Thanksgiving is Time for Gratitude

This coming Thursday is the traditional Thanksgiving holiday in the United States, but similar holidays are celebrated around the world as a day of giving thanks for the blessing of the harvest of the preceding year. No matter where you are in the world, I would like to take this opportunity to thank you, the readers from all over the world including the eighty thousand active subscribers, who provide the support to me by reading, sharing, and commenting on my posts every week.

I started posting on LinkedIn when I became aware of my expat assignment to Beijing three years ago. I realized then that I had had the amazing opportunity to work with people from all over the world during my global role in technology sales and licensing. I got to know many of them, not just as business partners, but also friends and know many of them in person. At the same time, I have over the year provided mentoring to many early career employees. You can tell that many of topics I write are related to my perspectives in personal development and career management. 

With the new assignment on the other side of the world, I thought I would do something to keep connected with them in a meaningful way without being presumptuous and intruding. I decided to use LinkedIn posts as a platform to share my thoughts, experiences, perspectives as a way of communicating and interacting. It took some time for me to start with the first article (Journey is the Reward), but writing has been an enjoyable and rewarding experience.

On the one hand, sharing my personal experiences has been liberating. I have had the fortunate opportunities to experience different parts of the world through my personal or work life. I am hoping that some readers would be able to learn and benefit from the perspectives I share. On the other hand, interactions with readers have helped me to get a deeper appreciation and understanding of our world and people around us. For example, my posts “Learning from rejections” and “The Plague” resonated with many readers and I received many private emails sharing their personal stories.

At the same time, writing has been a great way of learning for me. It forces me to be aware of my thoughts, my desires, and my frustrations, and compels me to reflect on my understanding and thinking process. Writing demands me to bring clarity to my thoughts such that I can write them down succinctly.

In addition to the satisfaction knowing that the posts were meaningful to someone out there, I also gained a lot of knowledge or insights otherwise I would have unlikely been able to obtain in another way. For example, I learned from Aigul Telkarayeva that tulip flowers originated from Kazakhstan. From Anna Tai, I learned about Makani, an alternative technology that are designed to harvest stronger wind at 250% higher altitude than the ground windmill technology. From Ahmed F. Shalabi, I learned about Averroes who made enormous contributions to both the Islamic and Christian worlds. Andrew Lee let me know the fresh taste of coffee growing in Yunnan, China.

If any of my articles resonate with you or you find some of the postings meaningful, I do encourage you to share your thoughts and perspectives in the comment section so that we can all learn and grow together in this increasingly connected world. As an appreciation, I have selected some of the comments on my recent posts in the following.

Again, thank you and best wishes for a safe and happy Thanksgiving to you and your families!

Selected Comments from Readers Like You:

Shravan Shetty

Career Transition from Technical to Business Management (11/5/2019)

For all the techies grappling with transitioning to business management, here is a wonderful read :)

Seodi White

Life is Like Joshua Trees (10/17/2020)

I subscribe to Xinjin Zhao Newsletter. I have always liked the way he weaves his personal and most current experiences with leadership values in a simple yet exquisitely written way.

Leann Simpson

The Plague (06/12/2020)

Your writing is so beautiful and inspiring. What an amazing article about the book, I am moved to read it now and your words give me hope during this pandemic. Thank you for sharing.

Amrit Jalan

Learning from Rejections (03/14/2020) 

Great post Xinjin Zhao! Dealing with rejections has often led to some of the best personal growth opportunities I have experienced. As an aside, I couldn’t help notice your address at MIT. As a former Tang Hall resident, I have fond memories of Westgate and some amazing times spent there with friends!

Mabel Leung

Being a Slave of your Business Process will Destroy You (10/31/2018)

Can’t agree more. Structured process is good to ensure disciplined investment, but often at the expense of speed to market which is increasingly important in today’s dynamic business world

Mei Lin Au

Learning from Rejections (03/14/2020) 

Thank you for this inspirational article which reminds us that it is not so much what negative incidents happen to us, but how we handle it that is going to make the difference. A timely and valuable advice and reminder to remain positive and make the most of whatever life throw at us, as it is easy to lose ourselves in self pity and despair when faced with setbacks and rejection. Last but not least, thank you for sharing your personal experience which further prove that with courage and determination, it is possible to achieve better outcome if we maintain a positive mindset and work on the challenges.

Dr. Hans-J?rg Weber 韩岳轲

Learning from Rejections (03/14/2020) 

Xinjin Zhao , thank you for sharing this sincere insight. So true!

Jeremy Ong

How Will You Measure Your Life? (02/08/2020)

I believe 2020 has been a monumental year for the world historically due to COVID19. It has changed the world and made governments, businesses and people do some very deep soul searching. Without the right questions of then don’t get to the right answers. Thanks Xinjin Zhao for sharing Dr. Christensen’s book.

janet baker

Would Square Wheels Make Sense? (07/31/2020)

The visuals are really helpful for those who are not familiar with Chinese written language. Thank you Xinjin.

