Two topics, first I’ll be working from NYC this week. I’ll be sharing the Korea Society presentation once their very professionally team produces the video series and uploads to YouTube. Please Stay tuned.
That said, much of my professional work is providing strategy and consulting to the top Korean brands globally.
This includes working with non-Korean firms, leadership and audiences to explain the dynamics and nuances in Korean business. During a long day that can often extend into the evening, I tackle client issues.
A common question both in media interview and by clients is “ Don, how did you get interested in Korean business?”
My Korea focus and experience are actually rooted in Korean martial arts. I began martial arts in the early 1970s, receiving my Cho Dan (1st Degree Black Belt) by the mid 1970s, opened my first school in 1976 and tested for Sabom Master Instructor in 1987. In 2013, I was inducted into the Taekwondo Hall of Fame.
Outside my public image today of business consultant, coach, trainer, strategist, social commentator, and author. I’ve continued to be a life-long student of traditional Korean martial arts– now for 43 years.
I have added several complex Chinese forms to my repertoire of over 35 hyung—the traditional sets of combative movements martial artists’ practice to hone their bodies and minds.
I have always seen martial arts as not only a way of staying in shape through a wide range of stretching, kicking, and hand movements, but also a demanding mental regiment.
All said, I attribute my success in Korean business much in part to the discipline, “meditation in motion,” self-control, patience, and focus sharpened over a lifetime in the martial arts—not to mention the strong rooting in the cultural dimension of a traditional Korea art.
Just one more thing, in addition to my Korean facing Facebook pages, I just added a new martial arts Page. It includes some articles I have written for both academic and the martial arts industry.
So until next time, this is Don Southerton wishing you all the best.
As in past Everything Korea, I will share links on topics discussed in the accompanying copy.
1. The Korea Society
http://www.koreasociety.org/corporate/korea_perspective.html
Please Follow and Like:
2. My Facebook Page ( lots of posts I see as timely and relevant)
https://www.facebook.com/dsoutherton
3. Bridging Culture Worldwide Facebook Page (Korea facing)
https://www.facebook.com/BridgingCultureWorldwide
4. My Martial Arts Page (cool videos and articles)
https://www.facebook.com/pages/Don-Southerton/846237712136423
Questions, Comments, Thoughts? Go to questions@koreabcw.com
#Koreasociety #NewYorkCity #strategy #Korea #Koreanbusiness#martialarts #personaldevelopment #mentaldiscipline #patience #focus#Koreanculture
Everything Korea: May 11 Episode, Startup Culture
Summary and Links:
Just back from NYC, so I wanted to share the link to The Korea Society presentation. Nikita Desai and the team did a wonderful job hosting and then professionally producing and uploading the event. You’ll want to set aside some time to watch the recorded session. I have included the YouTube link in week’s copy.
The topic of Korean startups seemed to come up lots last week. We touched upon it in The Korea Society interview, but it was a subject of discussion in several of my high level meetings while in the City.
I feel it is a “talking point” that I will be elaborating more on in the next few weeks, but frankly Entrepreneurship and the roots of Korean style Entrepreneurship has long been a subject of my study, writing and work.
In fact, my first book was titled, The Filleys: 350 Years of American Entrepreneurial Spirit
A second book Intrepid Americans: Bold Koreans—Early Korean Trade, Concessions, and Entrepreneurship
As well as Chemulpo to Songdo IBD: Korea’s International Gateway, and Hyundai Way: Hyundai Speed all approach Entrepreneurship from different perspectives, historically and culturally.
So today, just as an introduction to the topic of Korean startups, I see the major challenge with Korean startup is culture. Let me explain, what has evolved in America regarding startups is they tend to hub in cities like Boulder, Colorado, San Francisco, Austin, TX, and NYC, although more and more scenes are emerging like here in Golden, CO…
Within these communities I have witnessed an amazing synergy not only in day-to-day interactions and dialogue, but also in resources. Actually spending an hour and listening to the chats and even pitches for funding in edgy Caffe Centro on a South Park Street in San Francisco (the couple of blocks once referred as Ground Zero of the dot.com, where concepts like Twitter were launched and scores of tech companies and startups now call home ) one quickly sees why locating in one of these scenes is key ….
Noting this, where the gap between US and Korea occurs is primarily in mindset. Today the entrepreneurs, angel investors and VC who launched Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Linkedin and Shopify continue to look for, invest and provide mentorship and guidance to what they hope will be the next success story…. In most cases they are investing resources in multiple ventures….
This said they know and accept that failure is part of the process…. As Biz Stone (Twitter, Square, Xanga, Medium…and a bunch more) said at SXSW… “the failure of one venture, Jelly, led to success at a venture, Super.”
So getting back to Korea the real challenge is not in lack of ideas, innovation, and talent, but in allowing and fostering a culture for an acceptance of failure. And this is where I will take up in the next episode of Everything Korea and share some an exciting developments, which may be the very answer…so stay tuned.
Until next time….
Link to The Korea Society
https://youtu.be/
Link to Don’s Books
http://www.amazon.com/gp/
For some fun with your iPhone
https://super.me/
Questions? Go to questions@koreabcw.com
Korea Perspective