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When he jokingly said that he was born on a sunny day in Luenen in Germany, I had no doubt in my mind that, if he had had a horoscope drawn up, he would have found that all the constellations had obligingly lined up to provide the most auspicious conditions for a young lad growing up in Germany to become a future success in the international business arena. According to the well-spoken and well-mannered Martin Beckmann, he had a happy and normal childhood. At the age of 19, he moved from the small city of his birth near Dortmund to Giessen (close to Frankfurt) to study Economics, with a focus on logistics, international management and enterprise organization.
if you are good to people, they will be good to you. Is this not a naive belief for a businessman in a dog-eat-dog business world? "Not really," he counters. "Look, one can also be nice in business. Being professional and negotiating hard does not mean that you cannot achieve your business goals and be nice at the same time. While I was part-timing, running a bar during my university days, my colleagues always said that I was an expert at giving them a good dressing-down with a smile. China, where diplomacy in business is necessary, is a hard country for Germans who like to play things straight. However, I learnt early enough the advantages of accepting and tolerating different personalities and cultures."
DALIAN'S YOUNGEST & COOLEST GM While Martin orchestrates the highly advanced, fully automated, and state-of-the-art Mayerton Refractories, he also takes time to smell the roses and photograph them. Despite his busy schedule, he spoke to Sumi Seissinger of Dalian Today about his life, both professional and personal in Dalian. It really depends on where you see Martin Beckmann. If you see him at Sunny, the local import store, picking up a packet of German sausages, casually dressed in a t-shirt and jeans, he could be one of the young foreigners who are in Dalian for any number of reasons, including teaching or tourism. The professional camera around his neck would indicate that he has a passion for photography, but there is nothing in his appearance or demeanor to suggest that he heads the China operations of Mayerton Refractories, a European company producing world-class refractories in the PRC.
Mayerton, which operates in over thirty countries across five continents, was founded in 1991 and has its headquarters in the UK. As destiny would have it Martin Beckmann, at the suggestion of his father, took up an internship with Mayerton's sister company in the UK. From Project Assistant in contract logistics, in three short years he worked his way up to become Senior Project Manager. Then, as the constellations might have predicted in his unwritten horoscope, he made a career move that would eventually lead him to his current position as head of Mayerton China. He joined Mayerton UK five and a half years ago as Logistics Manager.
However, if you saw him in his perfectly tailored blue suit in the board room of Mayerton's new ultra-modern refractory production facility in Dalian, which is also one of the largest in the world, you would have no doubt that Martin Beckmann is an extremely successful businessman. To signal his status as a young, canny, on the ball, senior executive at one of Dalian's most successful multinationals, it is not just his confident look, but also his expertise at leading, negotiating and delegating, plus his hands-on approach to business.
Just one year later, the upwardly mobile Martin Beckmann was Head of Logistics. Half a year and his involvement and love affair with China would begin. As "Appraisals Officer," he became the vital bridge between HQ and the China Operations. He enjoyed traveling in China extensively because, as he puts it himself, "it is always a friendly country." Appraisals Officer to General Manager was a giant leap in a short time. At 35, he is most certainly the youngest senior executive, not only in Mayerton but in Dalian as well.
Dalian's most eligible bachelor is not just about business, but also having fun. He belongs to the new generation of high flyers who are famous for their business acumen as well as a balanced approach to life.
His philosophy of "what you give, you will get," seems to be the underlying basis of his no nonsense, common sense approach to life. Having traveled all over the world, including Russia and America, he firmly believes that
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Dalian Today City Gazette August 2010
How do you manage big business without knowing Chinese? Do you not feel the need to learn the language? He grins in his typical charmingly, boyish way. "Naturally, I can get by when it comes to food, taxis and basic communication, but there are three reasons why I am not an expert in Mandarin. Firstly, I am not talented in learning languages. Secondly, to ensure that there is no miscommunication in business, I would need a translator anyway. And thirdly," he laughs, "I don't have a Chinese girlfriend." Now we come to the interesting theme of his goals, which is somewhat connected with the lack of a Chinese girlfriend. "Short term, professionally I will continue to do what I do, and with time it just gets better and better. This formula of going with the flow, usually works for me in stepping up the success meter almost automatically. Personally, I have plans to have a family. I grew up in a very happy home, and I hope to duplicate that for my children." I wish Martin good luck in finding Ms. Right. A lucky girl out there who is most probably reading this article, now knows that Dalian's most eligible bachelor is alive and kicking and looking for her. However, here is a word of warning. Girls he meets in bars according to him are nice for chitchat but not as future brides. Finally, some sound advice from this regular yet extraordinary expat doing business in
Dalian. What are the pitfalls of doing business in China that one can avoid with his personal advice to young entrepreneurs? 1. Time is a key factor in negotiating. You have to ensure that you have enough time not to let your opponents stick to their position because they know that you have limited time. 2. Another key factor to remember is that the Chinese, like other business minded partners, will never sell anything at loss. If you negotiate too hard then you are bound to lose something valuable like quality. 3. Be careful not to step on too many toes. Personal pride and losing face can be a tricky problem in China. 4. Turn frustrations into challenges. The reason that you are frustrated is because you have come to a bottleneck, and due to added cultural differences of doing business it might seem insurmountable. However, remember that in China you can find a solution for all problems. 5. The most important advice I can give young people who are keen on making a successful career is to learn from experience. One needs education as the tool to learn to read numbers and the basics of successful economics, and then there is real life. Listening to people who have been through the hard knocks of business can help you avoid making the same mistakes. We talk about the culture differences of doing business in Dalian. His take is that one does not necessarily have to drink alcohol to break the ice. He says, "Chinese executives are adapting to modern ways of doing business internationally. However, dining is still important." With a grin, he adds, "The Chinese way of dining, one bite at a time is not good for the waistline." That seems to summarize life in Dalian very well. One bite more, and another bite more of a rich culture, friendly people and wonderful opportunities, make Dalian living quite addictive. He loves living in Dalian especially since it has so many beautiful places and natural advantages. While Martin Beckmann continues to do what he does best, and obliges doting Chinese parents who want him to pose with their babies, the right girl might just find him on one of his escape trips into the green of Dalian, photographing the flora, fauna, wildlife and sometimes the beautiful girls of Dalian
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Big, Beautiful & Bursting with Information The Dalian Today in its magnificient large format, with informative and interesting content and beautiful photographs in high resolution received a standing ovation from the guests who welcomed an authentic City gazette, which will guide visitors and residents of Dalian to everything Dalian has to offer.
