Yanwen’s blog

A friend of mine, having lived in India and been outside the US for a long time, now lives in both the US and abroad. He was amazed by "how difficult it is to be in the US and maintain a global perspective."

He shows his understanding by saying, I don't blame those in the US for their narrow vision because the media is so provincial and inward-looking that "most people can't even begin to understand the unknown unknowns of what's out there and what they're missing."

Because of this, there's little chance of improvement if you are not aware of your own naivety and ignorance. Reading extensively won't help, because there's no substitute for traveling and soaking yourself in the world to fully grasp the vast and unexpected extent of one's ignorance.

I recall one of my young relatives, who was only 9 years old at the time, believing he was smarter than everyone else in every way, except for our knowledge of English. He couldn’t be blamed for this perspective because, at that age, he simply didn’t know what he didn’t know.

Ultimately, at some point, you must challenge all the assumptions you once accepted as truths and try to think differently from your old self. My friend said, "the more I delve into new markets, the more I realize the overwhelming extent of my own ignorance. I consider myself fortunate to at least be aware of this fact."

The takeaway message is that average Americans live in a state of being isolated or detached from outside influences or experiences because of the insularity of media, not much different from my young relatives. The key to breaking out of this isolation is traveling outside the U.S. and immersing oneself in different cultures. While being exposed to different realities, ideas, and perspectives, it's crucial to be open-minded and humble enough to admit your ignorance and naivety and be ready to be challenged. 

A Chinese saying fits here perfectly, 井底之蛙 (Jǐng dǐ zhī wā), meaning "a frog at the bottom of a well" who thinks the sky is as large as the top of the well. It refers to someone with a limited outlook or narrow perspective, unaware of the broader world outside their immediate experience. It captures the idea of being confined to a small view, much like the insular perspective described about people living in the U.S.

In a world that is increasingly interconnected, it is essential to understand the confines and limitations of media-built info wells.

Only by being courageous enough to expose ourselves to different ideas and perspectives and by stepping out of our frog well can we hopefully overcome the insularity of the mainstream media, start seeing our naivety and ignorance and explore the vast horizons beyond.

Last weekend, I heard someone describing a parent as being "very prescriptive." This was the first time I had encountered this way of describing a parent or even a person.

Later, I learned that being prescriptive suggests that the parent employs a highly structured and authoritative parenting style, characterized by a high level of control, emphasis on discipline, security over adventure, order over chaos, adherence to established ways over innovation, and allowing limited freedom.

This style works well in kindergarten or among those who need specific guidance and instructions and who depend upon their guardians for decision-making.

It can be beneficial in providing a sense of security and clear expectations for young children but may also limit their independence and ability to make their own choices if not balanced with some level of flexibility and support for autonomy.

Children are like young trees that need sunlight, nutrients, guidance (staking), discipline (pruning), and freedom and space to grow. If a parent is super capable and tries to do everything for the children, he dwarfs them and blocks the sunlight, leaving them no room to develop their potential.

If the parent straitjackets the children beyond childhood, he deprives them of the freedom needed to reach the sky.

Similarly, prescriptive parenting is akin to micromanagement in the workplace, equally damaging in stifling creativity and growth. Just as a kite won't fly high if you don't let out the string -- "放风筝不放线，线短风筝难飞高" (Fàng fēngzhēng bù fàng xiàn, xiàn duǎn fēngzhēng nán fēi gāo), both children and employees won't reach their full potential if they are overly restricted.

Finally, it's important to keep in mind that both parenting and management benefit from balancing guidance with freedom, ensuring growth and development without unnecessary constraints and interferences. By fostering healthy and encouraging environments, individuals are nurtured and empowered to soar to the highest heights.

Recently, I read an article in The Economist titled "China’s Last Boomtowns Show Rapid Growth Is Still Possible," which highlights the impressive performance of small county-level cities in China. Among these, Yueqing stands out, offering valuable insights into achieving and sustaining rapid economic growth.

Yueqing's success is attributed to several key factors, which provide valuable lessons for the revitalization of Rust Belt cities in the U.S.

First, Yueqing's rapid development is deeply rooted in its entrepreneurial spirit and history. The city's businesses have evolved from producing basic components to more sophisticated and valuable electronic products. This transformation reflects a broader cultural and historical context that supports entrepreneurship and innovation.

Second, Yueqing benefits from its strategic geographic location near the port city of Wenzhou, which facilitates easy access to international markets and resources. This geographic advantage enhances trade and attracts investment.

Third, local government policies have played a crucial role in nurturing the city's industries. Officials have actively helped factories upgrade their production capabilities and shift to higher-value products. Effective government intervention, focusing on resource mobilization and establishing connections, has bolstered local businesses.

Fourth, policymakers in Yueqing have encouraged local enterprises to collaborate with nearby universities, fostering innovation and technological advancements. This partnership has enabled local businesses to surpass foreign competitors and become leaders in various tech fields.

