Inspirational Support From my College Freshman Liberal Arts Professor We never know what to expect in life. The coronavirus has truly shaken up everything in my life, from personal to business. But there are always hidden gems in every situation. Today I want to talk about one of them – my college professor from freshman year – Dr. Silvio Laccetti …
Oped in Fredriksburg: My Wife & Children are Under Quarantine in China
So much has been happening – earlier in Feb my article was published in Fredricksburg.com (VA) – Dr. Silvio Laccetti is my PR mentor, thanks Doc! Read the article here https://www.fredericksburg.com/opinion/commentary-my-wife-and-children-are-under-quarantine-in-china/article_f2c4d7ea-ec4e-5b76-a899-ec17b4f0d228.html
Watch a Budding E-commerce Community Grow – Trip To Baguio, Philippines
Catching my breath after two 7 hour bus trips to Baguio and back in a few days- but it was quite the experience! Note – if you go to Baguio – bring a light jacket – it is cold. 5,000 meters above sea level, you will take a coach bus for 7 hours and towards the last hour you will …
On Misfits & Rejects Podcast: Sharing Insights on Starting Ecommerce & Amazon FBA
I had the honor to be a guest on Chapin Kreuter’s podcast – with an awesome podcast name of “Misfits and Rejects” Podcast – because to be awesome -you can’t be normal! He interviewed me about the time in China and Asia and starting e-commerce businesses and Amazon FBA – with the Ecommerce Gladiator journey too – definitely listen in, …
Doubling Down on Personal Branding
Further Re-Defining Oneself & Skills/Value Since arriving in Manila – it has only been a month and a half but feels like a year! What started as a business development trip to get to know the partners at Alpha Rock Capital more while my wife takes care of her mom in China has turned into another major shift and turning …
Looking For An Online Teaching System For My Kids (Stuck in China)
Makes me think back to the John Graham story of “Stuck in China” – but now it is my wife and kids. Been so tempted to book a flight and head out to China, but even my wife has been telling me to hold off on hitting the buy now button on that travel site. Schools are still closed in …
That Feeling of a Father Who Isn’t There For His Family
How did I get in this situation? Those following the vlog, saw it – but today I just want to step back and review how it turned out I’m in another country while my wife and kids are experiencing the next SARS is in China and it is spreading. It started back in November, 2019 – when I returned to …
True Passion – Sharing and Teaching People How to Earn a Living
“Back at it” – The Alpha Rock Capital partners have let me loose and to do what my passion is – to share and spread the good word. Alexa and I took a trip to Quezon City (my old home from 2010!) to speak at Ace and Andi Estrada’s Manila Mastermind e-commerce event. A few hundred attendees there, all local …
First Week in Manila: Volcano Hit, Studio Work
Been a week now in Manila and I know I’ve been quiet. Busy – rested up last weekend after a rough flight w/ bad connecting flight. And Monday morning started off the week with a volcano eruption Welcome to Manila! So in today’s video blog just a walk through some of BGC / Makati and meeting the team I’m working …
Coronavirus: Concerned For My Family in China
The world is so delicate. Here in Manila now a week, and this outbreak in China seems to be spreading. Concerned for my family there. And everyone else preparing to start Chinese New Year holiday. Tweet from Dan Harris How much is still hidden? Is China safe to visit? Would you go there?China confirms 139 new Coronavirus cases The Guardian …
Ice Lake, Crab Cooking and [Leaving The Kids Behind]
The last video blog with the kids for some time, so enjoy. Unless you’re that friend of mine that can’t stand the baby and kid content, then you’ll have more of the “just Mike” content coming soon. But this video was the last few days of mine in Shenyang, China with the wife, kids, and extended family. Then down to …
Traditional Northern (Dong Bei) Chinese Meal
Less than a week before I kiss the wife and kids goodbye for a few months and fly down to Manila, Philippines. So how else to celebrate than to get the whole family together and eat a massive meal. Everywhere in the world, but especially in China, this is how people gather. Wendy booked a nice traditional North Eastern Chinese …
Introvert: Accepting Who You Are
I am an introvert. I think we need to just accept our human nature. Also by knowing ourselves – it helps us better connect with others. Cross Border Summit had truly amazing people. It is all about networking. Today is Oct 24 and we just finished the Cross border Summit last night. Was an amazing time – as always – …
Bumping Into Old China Contacts
Catching Up With Old China Connections Back in my “hood” even to the exact set of city blocks where I lived and setup my office over a decade ago in Shenzhen. Writing that sounds crazy – over a decade ago. My buddy Dave took me with him to meet the real estate agent he’s using to sell his office there, …
We Bought a Shoelace Amazon Business
We Just Bought a Shoelace Business (example of what I’m doing lately) To give people on the personal blog a bit of an example, at Alpha Rock Capital we just purchased a business selling elastic shoelaces on Amazon. They previous owner had been building it up for a couple years and it is a top ranking product in the re-usable …