What if the secret to thriving in China wasn’t saying more—but saying less, purposefully?
What if you’d forgotten how to develop the soft skills necessary to thrive across cultural differences?
I believe the most important skill to deploy in cross-cultural endeavors is IMAGINATION, which is why my upcoming reflection journal, Speak Less, Guanxi More, is illustrated with cartoons, to help you unlock your childhood imagination and CURIOSITY. Empathy begins with IMAGINATION, and the opposite of judgment is CURIOSITY. And the reverse of curiosity is JUDGMENT!
Ready to Demystify China?
Let’s begin with a simple idea — language fluency isn’t about learning vocabulary, it’s about emotions, meaning, and context. Now let’s work backwards — Understanding Chinese psychology and its reflections is more beneficial than studying Chinese culture, and I’m humbled to share a new approach to helping friends and colleagues bridge what divides us: a lack of curiosity and imagination (read blog).
When Mandarin Fluency Becomes Irrelevant
I’m fluent in Chinese! But speaking fluent Mandarin in China created as many disadvantages as benefits. Human behavior is a matter of perceptions, psychology, and expectations (read blog).
The Secret Behind China Speed: How a Volleyball Strategy Became a Business Mindset
Unlock the origin story of China’s rapid growth. Learn how a legendary volleyball tactic transformed into the prevailing mindset driving business velocity today.
Is Guanxi Enough? Unveiling the Hidden Dynamics of Chinese Relationships & Power
Move beyond the buzzwords. Discover why surface-level connections fail and learn the deeper psychological forces driving real business success in China.
🏆 Independent Review of The Chinese Honeymoon Period
“I have a Master’s in International Management, I’ve taken ‘Doing Business in [fill in the country]’ classes through work, and I learned more in The Chinese Honeymoon Period than in all those classes combined.
I’m humbled to learn how very little I understood about Chinese culture.”
— Reedsy Discovery reviewer
🎧 Listen to the 1st Chinese Cultural Concept (GUANXI) and Discover HOW THEY OPERATE
💡 Listen to The Chinese Honeymoon Period (Audiobook)
📘 Buy Direct, Save, and Win-Win
Get Speak Less, Guanxi More directly through IngramSpark — printed and shipped.
(available in the U.S. & U.K. only)
💡 Prefer another retailer? You can also find it on Amazon, Bookshop.org, or Barnes & Noble.
I still have 4 more reflections to share, and I want you to join me on this journey of reimagining China, so the entire 114-page Speak Less, Guanxi More reflection journal is still available for free as a PDF and Flipbook.