meianren.NET 美安人社会网络交流站

Some of the topics we spoke of:

• typical earning per year for a college grad
• the future of Social Security
• what draws so many young people particularly college students to the business?
• in addition of being a MA distributor, what do we do in our spare times?

-----------------------------------------------------------
MEIANREN: Do you mind if we voice record this interview? Would you give us the permission to publish this interview on meianren.NET?
KAYE ZHANG: 你可以随便。

MAR: 你现在是毕业了，对吧？
KZ: 对。 MAR: 你毕业几年了？
KZ: 去年12月。

MAR: 能不能问问你是学什么的？
KZ: Finance,

MAR: 在哪儿学的？
KZ: Michigan State University

MAR: 那你的degree是？
KZ: Bachelor.

MAR: In your opinion, what would be the typical earning per year after you obtain your degree?
KZ: 以前根据商学院的统计，平均地说刚从商学院毕业出来的应该是4万到5万年薪。

MAR; Have you tried out your hands at the job market?
KZ: I have tried.

MAR: Are you working?
KZ: 暂时没有。

MAR: Have you been approached by recruiters in your field?
KZ: 有，有一家公司找过。

MAR: Anything comes out of it?
KZ: 他们给我找了一家公司，应为我的GPA 比较高，其实我在没毕业之前就已经向这家公司投过一次resume了。但那次resume写的不是特别好，我毕业之后才改写过一次resume, 因为我已经投过一次了，他们认为我的resume已经在他们的系统里了，所以就说好以后再approach.

MAR; What would you say would be a winning resume?
KZ: 象刚毕业的学生，至少应该有过一两次internship。 但是作为我的话，是International Student，所以得到不太多，一个Internship都没有。 所以在夏天时总是不断地修课，因此毕业特别早。我的resume虽然是满满的一片，可是看上去我觉得还比较拿得出手的地方也就是GPA了。

MAR: What’s your GPA?
KZ: 3.86

MAR: We just become aware that you’re an International Student. Are you from China?
KZ: Yes, otherwise, I wouldn’t speak perfect Chinese.

MAR: Are you working part-time?
KZ: Part-time, 对，as a translator.

MAR: … as a translator, here?
KZ: 对，就是老板有时有一些资料的时候，就叫我去翻译下。　　

MAR: … in New York?
KZ: 对，在纽约。

MAR: How long have you been a distributor, evidently you have joined MA?
KZ; 大概两个月吧，我是今年五月份加入的。　

MAR: How has it been working for you?
KZ: Haven’t seen any money yet…

MAR: Have you found any distributors to join under you? 你找到人了吗？
KZ: 找到了，有一个人是福州人，另一个人是刚过来的同学，她已经加入为distributor了。现在她回国去了，但是因为订货方面出了一些问题，credit card 方面的事情，所以等她回来后再确定。但是左右一边一个已经算合格了。　

MAR: 两个都是International Students?
KZ: 一个是International Student, 另一个不是。　

MAR: 都是中国人？
KZ: 都是中国人。

MAR: Are they in the same age with you?
KZ: 有一个是福州人，是搞装修的，30多岁了。　另一个是20岁，我们都是长沙的。　

MAR: Have you been telling your friends about joining the business?
KZ: Obviously, 另外又来了一个跟我年纪也差不多的，大概也是２１岁，现在还没有加入，我们正努力地想让他去北卡，去看一下。另外，法拉盛这边，我是不想再说了，应该很多人都听过了吧。他们反映美安这个生意不能做，或是有朋友在做，不好。 听他们这么说，我也不想多说什么了。

MAR: Have you told your parents about it?
KZ: 啊，没有，就是，我告诉我妈，跟她随便讲了一下，她说你可以试一下，但是她不是特别主张我做，觉得这东西特别象传销。觉得还是应该拿一个更高的学历，然后再找工作比较稳当。

MAR: Have you told your school mates about it？ I mean you graduated and you joined MA as a distributor, you’ve set a different example…
KZ: 刚才讲的那个人就是，还有那个现在我们想努力让他去北卡的那个人也是我以前学校的。　

MAR: For them, your first step off college is different. After tried a couple different jobs and you joined MA as a distributor, which is a different path, a different career path. Now what do your friends say about that?
KZ: 有，我现在只找了两个人，我就以这两个人说吧。 第一个人呢，思想比较单纯，也非常有钱， 加入的话就是一千块钱的加入费。她完全可以出得起这个钱。 而且吧，第一次她去2nd Look听，她就非常认同，然后她就要做。而且当天晚上她还跟她妈讲了分红制度，我觉得比我讲的还好。她回Michigan又跟她男朋友讲，她男朋友也很认同。

MAR: 这个是那个福州人？
KZ: 不是，是长沙人。
另外一个呢，就是想的非常多，什么都问，分红制度呀，能不能找到人呀，产品方面的一些问题呀，想得比较多。 但是对她来讲，一千块钱不是一件小事。 所以我觉得还是看经济情况吧，有的人如果是拿得出这个钱的话，那就好像是一种尝试。 另外这个同学，暂时没有这么多钱，相对而言，对她来说就是个大的决策。

MAR: O.K. Do you find that it is easier to communicate this MA business concept or idea to people who are in the same age group closer to yours?
KZ: I haven’t found many yet, but I don’t like to approach people and talk endlessly.

