Another Day Another Airport

Starting a business would be easy if all we had to deal with were business challenges.

• Get the website built? Not that tough
• Develop a marketing plan? In my sleep!
• Squash the competitors? Piece of cake!
• Get to Thailand for a beach vacation? Now that’s scares me

Jokes aside, many of the obstacles of starting a business in a developing country (where most of those emerging markets are found) involves getting done every day tasks that our research shows are 23% tougher on average than in developed nation. 79% tougher on average if you are within 13 days of Chinese New Year. (Those jokes just refuse to move aside. Must have been spending time at the Guangzhou Railway Station).

I finally made it out of the Shanghai airport this morning.

Original Schedule:

• Feb 2, 18:35h Fly from Shanghai to Shenzhen
• Feb 2, 23:30h Fly from Shenzhen to Bangkok
• Feb 3, 06:00h Fly from Bangkok to Hat Yai
• Feb 3, 9:00h Bus from Hat Yai to Pakbara
• Feb 3, 11:00 Boat from Pakbara to Koh Lipe
• Feb 3, 2:00 Arrive Koh Lipe

But that’s all out the window now for the new schedule

• Feb 2, 18:35h Enjoy the chaos at Pudong airport until I give up, go home and get some sleep somewhere around midnight.
• Feb 3: 07:45h Supposed to get on plane to Shenzhen
• Feb 3: 10:00h Get on plane to Shenzhen after ball-less, puck-less combination rugby, hockey game in Pudong airport
• Feb 3: All day. Sit in Starbucks at Shenzhen airport and use their wireless
• Feb 3, 23:30h Fly from Shenzhen to Bangkok
• Feb 4, 06:00h Fly from Bangkok to Hat Yai
• Feb 4, 9:00h Bus from Hat Yai to Pakbara
• Feb 4, 11:00 Boat from Pakbara to Koh Lipe
• Feb 4, 2:00 Arrive Koh Lipe

Lesson #1: Leave for Chinese New Year at least one week before the holiday if you wish to avoid the extra airport excitement

Lesson #2: Only an overly optimistic, maschochist would even attempt such an absurdly complex schedule at peak screw-up season. No wonder I keep seeing so many Shanghai business owners trying to get on the same flights.

Hope to blog with you all tomorrow from Koh Lipe and try to have fun wherever you are.