Max Heinritz-Adrian

I Got Everything I Really Needed (05/27/2020)

Xinjin, thanks for sharing. At times when we get impatient, frustrated, upset or anxious, this will remind us to stay humble and keep a positive and caring spirit moving forward.

janet baker

Resilience in a Challenging Time (4/7/2020)

There is always an upside to every downturn. Life will balance out over time. Through cultivating the actions and attitudes you so eloquently describe here, most of us will emerge stronger for the experience. Thank you for an excellent post, Xinjin

?Kathy Campbell

The Plague (06/12/2020)

So relevant to where we are today and the photo brought tears to my eyes Thank you

Ray Mei

What Oil Price has Anything to Do with Tulips? (05/17/2020)

Thank you for the beautiful photos and inspiring article. It is fascinating that what happened a few hundred years ago could happen again in the modern days, as we have equipped with so many sophisticated financial tools and suppose to know better by now. I guess the only thing stayed same is the humane nature - the rationality.

Bradford Viola

What Oil Price has Anything to Do with Tulips? (05/17/2020)

I was pretty skeptical as to how these two were going to connect but this turned out to be an extremely interesting story and I learned way more than I expected. 

Ian Drummond

Cross Discipline Communication (11/14/2020)

I have been following Xinjin Zhao on LinkedIn for some time now. Initially attracted by his terrific photographs, but subsequently I have found his writing on business to be engaging, and provide an insight that is transferrable to my own work. This piece being a case in point, as a Project Manager one of my key deliverables is 'stakeholder engagement', for which good communication skills are essential. I think this post provides a fresh perspective on an issue that effects all business. I hope you agree. 

John Studdard

First Coffee, Then The World (10/31/2020)

A great article on being mindful of the effort that goes into the simplest of things we take for granted, like a Vanilla Latte at Starbucks in China. This article resonated with me since I live in the CBD and have experienced the ubiquity of Starbucks in Beijing. I draw insight and inspiration from companies like Starbucks that think globally and act locally.

William "Will" Rushing

Creativity and Ingenuity (10/24/2020)

Xinjin Zhao Once again, my friend, you published another article that inspires and strengthens my resolve to remove obstacles and limitations in the way I think. Great job! If you find yourself in Missouri, let’s get together for coffee or tea.

José Barreto

Boston Tea Party and Trade with China (09/21/2020)

Thanks to you I can learn some more at any time. Keep on posting such interesting and useful information please.

Jo Sullivan, LMSW

Would Square Wheels Make Sense? (07/31/2020)

So worth the read! And it happens to the best of us. In a world In which we are all making dozens of decisions every hour, what happens when someone brings you a wheel?

Lydia Chen

The Plague (06/12/2020)

I really love the way you portrait the article, full of hope and compassion for life. Keep writing and keep inspired others is a purpose to be a writer.

Paul Crissman

Resilience in a Challenging Time (4/7/2020)

Sage advice, I will be thinking on these ideas for the weeks ahead! Love your articles!

Adia Smith, MBA

Angkor Wat - Small Decisions vs. Destiny (3/31/2020)

Seen this come across my notifications this morning...... spent the next hour watching a whole YouTube documentary on Angkor Wat...... I love

Mark Upton

Understand China: Political-Economic Process (02/19/2020)

Excellent write-up and very applicable in all aspects within my field - Education! International-style education needs to follow your advice on which are the key indicators in a very dynamic China!

Nakul Sangolli

Understand China: Political-Economic Process (02/19/2020)

Thank you for sharing an excellent deep-dive into doing business in China, especially with a Policy lens! Having spent time studying in China and visiting Chinese SOEs, Chinese private enterprises and MNCs, I can see a pattern around their "Think Global, act local" stance. Specifically, with MNCs, an oft-repeated sentiment is the strong need to localise to the needs and policies here in China to thrive. I look forward to your future insights!

George Dreading

Running Marathon and Self-Discipline (10/03/2020)

Your post always inspire me! This years has certainly been on for the books. I feel like I have been running an emotional marathon all year long. One thing that helped me cope is the fact that I am not running alone. Arms linked we are getting across this finish line together. Thank you so much.

Dan Brady

Cross Discipline Communication (11/14/2020)

“The more you get to know people, the better you connect.” Your comments regarding communication are spot on.

Gary A. Johnson

Running Marathon and Self-Discipline (10/03/2020)

I thank you yet again for your inspiration. I started the weekend this morning jobless. I too could point my finger towards SARS-COV-2, but instead look towards the hills (Psalms 121:1) much as you did this morning and started my run with no excuses. My run time will not look as good as yours my friend, but I will meet you at the finish line. Have a great weekend and keep challenging and inspiring us.

Gary A. Johnson

The Ambassador Who Served Two Nations: US and China (07/22/2020)

Best one yet to me Xinjin. You never cease to edutain us. Mr Burlingame was a man who truly walked by faith and not by sight. He saw what this world could be. America and China were humble nations that needed each other. What has changed on both sides? A whole lot more need and a whole lot less humility.

Andrew Lenti

The World is a Restless Place (11/07/2020)

Thanks for this. Very nice insight from an interesting angle that you don't get everyday.

Related Article

Journey is the Reward (7/23/2017)

(If you find my article informative, please subscribe to my series by click the subscribe button on the top of the article to be notified of my new articles. Better yet, please join the conversation by leaving a comment or share the post with your network. Thanks and as always I appreciate your feedbacks.)