MAR: You do or you don’t?
KZ: I don’t.

MAR: O.K. Do you find it …
KZ: …就像我们这个年龄段的人吧，暂时经济实力还不是特别强， 即使他认同的话，那也不一定拿得出这个钱。特别是在纽约，很多人都有听过美安，所以负面影响也比较大，那我自己也不是那种人，就好像一定要说服你什么东西似的，所以我就干脆不谈，在纽约这边，特别是法拉盛和唐人街这些地域找人。 我觉得还是在Michigan或是其它外州的一些地方， 跟没有听过的人讲，比较容易。接受就接受，不接受就不接受，没有什么外界或亲戚朋友的影响。

MAR: Can I ask how long have you been in this country?
KZ: 五年。

MAR: How long are you planning to stay in this country?
KZ: (smiled) Indefinitely.

MAR: Are you planning to carry this business back to China in case MA opens its market there?
KZ: Yes, it’s possible.

MAR: Do you feel patriotic about America? We’re sorry; we’re throwing in this as a joke.
KZ: Well, I don’t really understand the concept of patriotism. I think it’s …., 首先我觉得爱国方面吧，好象是…, 我不知道是爱什么东西, 你说整个国家你爱吗? 很多角落根本就没去过, 怎么能谈得上爱呢? 所以, 我不知道, 但是我喜欢美国这个国家, 法律制度很健全，人的素质高。我自己一个人在这边自由空间也比较大。但是中国也有自己独特的可爱之处，比如说人情味很浓。如果把事情具体化，可以说爱。但是如果太笼统了，就爱不过来了。

MAR: Are you one of those of us who categorically disbelieve in the “wonderful” American Social Security system?
KZ: 没有, 没有, 没有, 因为以前在商学院的时候修过一堂经济课, 我当时是旁听的, 因为选课时已经晚了, 其中教授就有讲到Social Security, 大概在2040年它就会破产。

MAR: 2040年？
KZ： 对，所以我们这一代人不能够依靠 Social Security.

MAR: So it is not a question of whether believing or disbelieving, but rather a question of whether it’ll still be in existence…
KZ: 对, 我觉得吧，别人的话我不怎么听，教授讲的话我特别听。

MAR: 教授的话可以听…
KZ: (smiling) Yes.

MAR: Have you set your goal, whether be a short term goal or a long term goal?
KZ: 啊…当然在毕业之前有很多梦想。而且想得挺简单的，像MSU毕业的，或是Finance Major毕业的，无论如何也能找到一个Finance related job, 比如在 Wall Street. 但是出来并不是这样，并没有找到什么， 碰了一鼻子灰。而且因为我是学生身份，不能在美国逗留太久，必须是，再读一个Master 或者是Ph.D。 所以暂时的目标就是再拿一个学位， 然后再看。

MAR: I see, but what about your goal in the MA business…, as a distributor, do you…
KZ: I don’t really have a goal in this business.

MAR: O.K.
KZ: 走一步看一步吧，好象我看其他人，比如说，象郭南这样的大leader, 那她下面有张小帆，这种人是我无论怎么列目标也求不来的。所以有时候我觉得设定一个目标也不是特别现实吧。

MAR: Do you have a dream board? You know, 理想板．．．
KZ: Oh, no, no, no, 就是吧，以前在小学的时候，听说鲁迅的故事，迟到了之后，就在桌子上刻一个“早”，所以鲁迅先生以后从没再迟到过。那我以前也这样做过，把什么东西都写下来，其实也只是一个形式，自己以前怎么做，还是照作不悟。既然是一个形式，那对我来说，写不写出来都意义不大.

MAR: Do you read the Career Manual?
KZ: No, to be honest.
MAR: Neither have we.

MAR：You mentioned about the…, well, you’re going to the convention in Greenboro, North Carolina, right?
KZ: 对，对，对，

MAR: Are you guys taking the bus to get there?
KZ: Yes.

MAR: Do you think this increase of gas price, this ridiculous price increase, will somewhat affect your effort to get people to come with you to the Convention?
KZ： 哈哈, No…

MAR You said “No?”
KZ： No, I meant, since…, 都是她们带（指她的Sponsor），我就不用带了，所以对我来说没有影响。

MAR: So, 对你没有影响呀？
KZ: 对， 对。

MAR: O.K.
KZ: 那一般如果是在纽约的话；在外州肯定是会，如果在纽约这边呢，可以坐地铁，所以还稍微方便一些。如果在外州的话，只能开车，那就，影响会比较大。

MAR: So you guys have rent a bus?
KZ: 对，好像是120块钱吧，我也没想那么多，反正感觉那么多人都跟着出这个120块，挺欣慰的．

MAR: You mentioned about people in your age group, even if they liked the idea of business, at a time they may or may not have enough of a wallet to start the business. How would you persuade them to…
KZ: How would I persuade them, I really have no idea. Well, I really don’t.

