I started to work in 1981 in Tokyo as export staff in Japanese electronics company. I was sent to and stayed in New York in 1985 as business trainee for one year. After the training I kept working hard. I had been travelling a lot and involved in major international deals of my former employer for 20+ years. I thought my company adore me. I've never thought the company blow up on my face.1994 - 1996, I was in charge of business development of Asian countries. I travelled to China, Vietnam, Burma, India, etc, etc... It was fun. I could say I loved my job. I adored my company, too.
In summer, 1997, I was transferred to San Francisco as a part of management team, newly formed Multimedia Marketing and Business Development. In the public business scenes, I was top running, high gear, and full speed. Though I had my own secret plan to keep staying in the US, I did not have enough time to think and implement it. Sales were souring to be doubled in 1999, I was working with 15 team members. Think it back it was good economy days, at the same time, Multimedia was early stage, growing rapidly. I did not recognize it, I thought my team was winning, I was winning.
My visa status that time was under E-2, investor status, endorsed by my company. I knew this would cause me a problem later because company endorsement expires, my visa expires. Once my visa expires, I would be given just a couple of weeks to get out of US. I planned to change it to H-1 to smoothly move to "Green Card Base". But things started to happen before I move.The problem was not just my company life. My private life had even bigger problem. My ex-wife was from my company's high-up managing director's family. But she did not like to accompany me to stay in US. During company days of San Francisco, my ex-wife visited me once for about a week. She returned back to Japan after that. She was never interested in coming back. By 1999, we had been separated for about 3 years. If I decide to keep staying in the US, I need to end that marriage, too.
Related posts:
http://zheninternational.blogspot.com/2009/02/y2k-for-me-1.html
Check my websites to find out what I am doing:
http://funami.edcdiamond.com/
http://www.shawfunami.com/
http://zhenintl.ws/
Feel free to contact me:
shaw@zhenintl.ws
Shaw Funami
Fill the Missing Link
6 comments:
Hi Shaw,
I'm so proud of you for following your heart! You were faced with a difficult decision and you chose to do what made you happy.
You staying in the U.S. took a lot of courage and is a great example of Imperfect Action.
We look forward to reading more.
Many Blessings....
Roxanne and Hugo
~ Believe Achieve ~
Hi Shaw .. you've certainly seen a lot of the world and had a lot of business contacts;
It must have been difficult making that decision to divorce your wife, who was so tied to the company - you had a lot of courage.
Also you had a lot of things to work out & sort out - otherwise your plans would have gone haywire .. & your dreams would have been shattered.
I look forward to the next post ..
Hi Hugo and Roxanne,
Thank you for your comment. The people who I talked that time told me not to do. Some said it is stupid decision. I thought something people tells me not to do has lots of potentials with lots of challenges. Thanks and visit again.
Shaw Funami
Fill the Missing Link
Hello Hilary,
Thank you for visiting. Thank you for your comment. Yes, my company sent me a lot of places. For that I am thankful. But I decided to pursue my own path. That was the branching point from both my company and my ex-wife. Thank you again for your visiting.
Shaw Funami
Fill the Missing Link
Hi Shaw
That was great that you follow you heart. I did the same thing as well many years ago. And it was the best thing I ever done. I am very proud of you.
Thanks for sharing.
Giovanna Garcia
Hello Giovanna,
Thank you for your comment. Now I can think that it was experience and fun. But it was comotion wasn't it? I could grow out of the experience. I had a abundant time to think and evaluate myself.
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