人物名片

Brief Profile of Dr. Lee

From 1972 to 1976: being granted Bachelor Degree for English Major by Wuhan University.

In 2011: invited as the Board Member and guest professor of Wuhan University

At present: the Chairman of U.S. Lee World Group, CEO of China Lee World Group, Board Member of Communication University of China;

Dr. Lee: Ability to learn is core competitiveness

30 years ago, Dr. Lee, in his 30s, came to U.S. alone to start his career from nothing. At present, he becomes the Chairman of U.S. Lee World Group, CEO of China Lee World Group with billions of assets, while still showing his talent in Chinese and American market.

Dr. Lee’s whole life is a legend. He once was “ Daoya” ( nickname for  someone who makes profits from price difference) of motorcycle when he was a postgraduate; during his study for Doctor Degree, Dr. Lee became “ The King of Fitness Ball” in U.S., dealing business with Apple inc. and even White House; later he set foot in aviation, and then went back to China to invest in Real Estate industry in 2006.

“ Being diligent and inquisitive is a habit from which I can benefit through out my life, and the foundation on strengthening my professional ability, while striving and exploration is my constant willpower for years ” Dr. Lee said.

 “Without learning, no depth in his mind; without practice, no usage of knowledge.” This is what Dr. Lee learnt from Wuhan University.

Being a student in Foreign Language Department, Dr. Lee was able to learn outside world through foreign language books which opened his “window of mind” and enabled him to go for the world. After graduation, Dr. Lee was designated to Foreign Affairs Office of Hubei Province. He once hosted Burmese President U Ne Win, and worked as interpreter for Mr. Bob Hope as well, the famous American Comedy.

美国商海大展拳脚

Dr. Lee first came to Communication University of China to study for Mater Degree. During his spare time, with the sharp instinct towards business, the selling of motorcycle attracted his attention. At the first, he learnt about connections of vehicle seller, motorcycle structure, the market and vehicle repairing skill, then he bought a motorcycle at 4 thousand RMB from Guangdong, and finally sold it to someone else in Beijing for 8 thousand RMB. In this way, Dr. Lee became a amazing “ Daoye” .

However, Dr. Lee was not satisfied with current achievement being as a “Daoye”. After graduation, he had been working as a teacher in Communication University of China, the Nanguang College for 2 years. During this period, he worked for foreign organizations, foreign affairs agencies, and taught foreigners to speak Chinese to make thousands of US dollars in a year, which can be deemed as “a stupendous sum” in 80s of 20^th century in China. At that time, Dr. Lee, a ambitious young man, once again was not satisfied with what he had achieved, therefore he went to Ohio State University for his Doctor Degree on politics.

Fulfill his potential in American market

Dr. Lee was faced with a series of challenges when he first came to U.S., like the difficulties getting used to the teaching speed of professor, difficult terminology, the totally different teaching method from Chinese education, and the cultural shocks as well, all which brought him huge disappointment.

At that time, thousands of US dollars means nothing in America. After paying for tuition and rent, Dr. Lee was almost in broke. To make a living, he started to look for part time job, such as assistant teacher, odd job in State TV Station and so on. Dr. Lee was also very diligent in his study. He always stayed up all night to write thesis, in addition, he actively made contacts to politicians of Ohio State, recommended himself as the private translator of Director of Politics Department during a visit to China, and contacted the Zoo of Ohio State to pay a visit to Golden Monkey in Wuhan of China and the like. All those experience opened up his vision, deepened his mind and made him more mature.

During a time in flea market, Dr. Lee realized the fitness ball, he once got by chance during his visit in China, was very popular among Americans, and a whole box of fitness ball were sold out very quickly. He found a business opportunity from fitness ball then, later he stated to try the possibility on selling fitness ball while preparing for his thesis.

After research, Dr. Lee found only one Taiwanese merchant was selling fitness ball with high price, so Dr. Lee immediately started the business on selling fitness ball with his wife.

By precise audience target and market advantage, Dr. Lee successfully realized large scale integrated marketing. Since then, fitness ball had been very popular for a long time.  

Marching towards  vehicle parts industry

Turing into a supplier of GM for vehicle parts from “ The King of Fitness Ball” in America so easily maybe was out of expectation of Dr. Lee himself.

During a trade fair, Dr. Lee heard about someone was looking for Chinese factory to produce vehicle parts, so he asked for the business card and found this company was American General Motors after checking online.

Dr. Lee met with the General Manager of the company, and was asked to produce the parts which met the requirement on his own cost. The manager gave Dr. Lee the sample and drawing of a rubber ring which was charged 50 cents.

It seems easy to produce a rubber ring, actually it is difficult. In America, no supplier can both guarantee the quality and control the cost, however Dr. Lee made it come true.

Fortunately, Dr. Lee found a senior Factory Director retired from a Rubber Factory of Wuhan. The retired Factory Director with the his team successfully produced a exactly same product as the sample after one month, most importantly, the price can be controlled with 30 cents.

Looking back, Dr. Lee still felt unbelievable that he could take the order from American General Motors while lacking equipment and technology, manufacture skill, product design and so on. Since them, Dr. Lee successfully achieved career transition.

With the career coming into a stable development period, Dr. Lee was thinking to go back to China to make investment and to start a new career for the third time. Dr. Lee has been always sentimentally attached to his motherland just as what is shown in his given name “ Zhongzi”. From that moment, what he pursued for was to share his experience and ideas to his Chinese compatriots, while making profits was no longer his first priority.

 

Q&A

Q: What are the impacts of learning experience from Wuhan University on your future business?

A: During these 4 years in Wuhan University, I grew up to a practical knowledge pursuer from a wet behind the ears, all this is due to Wuhan University. Meanwhile, I cultivated fighting spirit which is a fundamental change for me while being diligent and inquisitive is beneficial through out my life.

Q: what are the differences of trade environment between China and U.S.?

A: The biggest difference is marketability degree. America, a country with very high marketability degree, capitalism development mode has been developing for almost 2 hundred years, while China just entered market economy a few decades ago, coupled with domination on economic reform and development by the government, which all makes the two countries very different.

Q: What factors of avoiding risks should be taken into consideration as an investor?

A: Firstly, investment requires firsthand experience and inspiration, which is the viewpoint I have been holding for years. We can take boxing as an example, when being as an audience and a participator, the feelings between these two characters are very different.

Success or not is very normal when it comes to investment. Impulse investment should be avoided if lacking firsthand judgment and enough confidence.

Secondly, a certain vision is a must. Being able to study the market trend, I probably focus more on market, therefore I maybe have a better vision than some entrepreneurs in China. Once I know the future direction of a industry, I will stick to my way towards the direction and be well prepared for future risks as long as the demand effect remains.

Q: Any suggestions for undergraduates on startup career?

A: Firstly, to be diligent and inquisitive; secondly, to make enough money to survive, instead of aiming impossibly high; thirdly, to learn how to cooperate with others, instead of fighting alone; fourthly, be brave to overcome challenges.