回顧 9/11 與我的創業歷程和恩典... Reflecting on September 11 and My Start-Up Journeys
- josephyu4
- Sep 26
- 5 min read
在大家的人生中，有否數算過神為你帶來了多少恩典？余文正弟兄就為大家分享在過去多年來，神如何賜下恩典，並造就他協助建立教會、為海天書樓作出奉獻。不如大家看畢以下文章後，又花點時間數一數，並為此而感謝神！
回顧 9/11 與我的創業歷程和恩典...
在人生中，我蒙受許多恩典，可以多次「重新開始」──從建立新部門到創辦新公司。每一次都點燃了我的創業精神，也留下了勇氣、謙卑與神時候的功課。
•美國迪吉多公司（DEC Far East, 香港）︰當時我在一間美國公關廣告（Burson-Marsteller）公司擔任客戶主任 (Account Executive)，累積了寶貴的公關與廣告經驗。中文大學新聞系的一位教授認識我，並將我推薦給迪吉多公司（DEC）的人事經理。因這層介紹，把我「獵頭」，獲邀到 DEC 遠東總部（香港）面試。
回望當年，我深信主使用我在 Burson-Marsteller 的成就，作為一個 「煎鍋」──訓練與鍛煉的場地，好讓我在適當的時候，把這些謙卑學到本領善用於全球第二大電腦公司。
面試了四位部門經理及總裁後，我獲聘建立遠東行銷傳訊（Marketing Communications）部門，負責協調從中國、日本、泰國到新加坡、菲律賓和馬來西亞等國家的計劃。
經理：Bob Schmidt。秘書：Lily Chow。總裁：Bobby Choonawala。
•BJ Communications，加拿大︰移民加拿大後，我與太太 Betty 在密西沙加開設家庭式寫作與設計公司，服務客戶包括「密西沙加華商會」，後來因全職工作與成家育兒而結束。
•eTrons Systems, Inc.，美國加州（.com 時代）︰1996 年，我從當時的 Ryerson Polytechnic University 景觀建築學院畢業後，受聘於 ENVision – The Hough Group，擔任全職景觀建築設計師。數年後，一扇新門開啟：我受邀（獵頭）參與加州的 .com 新創公司 eTrons Systems, Inc.，正值 B2B 電子採購熱潮。
透過奇妙的安排，我認識了總裁 Nicky Wu 與助理 Siyin Chan，並於復活節週末赴舊金山面試。短短數日內，我接受聘請，開始建立 行銷傳訊部門，設計品牌形象、年度傳訊計劃、展會活動，並瞄準 2001 年 9 月的 IPO。
然而，9/11 恐怖襲擊 發生。風險投資在一夜之間凍結，公司被迫於一個月內關閉。我雖然關上了一扇門，但主卻為我開了另一扇門──之前提到的ENVision 老闆因人手不足，詢問我是否能回去幫忙兼職。我給他們的驚喜答案是：我能重新全職加入！這是極大的恩典，提醒我即使人的計劃倒塌，神的時候與供應卻是完美的。
•雲端教會 (2019)。與許朝良牧師伉儷共同建立線上教會，COVID 前已啟動。從標誌設計、網站建立，到 Zoom 聚會與 YouTube 信息詩歌庫，此事工至今仍在持續。
•今日的海天書樓。我的新「創業」是在傳承中：建立新的工作流程工具、撰寫書籍與電子書，並分享每週 Facebook 信息。
功課： 開始新事令人振奮，但要持續，需要信心、紀律與謙卑。9/11 教導我，人類的計劃可以在一夜之間崩潰，但神的供應卻能為我開新路。因此，我要繼續開始──以敞開的雙手、心靈與思想。同時鼓勵大家有計劃，憑信心去「創新」。
Reflecting on September 11 and My Start-Up Journeys ...
In my life, I have been blessed with several opportunities to start new things — from launching departments to founding companies. Each venture ignited my entrepreneurial spirit, and each carried lessons of courage, humility, and God’s timing.
• Digital Equipment Corporation (DEC Far East, Hong Kong). At the time, I was serving as an Account Executive at Burson-Marsteller, gaining valuable experience in PR and advertising. A professor from the Chinese University of Hong Kong’s Journalism Department, who knew me well, mentioned my name to the HR Manager at Digital Equipment Corporation (DEC). Through that introduction, I was “headhunted” and was invited to interview at DEC Far East Headquarters in Hong Kong.
Looking back, I see how the Lord used my accomplishments at Burson-Marsteller as a kind of frying pan — a training ground to season and prepare me — so that at the right time, those skills could be put to good use in serving the world’s second-largest computer company.
After interviews with four department managers and the President, I was offered the position to establish the Far East Marketing Communications Department, directing and coordinating programs across the region — from China to Japan, Thailand to Singapore, the Philippines, and Malaysia.
Manager: Bob Schmidt. Secretary: Lily Chow. President: Bobby Choonawala.
• BJ Communications, Canada. After emigrating to Canada, Betty and I started a small home-based writing and design company in Mississauga, serving clients such as the Mississauga Chinese Business Bureau. We later closed it to focus on full-time work and raising our family.
• eTrons Systems, Inc., California (.com era). After graduating in 1996 from the School of Landscape Architecture at what was then Ryerson Polytechnic University, I was engaged full-time by ENVision – The Hough Group as a landscape architectural designer. A few years later, a new door opened: I was “headhunted” to join a California.com start-up, eTrons Systems, Inc., during the height of the online B2B wave.
Through a providential connection, I met President Nicky Wu and Assistant Chan Siyin, and was invited to San Francisco for a Good Friday interview. Within days, I accepted the offer and helped build the Marketing Communications Department, designing the brand identity, communications programs, and trade show presence, with an IPO targeted for September 2001.
Then came September 11, 2001. The terrorist attacks froze venture capital overnight, and I was asked to wind down the company within one month. Yet when one door closed, another opened: my former boss at ENVision asked if I could help them part-time since they were short-staffed. My answer surprised them — I could rejoin full-time. It was a moment of grace, a reminder that God’s timing and provision are perfect, even when our plans collapse.
• Cloud Church (2019). Partnering with Pastor David Hoi and his wife, Jing, we launched an online church just before COVID. From logos and websites to Zoom services and a YouTube archive of sermons and songs, this ministry continues today.
• Rock House Publishers (today). My current “start-ups” are within a legacy: developing new workflow tools, writing books and e-books, and sharing weekly Facebook messages.
Lesson learned: Starting something new is exhilarating, but sustaining it takes faith, discipline, and humility. 9/11 taught me that human plans may collapse in a moment, but God’s provision opens new paths. So I will keep starting – with open hands, open mind, and open heart.
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