Work and Money
If I dislike business socializing, is professional skill alone enough to run a company?
English translation draft · Based on the Chinese article. This is not a word-for-word translation approved by Master Shengyuan.
From my experience of running a company in earlier years, professional skill is important, but relationships also affect opportunities. I used to think quite simply: do the job well, then go home when it is finished. I also disliked business socializing. Only gradually did I realize that projects were connected to relationships between people as well.
A friend who also ran a company often went out drinking and chatting. At first, I did not quite understand how someone could run a company that way. Later, I realized that because the friend knew many people, others referred work to them, bringing in quite a few projects. That experience showed me that beyond technical skill, personal connections have a role too.
At the same time, I came to understand my own personality better. A way of working that suited that friend might not suit me. When considering whether to enter an industry, look beyond whether the work itself seems good. Understand how people actually need to interact and get things done in that field, then consider whether it suits you. Understanding other people’s methods also helps us understand our own choices.