The Temptation and Shanzhai

Life is full of desires and expectations. You know, "that particluar song was so Cool, this Movie is not that nice, this design is mmmmmmmmmm Oki Oki, but can be improved, Am I looking fat, oh not again same thing Mom" and what not. The list is endless. and so are the temptations.

Temptations to sleep a bit more, temptation for the Lava Cake, temptation for the new Gadget, temptation for the new Pinkish Top.........endless. Right.

Its these temptations on which brands are built. Look around, if there was no temptation there would be no brands and only pieces of goods.

So this is about Temptation, but what is Shanzhai. I know many of you clicked to know whats a Shanzhai is.
Well, one of the most tempting thing for our generation are the Handsets. Mobile handsets which have become a part of our life, in fact if you want to punish a 90's child just take his/her mobile for a day.

Its these temptation which has given rise to what is known as Shanzhai. Shanzhai is the term used to refer imitated or me too brand of goods manufactured in China, specially electronics goods. Another term used for Shanzhai is "mountain village" or "mountain stronghold", the term refers to the mountain stockades of warlords or thieves, far away from official control.

Now you will be amazed to know that Shanzhai's have a market share of 20% in China's Mobile industry and a single unit producing Shanzhai's of Nokia, Samsung, Motorola etc can be started with only 10 people. (http://tiny.cc/xuuy4)

you might also be amazed to know that Nokia is the no.1 handset seller in China with more than 40% Market share (http://tiny.cc/yc4we).
Imagine a Company with thousands of employees working hard at a technology and the second it launches its product, the Shanzhai copies it with just 10 Employees, and are market Leaders.

Its the result of Excessive temptation both on the part of consumer as well as Shanzhai's.
Now if Government of China ban's these Shanzhai's there will be a huge number of chinese who will be jobless and the cost of which the govt. will have to bear, hence they are in no mood to Ban Shanzhai's.

The Catch: Does it make sense to first let Americans enjoy and with Outsourcing we continue to work for them as cyber coolie's?

Now American's want us to teach their kids and guess what after 10 Years the situation will be.

You will have knowledge to teach and work as Coolies, but the market won't require your skills because the skills will become Life skills.

The Idea: Don't just run towards huge paychecks and big metros dream, instead run towards the self. Direct your temptation towards right direction as in the words of great Sir Sachin Tendulkar," Don't chase Money Chase Runs, because when you chase Runs and Money follows".

Tempt ourself to your dreams, and don't be a Shanzhai........