by Frank Li
Google “Saving America, Chinese Style” and see what happens … Aside from a list of news stories about my book Saving America, Chinese Style, you will see this article: Wanxiang America’s Pin Ni is snapping up factories, saving jobs … Read the article to see how much you are impressed by this guy named Pin Ni (pictured left).
Pin and I go way back to China, as both of us graduated from Zhejiang University. Although he was a few years junior, I knew him well, as he was a classmate of my younger brother’s – Pin was said to be a genius, truly …
In 1994, Pin showed up in Chicago, trying to start his own company. By then, I was already a well-polished corporate dude, properly dressed and well versed in English. In contrast, he was a “diamond in the rough”. He was rough because his English was very broken and he was just too Chinese by any standard. But he was a diamond because there was never any doubt in my mind that he would be successful, given his background and his ability. The only question was how soon and how big …
Well, less than twenty years later, he has succeeded beyond the wildest dream of any human being! Three points:
He has proven to be one of the most successful Chinese businessmen in America!
His company, Wanxiang America, has proven to be one of the most successful Chinese companies in America, with revenues from $0 in 1994 to $2B in 2012!
He has been called “his own Warren Buffett”.
The photo below shows the headquarters of Wanxiang America, located in Elgin, IL (about 40 miles west to Chicago). Oh, my warehouse just happens to reside inside this building – It has been there since 2007!
Pin, I am very proud of you both as a friend and as a business partner!
What’s your take-away from here? Saving America, Chinese Style is not just a “nice theory” in a nice book! It’s already happening, bottom-up. What we need now is some top-down actions, starting with President Obama. For more, read: The First 2013 Open Letter to President Obama.
