, some local authorities forget to welcome foreigners who come and visit at their homelands. Last month, a foreign delegation failed to meet with local reporter to do an economic development promotion in Camau province, Vietnam. The foreigner wanted to have an interview with local reporters right at a bridge built by his country's financial aids. A local cadre-in-charge did not allow local reporters to do their job just because of a simple reason, "They have had a lack of experience doing interview with foreigners" Vietnamse have a proverb, "Ban ba con xa, mua lang gieng gan." (meanings, a hundred mile relative away may not as important as neighbors.) Probably, this cadre forgot his ancestors' advice!

Bye Bye AMB Raymond F. Burghardt

AMB came back Saigon (HCMC) to say good-bye to American and Vietnamese business community yesterday. It is nice to hear from a diplomat who has been dedicating his career in East Asia Pacific nearly half of his life. AMB Burghardt reviewed current relationship between America and Vietnam and he is positive about future diplomatic relations of the two countries. He showed an example about the U.S. Congress' approval for his ambassadorship and his predecessor, AMB Peter Peterson. He said, AMB Peter Peterson had to wait several months (9 months, inauditable) to get his job as the first U.S. Ambassador to Vietnam since 1975. But, today, there may be nobody in the U.S. Congress posts that question when giving approval for the position. However, he still sees some sensitive issues that can give a negative impact on the diplomatic relations between the U.S and Vietnam. For instance, Vietnamese American community in the U.S. may have certain impacts on U.S. senators' decisions for their issues and concerns in Vietnam, such as human rights and religious freedom. "Today foreign policy may not decide by governments but it may be influenced by third parties such as NGOs, volunteer groups or business community." He added. "If you had three more years in Vietnam, what would you do?" one asked. AMB Burghardt said he would bring more big American companies to Vietnam, work out U.S.-VN adoption negotiation, do more on culture and arts exchange programs and importantly, he would work tirelessly on law enforcement for Vietnam... Good bye AMB Raymond Burghardt, we know you love Saigon. Welcome back at anytime!

Secrets in DC - Continued

At the center of Washington DC, Washington Monument looks like a sharpen pencil erecting against blue sky. At night, it looks more beautiful by white laser beams around the column and yellow lights on the top. Washington Monument adopts the structures of Egyptian pyramids wishing for the longevity of America. As you climb to the top of the monument, you reach the highest point in DC. However, its shadow in the Reflection Pool reminds you that you are also at the bottom. How does this tell you? You can learn many things from this implication, such as Don’t be arrogant if you are super! Or, America is the paradise, but it is the hell too!

Secrets in DC

My colleagues and I were very excited about America. Remember, we have been working for American Embassies and Consulates for at least five years! Why? If you take time to view my blog, you certainly can see many stories that I learnt from my trip to the U.S. One thing I need to tell you is that you must keep patience because I must do my work daily and will not give you my promise when I post my stories. Well, here is the first secret! Do you know that Abraham Lincohn statue has two faces? When you see his statue from the front of his monument, you will see his true face. If you see him from the left or right of the statue, you will see the other face behind his head! How does it look like? It looks like your face, my face and anyone face. The implication is that althought Abraham Lincohn freed slaves, saved American democracy, many people saw his decision was wrong. Sometimes in our life, we may encounter this problem. So, don't be sad, my friends. C'est la vie!

You can see 4 Confucianism management principles at Geogre Washington House

Dear friends, Do you want to train yourself to be a good citizen, good husband to your wife (wives!!!)- good dad to your kid (kids)- good staff to your organization - or even good future leader of a community or country? Here is a secret! Let's visit George Washington Home at Mount Vernon, about 18 miles south DC. George Washington house was built on a small hill next to Potomac river. From this house, people always have a far, beautiful panaroma view with five basic elements including fire, wood, water, earth and metal according to the Eartern philosophy. Near to his own house is home of his slaves and the office of his personnel manager. Following on the right hand side is a food processing house, a house for acounting clerk, a spinning factory and a ferry on the bank of Potomac river. You will see that Geogre Washington had operated 4 Confucianism management principles before he became the first American president. The first princple is to control yourself. The second principle is to manage your family. The third principle is manage your village, your country. And, then, the fourth principle is to manage the world For that reason, George Washington was successful in the Civil War and became one of the founders of America to build up a rigid foundation for his country in the past years, today, as well as the coming decades.

Michael Moore's Movie - 9/11 Farenheight

9/11 Farenheight is a good documentary movie. My IRO, Luella David and many viewers including me were about moved to tears when we saw again the Ground Zero aftermath. However, in my opinion, it is bias and seen as an effort to defeat Bush administration.

ALA continued

ALA is huge! I spent two days but could not go for all. That is amazing! Last night, we went to Universal Movie Theater and had a lot of funs. I dare not to go back although i really appreciate technology and innovation at the movie shows. Tonight, I will see the 9-11 Farenheight, a controversy movie. Let me see and tell you later, Bye

ALA Orlando

The weather in Orlando is somehow similar to HCMC (Saigon)- Vietnam. Yesterday, there was a big thunder storm, but it stopped at midnight. American people are so lucky! Everything here is cheaper than even in Vietnam. A home theatre costs only $300! A good T-shirt is only 2 bucks. ALA Conference is the national one and it is huge and very well-organized. We come to see and pick up small gifts from many vendors. This is the day for all American librarians. There are so many lectures and presentations. Technology is making library work even more efficient, important in the coming decades.

Bye Bye Boston

Bye Bye Boston, I am heading for Orlando tomorrow. Today, the Chair of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts House of Representatives Marie J. Parente receives us and gives us a tour in the MA State House. It is surprised to me, she becomes the tour guide and explains us the history of over 300 years of Boston, MA. Probably, when I come back Vietnam, I should introduce this story to Vietnamese National Assembly Members or raise an issue such as How to do marketing for the public sector. That is an interesting topic. Do you think so?

There are many things to tell you

Hi, friends, I have many things to to tell you when I come back! Today, we witness a trial and meet with many judges at Middlesex District Court. In the afternoon, we have a lecture done by an expert from Havard Law School. She introduces some new technologies that can help people locate legal information on the web. She also talks about Blog that my PAO introduced me one month ago. If you are interested in creating a blog for your own, please view my blog at http://vodaco.blogspot.com Cheers,

I like Boston!

Hello friends, I have a good time in Boston. The weather is so nice. Transportation is convenience with T-system although I made a mistake at the first night by not remembering the name of the first T station i started. This mistake gave me an expense of $15 instead of paying only $1.25 for the T trip back to Simmons College. Yesterday, my colleagues from China and I went to New England Aquarium and Havard College. At Havard Square, some folks played guitar, sang very interesting songs. This was so romantic. I have been seen this in many city streets such as Denver, Boulder, CO and Nashville, TN. However, I may say, I like Boston most! It is a real cultural exploration trip, isn't it?

I am in DC

This is the third time I am in the U.S., but is the first one in DC. It is hard to believe even it is true that Washington DC has been created by human being's intention rather it was just become the capital of the U.S. On Sunday, we had a tour to many historic building in DC. It is only one day but information we got as much as a week reading books. Talk to you more...