A Chinese saying goes, 他山之石, 可以攻玉 (Tā shān zhī shí kě yǐ gōng yù) meaning: "The stones from other mountains can polish our jade." This saying emphasizes learning from other's experience in order to improve oneself.

The Rust Belt cities in the U.S., characterized by deindustrialization and economic stagnation, can learn some lessons from Yueqing's experience: such as, cultivating entrepreneurship and encouraging an entrepreneurial culture and supporting startups, identifying and exploiting geographic advantages, boosting government policy supporting local industries, establishing strong ties with local universities and research institutions to foster innovation and technological advancements and help local businesses stay competitive in the global market.

Yueqing's rise serves as a testament to the potential for rapid growth and economic transformation, even in smaller cities. By adopting similar strategies, Rust Belt cities in the U.S. or any place or individuals have the hope of thriving, revitalization and sustainable development. 

The key is 他山之石, 可以攻玉, learn from other's experience for all who want self improvement.

There are two things that I find equally challenging.

First, a friend of mine shared some Olympic Games anecdotes produced by China's self-media, which are independently operated social media accounts on platforms like WeChat and Weibo. Many of these self-media broadcasts are in need of quality improvement, telling too much without showing enough.

I recall learning about the journalistic principle of "Show, don't tell" a long time ago. Over the years, I have found it rather challenging to consistently apply this principle in writing.

The classic "Show, don't tell" concept likely originates from Anton Chekhov, who famously said, "Don't tell me the moon is shining; show me the glint of light on broken glass." He emphasized capturing small details to create vivid images in the reader's mind.

Ernest Hemingway expanded on this with his famous "iceberg theory" or "theory of omission," suggesting that a writer should focus on surface elements and allow deeper themes and meanings to be implicit rather than explicitly stated. 

He explained, "If a writer of prose knows enough of what he is writing about, he may omit things that he knows, and the reader, if the writer is writing truly enough, will have a feeling of those things as strongly as though the writer had stated them. The dignity of movement of an iceberg is due to only one-eighth of it being above water."

The iceberg theory illustrates two parts of writing: (1) the visible part of the story is only a small portion of the overall meaning, much like the small visible part of an iceberg above water; (2) the unsaid part includes deeper meaning, context, and subtext, much like the larger part of the iceberg that lies beneath the surface, unseen but essential to the whole. This is a huge challenge to a writer.

The second challenge is the news of Apple beating Wall Street's expectations in its June quarterly report, despite the worst iPhone sales in years. Apple's performance reminds me of its shifting manufacturing strategy: first moving production to China, then leaving China for India, and now partially returning to China. 

The market is tough, with the U.S. banning Huawei and facing competition from other Chinese brands like Xiaomi and Vivo. In facing these huge challenges, a Chinese saying best describes a survivor like Huawei, "是金子永远会发光的" (Shì jīnzi yǒngyuǎn huì fāguāng de), meaning: "Gold will always shine."

Navigating these challenges—whether mastering the art of "show, don't tell" in writing or for tech giants in global markets—requires insight, adaptability, and resilience. But in the end, the gold will always shine.

A few days ago, I came across an interesting observation. It appears that the anti-China sentiment among average Americans has somewhat alleviated. This shift in attitude may be because they have come to realize that years of blaming China for the country’s problems didn’t address issues like the crisis at the southern border, rising crime rates in big cities, outdated infrastructure, deindustrialization, and polarization.

While it’s disappointing to see politicians resort to scapegoating to gain votes and power, there’s at least a valuable lesson for us all in this situation: the importance of correctly identifying a problem by understanding the background and the root causes.

I remember when my children were young and would argue, my son often asked, “What’s your problem?” My daughter’s frequent response was, “I don’t know.” How can one solve the problem when one doesn't know what the problem is?

So, the initial step in solving any problem is to understand its background and root cause.

Take deindustrialization, for example. A good starting point is the nonfiction book The Unwinding: An Inner History of the New America by George Packer. It examines the country’s transformation from the 1970s to the 2010s, highlighting the economic, social, and political changes over time.

Given the U.S. capitalist system, the shift towards offshoring manufacturing was ultimately driven by profit motives. Understanding this economic and historical context reveals that the visible stories, such as the rust belt’s decline or the loss of jobs or the hillbilly elegy, are just symptoms; they are not the root causes. It's like fever is a symptom of an underlying disease. It takes careful analysis and wisdom to look beyond the surface and truly identify the core issues.

The same principle applies on an individual level. To solve a problem, you need to go deeper than the apparent symptoms and understand the underlying causes. Only then can meaningful solutions be found.

A Chinese poem goes, "不识庐山真面目，只缘身在此山中" (Bù shí Lú Shān zhēn miàn mù, zhǐ yuán shēn zài cǐ shān zhōng) meaning: "One does not recognize the true face of Mount Lu simply because one is within the mountain." The poem emphasizes the challenge of seeing the whole picture when you are too immersed in the situation. That is, you need a broader perspective to identify and address core issues.

In the end, whether addressing national challenges or personal dilemmas, a deeper understanding of the root causes will guide us towards effective solutions.