Shenzhen, China - a trip down future lane

This summer, I received a phone call: "do you want to join a trip with 40 fellow female entrepreneurs from across the globe to China?"

Didn't have to think long…

But little did I know how amazingly inspiring these days would be.

For those who think, "Shen-whattt?": Shenzhen is the tech capital of our world. Yes, OUR world too.

China is no longer just copying. They are not catching up anymore; they are at least at par. And they know it.

Also, they have a lot of women in business. When I asked, "How come?", they looked puzzled and said, "Just because they decided to go into business."

That sums up their mindset quite nicely: dream and do it. Little energy wasted on the sidelines; everything and everyone directed forward.

Yes, that's a cultural thing, but also a mindset thing.

Before travelling there, I was slightly worried and, as a self-declared tech pessimist (I truly don't believe tech will "save us". Quite the opposite), dismissive of an AI-driven city like Shenzhen.

Did I miss the soul of the place? Yes. Was I impressed by what they build and how they move forward? Also yes. Do I feel inspired rather than fearful now? I certainly do.

So, call me a medium fan of their pay-off "Time is money, Efficiency is life". Yet, experiencing Shenzhen and its entrepreneurs did make me reflect on where energy goes in organizations.

Provided you only have a certain amount of energy to invest in bringing your business forward; it's wise to channel it forwardly. Yet, in the Netherlands I see a lot of energy leaking sideways. For the sake of building buy-in for example.

And yes, we need a certain buy-in. But at what cost? And when did we start to mix up buy-in with connection? Where did we lose connection, making us negotiate ('polder') over every single decision?

Connection is the soil, effectiveness is the yield.

Not saying that it's easy to copy the Chinese in that regard (pun intended)… but when you read this, it might be worth reflecting on how much energy is directed forward versus what leaks sideways in your organization.

Where lies the opportunity to reconnect (to your philosophy/mission, people or surroundings) and focus forward?

Because remember… time is money, efficiency is life. Or in my words: connection is the soil, effectiveness is the yield.

This was the Annual Symposium of United Success Global. A global network of female entrepreneurs.