The beginning of my website business

About three weeks ago I went to English Corner at Renmin University. Sometimes I talk with other foreigners there just to hear what they talk about and their ideas. Because Chinese people are so willing to ask all kinds of questions, and everyone seems to listen with bated breath, it makes me and the other foreigners more willing to open up a little and share their ideas. So I enjoy listening to other foreigners talk just as much as talking with the Chinese.

I met a very interesting man from South Africa. He was a big strong guy with bright blond hair, seemed a bit older than me. He said he left South Africa because of unrelenting violence and murder there. He had traveled to Europe and a friend had pressed him to go to China for a little while. He wound up like me and many other foreigners by staying much longer than he had first anticipated. He was a book writer and general freelancer. He said he did some online publishing. But, what really caught my attention, was when he mentioned online advertising. I have long sought to do business online. Trying to find ways to monetize the skills and interests that I have. Since then I have really checked it out and got it started. I won't go into depth here about it, but if anyone is interested feel free to contact me.

However, based on this concept, I have had some big ideas recently and have done my best to actualize them. For one, my good friend Jason writes scary short stories. I suggested to him that I would build a website to publish his stories and we can divide any money we make from the advertising. He was excited about the idea too, and I put the website together in a couple of weeks. You can check it out at Jace's Macabre Box of Short Stories. Jason and I have been friends and kept in touch for so long, it was easy to work together again on the project. Another Big Idea I had was to build a website for my English Class. There are only about 1.3 billion people in China and there are more Chinese who study English than Americans in America. So even though there are more than a few Learn English Websites already in existence (probably thousands) in cyberspace, I thought I would take a crack at it and see if I can't do it better and customize it for my students using their input. I often get good feedback from my students, so why not make something out of it and monetize it through online advertising. It could be a Win-Win situation for everyone. To check that site out, go to Fantastic Mark's English Class.

On top of that I have still been doing proofreading assignments for my business. I recorded that I have proofread over 180,000 words as of today.

So as boring as it might sound, I have spent most of the past few weeks either working in front of the computer or working at the English school.

It just so happened that the school that I work for had a meeting for all the teachers last week. If teachers missed the meeting they would be docked 250 RMB from their paycheck. At the meeting in their new offices, the new president of the company could only speak with us briefly because he had an important plane to catch. He was a very international Chinese man who spoke excellent English. He mentioned how he and the company staff were tirelessly strategizing on how to boost productivity which would amount to higher employee salaries in the future etc etc. How much we were appreciated, etc. Next comes the staff manager, with a different line. He spoke about how we have to show that we are worth the pay increases by showing up to work on time, acting and dressing professionally, diligently teaching our students, on and on. It makes me think who are they talking to, don't I do that all the time. Why am I thrown in with the heap of English teachers who may or may not do their job right and earn the same as them. At this English school, compensation for all teachers is the same.

That is when it struck me. I knew then and there that is why I never want to work full-time for the corporate world again. I just can't stand subjecting myself to the whims of senior management for my salary, promotions, career. I can work for the school part-time, it gives me steady income when my business income slows down and sometimes just a reason to get out of the apartment, but no more than part-time. It makes me desire even more to be financially free.
On another note, with all this work, sometimes I have to remember where I am, in China. I feel like I could be anywhere right now.

By the way, I think everyone of my friends and family should have a blog where they can write their ideas, share their stories and pictures. I would love to get regular updates on how everyone is doing and what they are doing.