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Gael de Kerguenec, Lishun Wang & Frank Wen
Marianna Lay & Wei Jiang
Mena Edgar, Yuri Colon & Anny Ahn
On Friday 4, June 2010 a dazzling, fine event was hosted by Dalian Today Publications and World View at the luxurious premises of the Hong Xing Club House. Friends and supporters of Dalian Today, along with more than two hundred guests in elegant evening dresses attended this memorable event. Marianna Lay, in her lovely pale green designer dress beautifully hosted the event of the year, together with Wei Jiang, a famous Chinese host from Dalian TV. During this event, not only the Dalian Today City Gazette was released but also the Dalian Today International Club was formally launched. Sumi Seissinger, Takashi Saito, Nasir Hameed & Frank Wen
Sumi Seissinger
Live entertainment was provided by Frederick, Dalian's best pop band: thanks to Fred, Lubo and Tim, who made guests dance their feet off. Fantastic lucky draw prizes were won by happy guests: Regina Ta won a complimentary buffet dinner for 2 persons at La Mer Restaurant at the Grand Mercure Teda Dalian Hotel, Patrick Carruthers from Maple Leaf School won a complimentary dinner for two at the Harbour View Restaurant and David Edgar from Intel won a complimentary voucher for a one night stay at the Executive Suite with breakfast for 2 persons at Ramada Plaza Hotel. "Be a Star Night" was unanimously voted the Event of the Year.
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Founding Members of Dalian Today I Club
Over 200 Friends of Dalian Today in elegant party gear
Guests aptly summed up Dalian Today as superb. In brief, they said, "Dalian Today has useful & informative content, it is clearly about the City of Dalian, it is beautiful with its lush pictorial spreads, the printing is high quality and layout is international, and with its super size is simply the best in the market in terms of readability, journalism and clarity. As a monthly Gazette it is bound to be topical with latest news and information."
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Rajiv Aggarwal, Yucca Zhang & Shika Aggarwal
Jen Davis
VIP Guests of Dalian enjoyed the best food & beverage kindly provided by World View
Calie Sun, Sumi Seissinger, Mike & Susan Hogan, Cecilia Mayer, Lizzie Li & Mary Ma
Idrees Malik, Anna-Laurenza & Robert Wiggins
The super star, actor Chen Dao Ming, who was the focal point of the event, fell in love with the World View homes. As a result, when he visits Dalian again, he will enjoy his new home in Sino Ocean World View. With the presence of such distinguished guests; Sino Ocean World View delivered its promise of making this event an elite gathering of superstars of China. Internationally and nationally known Super Models, Singers, Artists, Actors, Athletes and other VIP guests from Taiwan and China, including Hong Kong came to attend the Celebrity World Cup. Wu Qihua, Huang Gexuan, Man Wenjun, Liao Jingsheng, Ding Zhicheng, Huanghai Bing, Qu Ying, He Lin, Yuan Hua, Sun Haiying, Xu Yajun, Xie Dongna, Ye Qiaobo, were some of the celebrities who autographed the giant golf ball on display.
******* The super star, actor Chen Dao Ming in action
At the "golf-kick-off"ceremony, Wu Qixian, the humorous host, with his speech set the tone for a relaxed and happy atmosphere for the rest of the competion. Lishun Wang, General Manager of the Sino Ocean World View made the welcome speech, expressing his warm and genuine hospitality. With Chen Dao Ming's wonderful "tee-off", the tournament began. This year's golf tournament, just like the 2008 tournament has left a deep impression. It is events such as these that prove World View's high standard and has become the symbol
of luxury-living without compare, in the city. The g olf tour nament was a competition between the star team and guest team. The guest team made up of Sino Ocean World View 100 VIP guests, who are also house owners, won this year's Sino Ocean World View Golf Cup Tournament. The top honor, The Champion Golfer went to a home owner who won a gold edition golf equipment worth 1.3 million RMB. The real climax of the evening was the auctioning of Diego Maradona and David Beckham's autographed jerseys, with a total of 330,000 RMB donated to the Cerebral Palsy Children's Relief Fund of Liaoning Province. Meanwhile, Huang Xiaoming donated part of wine auction money for cerebral palsy treatment. One of the VIP guests summed up the tournament, "Not only were we able to play with celebrities, but we also had dinner with them, it was just brilliant! Thanks to Sino Ocean World View for giving us this rare and great opportunity". Sino Ocean World View is taking its civic duties seriously by providing Dalian's entrepreneurs a social platform to meet, as well as contribute to the needy of our society. "Live in Sino Ocean World View, enjoy an exclusive lifestyle in Dalian" aptly expresses World View's strength and quality of its exclusive, ocean lifestyle.
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