My Model...someone for me to aspire to.

I have an interesting passenger right beside me on the way back home from Shanghai yesterday. He is rather old and I notice that he shakes a little. He was sitting by the window and I had aisle (my favourite row). He was already seated when I arrived. We made eye contact and he smiled at me and I reciprocate. After the plane takes off, he took out a catalog from his brief case and started to sketch out chairs. Up in my head, I thought he may be Danish. Just back from Copenhagen, I now know that Denmark is famous for the chairs and chair design.

I cannot recall what was the first comment he said to me. However there a few key points I remember and I think he is send by God to me. He is a Swiss and speaks German and Italian(mum's Italian) He is 65 years old and he start his own business at 40 years of age. He started with 10,000 swiss francs and 6 chairs. He has been to North Pole by Russian helicopter. South Pole by Russian Icebreaker ship, been to Sahara desert two years ago...

Why do I think he is godsend? At 40, he started his own business. He learn about chairs by visiting exhibition. He first imported chairs from Italy because that is the language he can speak fluently. He learn English by watching television and talking people like me! He taught me so much and show me the way. His father is still alive and 91 years. He says until today his father still do not believe he could make so much money selling chairs!! He tells me he has Parkinson disease (now I know the shakes). He recommended I should go to Mana Mana in Bintan. He says it is like paradise. Small huts on stilts just right on the sea. He flew Singapore Airlines a lot.

He showed me the price list of his product. One cost 230 Swiss francs. He told me it cost him only 40 francs. He does not make all the profits as the retail makes 40%. Still pretty good profit! He tell me that you must be first. Then you can make product for one dollar and sell for fifty. He just introduce a new series of chairs made from Seagrass. He is the first to bring this product to Switzerland.

I asked for his name card so that you know it is real. His name is Erwin Hauser. He has showed me that it is not too late to be an entreprenuer. Thank you! Mr. Hauser.