Guanxi, a system of Chinese business relationships, is often described, but is rarely fully understood. Though it seems intangible, there is no doubt that it has contributed significantly to the success of Chinese entrepreneurs and the places where they work. Translated loosely as 'personal ties', this simple explanation belies a complex and nuanced system. Guanxi has often been criticised as nepotism - unfair, inefficient, even corrupt, and generally detrimental to business and economic growth... but if it is that bad, how does it survive? This insightful book unravels the origins of Guanxi and provides a much-needed explanation of the phenomena. It investigates: why it was initiated and developed what function it serves how it is maintained why it is such a dominant phenomenon in Chinese business life Combining economics, law and culture, this clear and concise book looks to the future of Guanxi based on its history. Drawing on cultural, organizational and economic studies, it takes a multi-disciplinary approach, integrating these various topics into a coherent explanation of Guanxi ensuring that this illuminating book will be equally useful to students of Asian business as to practitioners working within this market.

Guanxi, a system of Chinese business relationships, is often described, but is rarely fully understood. Though it seems intangible, there is no doubt that it has contributed significantly to the success of Chinese entrepreneurs and the places where they work. Translated loosely as 'personal ties', this simple explanation belies a complex and nuanced system. Guanxi has often been criticised as nepotism - unfair, inefficient, even corrupt, and generally detrimental to business and economic growth... but if it is that bad, how does it survive? This insightful book unravels the origins of Guanxi and provides a much-needed explanation of the phenomena. It investigates: why it was initiated and developed what function it serves how it is maintained why it is such a dominant phenomenon in Chinese business life Combining economics, law and culture, this clear and concise book looks to the future of Guanxi based on its history. Drawing on cultural, organizational and economic studies, it takes a multi-disciplinary approach, integrating these various topics into a coherent explanation of Guanxi ensuring that this illuminating book will be equally useful to students of Asian business as to practitioners working within this market.

The cancer of mediocrity plagues our society by infecting our spirits and attitudes, disposing us to be satisfied with the ordinary. However, an extraordinary person rises above the regular routine by turning justified frustration into action. They move forward, move out, and move on. They utilize the chaos generated by life's transitional storms to water-walk from boring obsolescence to profound relevancy. These storms shake us from our tedious monotony and release our most explosive potential. Instead of drowning in the turbulence, water-walkers recognize the hidden invitation in the eye of their storm, discover a new beginning, and take advantage of the chaos in their conflict-charged atmosphere to move from effective to extraordinary. An Invitation to the Extraordinary offers practical water-walking principles to help you seize the exceptional growth your tempests present and get the most out of life's storms. Why be content with mediocrity when the extraordinary is just a few stormy steps away? The best time to release the water-walker within us is during our fiercest storms. You do not have to batten down the hatches, throw tackle overboard, or participate in the mutiny of self-destruction. In June of 2008, God allowed an unpredictable thunderstorm of epic proportion to rumble through our ministry. These tornadic winds blew from all directions, threatening our sense of well-being, spiritual balance, and self-worth. While we eagerly expected the words of healing and survival from Christ, what we actually received was an invitation. What unfolded during this anxious time would be a challenging, life-transformation for my congregation and me.

This memoir follows the relationship between the author (a psychiatrist) and his wife, Michelle, from its tumultuous beginning in 1985 to their ambivalent last good-bye three years later. The subtitle "a case study" attempts to maintain a professional distance from this devastating relationship, but it's all too clear that the illness from which Walker's wife suffered came close to dragging him down with her. Walker is first smitten by Michelle when, as a medical student, he encounters her on rounds, where she is presented as a recent suicide attempt. He can't understand how such a beautiful, sexy young woman would want to kill herself and returns to interview her for a school presentation. Despite warnings from his teacher, friends and father, he falls deeply in love and is drawn into her world, only to emerge with great difficulty a year later. Walker, an outgoing, athletic, cheerful young man, relinquishes more and more of himself to Michelle and gradually becomes isolated, depressed, devious and even violent as he tries to cope with-and ultimately escape from-Michelle. This intimate narrative, showing how the best intentions of a naive, compassionate young doctor can lead him straight to hell, will fascinate readers who've dealt with similar situations firsthand. The three appendixes provide welcome information about the definition, diagnosis and treatment of borderline personality disorder.

Anthony Walker grew up in the vise of poverty and chose a dark path that led to a lifestyle of crime. As a result of negative influences and bad choices, he ended up incarcerated. But being isolated from society allowed him the necessary time to connect with God and return to his Christian roots. He also discovered a passion for literature that ultimately unveiled a natural talent for writing. My Father's Dreams is a collection of poetry that is unique and undefined by style. Walker covers topics that range from religion to love to social and political disparity. For Walker, poetry is art. It is music from the heart, the essence of truth, and the beauty of thought. His collection is an opportunity to give and not take, having evolved as a writer from an ominous place. For years, he kept his mouth shut and expressed himself in the dark. Now, it is his peaceful pleasure to extend this gift as melody pours from his pen. This is his wistful collection, his word, and his expression.