How are you?

I started this letter to you at 7:47am, Sunday, September 2, 2012.

I would hold my 4th art exhibition in USA if I had time at this time.

However, even though I have gotten my new visa and I have prepared for performing this plan that was made when I was in USA last September, right now, I am still tied tightly by the project to publish the Volume One of E-bridge cross-culture and inter-arts series of books II, so that I have not found any time to see my doctors, art teachers and friends, to work on my retreat from the company in person and I just painted twice since I came back Shenzhen from Beijing July 28, 2012, and I have been informed to go back Beijing to take part in the school’s opening ceremony in Chinese National Academy of Arts Sep 16, 2012.

Anyway, instead of being in a worrying or hurry style as I was in June and July, I am working on every thing I should to do on the project in a quite peaceful heart. Because, I have gotten a very good lesson and I have known how to go my road in the future and how to resolve the difficulties that I am experiencing at this time.

The biggest and the best lesson for me is from the music work for the publication: For creating a publication online and offline with multimedia system that includes painting, music, articles, translation and software and also for saving the cost, I have been doing all of the jobs by myself since 2005,but, now, when the time has entered 2012, I am still work on most of jobs by myself ? translate the poems, compose the music, sing it, make the record in person. The result is that I was tied by the details day and night, spent a large amount of money and opportunity cost on studying how to sing, how to make a record and the work result is not certainly ideal...delay much time that I should use on the other work, lost some good opportunities... :- )

So, now, when I am writing to you, I cannot help smiling for what I have done on music jobs as a part of the project. If I do all things relate the project this way, I will not certainly make my comprehensive art dream to be true at all.

Therefore, I have been summarizing when I was working on these jobs and I have had an idea to improve my work efficiency and the product quality.

After I complete the first formal publication as the a sample in my mind, I will do some subcontracting for Volume Two, Volume Three and Volume Four... since next year. To make the painting, music, article and software development to be worked by the others in different groups, with cooperation with the others, to created a “win ? win” or “win ? win ?win ? win”. I myself will just do something to organize this project and something I am good at it. According to the current situation, just on music part, I will save 60% of the record cost, I will also save 80% of time on this part, the product quality will be improved and I will be also to use my limited capital and time to do double things. :- )

Can you imagine? I am smiling once more at this time, for what I have learned with much money, time and loss. From this meaning, all of these are worth and my heart is comfort and in the calm emotion... : -)

The good news is: in the quite difficult time in my life, I have met and found some true friends whom I can rely on and become long-term work partners in my mind. I have really learned so much on singing and music record. The work quality yesterday was praised by my music professor and the sound engineer first time. I am confident with the work this afternoon. :-)

A difficult time and money is really something good as the touchstone. They can teach a person to work better, they can also help a manager to found some good work partner relationship base on the friendship and sincerity.

Do you think so? Do you have anything special to share?

Take care and thanks, have a good weekend.

Shirley Yiping Zhang
September 2, 2012(Beijing Time)