MAR: Is it …
KZ: 如果他没钱的话呢，我们不是有一个plan就是说你开三家店，可以以600点加入，也可以以300点加入。 如果是那样的话，我就先使劲地推那600点，然后突然再降一个300点，他如果说没钱没钱，然后突然再降一个300点。Wow, what a deal! 可能这样会…

MAR: Have you tried that?
KZ: 哈哈，她，她try 了(指她的Sponsor）。

MAR: 所以这次你带两个人去？
KZ: 现在两个，有一个Michigan的，叫蕴梓（译音），她呢，她说不回国就跟我去，她说她男朋友也会去，而且她男朋友父母也会去，如果那样的话，以下就四个人，那她现在回国，所以那四个人就以下全没戏了。现在就是尽可能想尽办法联系她的男朋友，如果她男朋友是认同这个生意的话，不管他女朋友在不在，他都应该去看一下去了解一下，现在还是在争取她男朋友这方面。 另外还有正在谈的这个人，想让他去，还需要打电话再确认一下。

MAR: 你有他男朋友的电话吗？
KZ: 我有。因为他们都是MSU的，所以把名字打进我们MSU的网站，就可以一下子把information 拿到。

MAR: MSU是Michigan State University?
KZ: 对，Michigan State University。

MAR: 你是说这个人现在回国了，如果不回国的话，加上她会有四个人一起去。
KZ: 对，所以还是那个goal, talking about goals, 就是说你确立一个目标, 可能她这一回国，你的目标就没戏了，所以还是要走一步看一步， 步步争取。

MAR: 你有没有让她把这些朋友带出来见一见？
KZ: 对，但是现在正是署假，很多人都出去玩了。还有一些朋友他们都特爱回国。暂时呢，我们是想等她回来，也等她的那些朋友回来，大概等开学的一两星期吧，然后联系好，我们就飞过去，看能不能有什么收获。

MAR: 这些人现在在做什么？
KZ: 都是学生，现在已经都回国了。

MAR: In your opinion, what is the thing that draws so many young people like you to the MA business? Is it the opportunity? Is it the attraction of money on an on-going basis? Is it the idea of retiring early that is appealing? Or is it a true self realization that hard work in a traditional job environment no longer count? Or is it a never-wanting-to –be-acknowledged internal wish that ‘let’s leave one ladder and try for another?” Or is it simply “let’s see what happens?”
KZ: I think the comparison between the 45-year plan and the 2-to-3-year plan is definitely refreshing to a lot of young people, especially when you have people with college or higher degrees making testimonies on how successful they have become by joining MA. Money keeps coming in on an on-going basis also sounds alluring. I don't think a lot of college students will agree that traditional jobs no longer count. First, this concept denies what they are doing now, which is studying and hopefully get a good ("traditional") job when they graduate. Secondly, I happen to believe life is more than just about the money -- people should find their own passion and pursue it.

MAR: We like to ask this question, in addition of doing one’s daily chores as a MA distributor, what are some of the other things young people like you do in your spare time? Are we working hard all the time? Is it everything strictly business related and no non-sense? Are we drinking Aloe juice everyday and not a drop of Tropicana Orange (we mean that metaphorically)?
KZ: I may not be a good person to ask this question. First, I'm not doing "MA distributor's daily chores" -- I don't even know what these chores are. Second, unlike other youngsters who hangout and party a lot, I'm more of a quite figure. Usually, in my spare time, I watch msnbc, bbc and other political news; I read books, enlarge my vocabulary, listening to music and I sleep. Obviously, it's not strictly business related. By the way, nice metaphor -- I would tend to think someone who drinks aloe juice everyday and not a drop of anything else is mentally twisted.

MAR: What is the true joy one gets from being in line of becoming an entrepreneur?
KZ: It's so easy to be an entrepreneur. As a MA distributor, all you need is $1000. in other businesses, the requirement is even less. There's nothing challenging about being an MA distributor. Like all other business owners, I guess I would feel a bit of joy when I see net income, instead of net loss someday.

MAR: 最后一个问题，Have you heard about meianren.NET before?
KZ: No.

MAR: What do you think we (meianren.NET) should do to improve ourselves so far as to explore the life style, the mentality, the success, the happiness, the worries and the uncertainties associated with 美安人’s day-to-day business?
KZ: 我觉得上传一些照片会加强 life style, mentality, success, happiness, worries and uncertainties 的表达，因为这些元素就体现在我们每天的日常生活中。
-------------------------------------------------------------
<<End>>

meianren.NET wants to hear your thoughts and comments.  Please write your comment about this article in the text box provided below.  For in depth discussion of various topics, please participate in our forum. As a registered user you can also post your own topic in the forum or comment on an existing forum entry.

At meianren.NET, we adhere to the followings: Interviews should be excavating; Editorials should be shaping; Columns should be opinionated; Thumbs Up should be right to the point; Reportage should be true; Forum should be open.