Li Hao

    martin.mouse@163.com

    TWENTY years ago, Guo Xiao-ming gave up a secure job in the State sector to make a new start in Shenzhen.

    Now he is the owner of six companies and 15 invention patents. A seasoned expert of International Standardization Organization (ISO), he is an authority on the standardization of glass fiber and heat insulating material.

    Guo is also one of Shenzhen’s most loyal and best-known football fans.    

    Make a change

    After graduating from the material engineering department of prestigious Tongji University in Shanghai in 1982, Guo was employed by the Nanjing Fiberglass R&D Institute, which is affiliated with the State Construction Material Industry Administration.

    He was a manager by the time he was 35.

    However, he began to crave adventure, and thought about coming to Shenzhen, the forefront of China’s reform and opening up.

    Guo was further intrigued in 1992 when Deng Xiaoping, architect of the policy, visited Shenzhen and encouraged the city to be more bold.

    “My friend told me there were a lot of opportunities in Shenzhen. I then applied for an engineering job at China Merchants Port Service (Shenzhen) Co. Ltd. in Shekou,” Guo recalled.

    Guo’s decision to leave his job in the State sector was bold because at that time most jobs in the State sector were considered jobs for life.     

    Hard start,

    new turn

    When Guo arrived in Shenzhen, his most valuable possession was a toothbrush.

    “I stayed at a friend’s home,” Guo said.

    After being in his new job for eight months, Guo was given some initial shares before the company got listed.

    However, Guo started looking for opportunities elsewhere again.

    “Although the new company had lots of promise and treated me well, it was still a State-owned enterprise with a working environment similar to that of my former employer in Nanjing,” Guo recalled.

    Using his profit from the initial shares, Guo decided to start his own business in Shenzhen.

    On Oct. 31, 1992, Guo established an inorganic fiber company on a lot in Xin’an Subdistrict in Bao’an District, which was developed by the government to be used by start-ups.

    “I went through a very hard time at the beginning of my start-up because of a lack of funds,” he said.

    However, Guo sought to win the trust of his suppliers, who allowed him to pay for raw materials after they were made into finished products.

    Guo’s company started developing and he later opened another five companies in places such as Hong Kong and Canada, in the manufacturing and foreign trade areas.    

    Love of football

    Guo devotes most of his spare time to football. He doesn’t play it often but is an avid follower of Shenzhen’s football team.

    Guo has watched almost every one of the team’s matches over the past 19 years. He can readily recall scores and details of each match, earning himself the nickname “walking dictionary” among local football fans.

    He once even traveled to Japan just to watch the team play.

    Guo became fond of football when he was at university.

    “It is a tradition for students of Tongji University to play football. I once joined tens of thousands of students to march from Shanghai’s Wujiaochang to the Bund to celebrate the Chinese football team’s victory in a FIFA World Cup qualifier against Kuwait,” said Guo.

    “I often played football at Shekou Sports Center when I first arrived in Shenzhen. Football is about motivation, unity and cooperation. I take pleasure in paying attention to what goes on both on and off the pitch,” he added.     

    Applying his

    knowledge

    An expert in standardization, Guo has been seeking ways to use his knowledge to promote standardization in Chinese football.

    “The regulations and rules in China’s football industry are frequently changed. Some are not feasible and some are not logical, often leading to disputes,” said Guo.

    In 1999, a Chinese footballer, Sun Jihai, signed from a British football club to a club in Dalian. Less than 48 hours after the transfer, Sun played for the Dalian club against Shenzhen’s football team.

    “According to the FIFA rules, a footballer can only play for a new club at least 48 hours after a transfer,” Guo said.

    Guo reported the loophole to the Chinese Football Association (CFA). Although neither Sun nor the Dalian club was punished, Guo’s report got wide attention, leading to the CFA’s adjustment of rules concerning transfers.

    Guo also hopes Shenzhen can make efforts to meet international standards in different fields in its future development.

    “I hope Shenzhen can give young people a fair chance to compete, just like 20 years ago. The city should not rest on its laurels,” said Guo.