Monday, April 11, 2011

Winning in a different Continent?

So, I am not just an asshole and do have some kind of heart in me. I volunteer at Columbia U and teach/mentor undergraduates in the real estate club (which is the industry I currently work in ). Bright and young students who really have no idea on what they're going to do in life but have a passion for real estate. Basically, after one of my monthly seminars, a student comes up to me and thanks me for helping him out, etc. then proceeds to give me his business card. The kids family is one of the biggest developers in Hong Kong (Literally, built Hong Kong from scratch; billionaire status) and offered me a job in the future. The statement begs the Q, should I be winning in a new continent? I mean I am Filipino and was born in the Pacific Ocean area.

But, could I really win over there? The culture is so different let alone the ridiculous language barrier I would face. I mean it's an awesome opportunity and I've always told myself I would be living outside of the US for a couple of years or maybe forever... but this soon? My family will think I'm nuts if I leave after my first job in NYC to move to China, but come on dude. I recently turned 24 and have no freaking clue what I want to do, my mind is all over the place. Logically, it makes sense to travel, make mistakes (HUGE), get a new job when I'm young and don't have A. mortgage to pay B. have a family C. have responsibilities.

I have this weird feeling that it might be that opportunity that pushes me over the edge and gets me to that next  level of success/income. China is the future of real estate. The US is extremely overbuilt and the only way to develop is if you have a billion dollars and that's not fun anymore. I want to be part of a growing and evolving location and my buddy currently works in Poland for the next 2 years as head of acquisitions for a huge real estate company in NYC. IF he can do, I think I can too.

Change is something that has always been apart of my life and continually use it to my advantage. I've been in situations before where the experience from my lifetime of change has contributed to my successful outcome. However, this is a BIG change and really will ask me to write a list of the ad/disadvantages of moving to China. I currently run a non-profit that is devoted to helping undergraduate real estate students and would most likely have to give that up unless I figured out a way to communicate with them. I have another start-up I've been working on that if we can't close a deal in the next 5-6 months, then I think I'll end it. But, I have so many friends and ideas over here that I don't know if I have it in me to give up what I've built here. My family, network, business contacts, ideas are all in the US and I'm giving that up for a new and unforeseen experience in China? God help me now.... hahaha I'll keep you guys posted and see if I do pull the trigger. Maybe in 6 months I'll have it figured out.

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