Happy new year of 2012 to you all, is it worthwhile to learn from "Chinese work ethics"?? Why All the Hard Work? -- Beijing Review

Why All the Hard Work? -- Beijing Review:

The above is indeed a pretty good article on the possible explanation to the 'hard work' Chinese psyche..

Sincerely hope that We the Chinese worldwide can do better and adhere to and propagate that work ethics, despite the invasion of the 'western' thinking, 'western' food, 'western' expectation of work 8hrs a day, five day weeks..

My observation is that, not only the capital market worldwide, but most western world (with a semi-decent benefit system) is totally against and remove the need for 'hard work' (moral hazards)...

For the old generation of Chinese or those that hold the old beliefs (like me) would prefer to work hard, and not to get any benefits even in time of needs.. sadly this is not going to be 'stick' with the new generations where they might prefer "lets re-mortgage" the house and 'live for today', rather than work hard & invest and live a little (vs a lot) but build for the future.. (Think reason why Chinese in China saves like no tomorrow!? as they have a lot of unexpected outgoings, including cost of surgery in some cases!)

Eitherway, guess key is to be happy. Whatever take your fancy...

as I am trying to teach my next generation, the harder you work, the sweeter your success (they are seeing some fruits of success now which is good, but took 8-10years of hard work, hope not too many westerners would learn to do the same so we keep the competitive edge!?? ) No doubt this already might not be the case for the new generation of 'little emperors' in China though!?

In new year of 2012, might be worthwhile to take stock & decide which side you would like to be on!? good luck!

Must read... piece, click through above to read what Valerie Sartor wrote for Beijing review.

"Carl Crow, an American newspaper man and businessman who opened up the first Western advertising agency in Shanghai in the 1940s, said in his book The Chinese Are Like That: "If it is true that the devil can only find work for idle hands, then China must be a place of very limited satanic activities."

Chinese literature and folklore have many moral tales about industrious farmers and peasants. The willingness to work hard and make maximum use of time has been highly valued in China since ancient times. Stories abound about farmers who go to their fields even during holidays, or of peasants who think not only of themselves and their families, but also of their community and future descendants."