香港出生的企业家邓永锵爵士(Sir David)，在13岁时来到英国接受教育，现在常住香港和英国伦敦的贝尔格拉维亚（Belgravia，伦敦的上流住宅区——译者注）。这位56岁的企业家最为人所熟知的身份是服装品牌“上海滩(Shanghai Tang)”的创始人，他于上世纪90年代中期建立了这个高端时装连锁店品牌。1998年，他将上海滩卖给了奢侈品集团历峰(Richemont)。随后，爱抽雪茄的邓永锵在香港、北京和新加坡成立了中国会(China Club)，还在香港开了一家Cipriani酒店，以及在多尔斯切特酒店(Dorchester Hotel)内开了一家唐人馆(China Tang)。
用十个字描述一下你的工作。
我想，做爱做且能赚钱的事。11个字。
你的私人助理会如何形容你？
我在香港有三个私人助理，我们总共在一起工作了60年。
你的三个最佳特征是什么？
简洁、善于行动、不怕困难。
三个最坏的呢？
嚷嚷、大声嚷嚷、更大声地嚷嚷。
你最喜欢工作的哪个方面？
能做我喜欢的事。
最不喜欢的呢？
有些日子我不想干活，但又必须干，唯恐银行经理打电话给我。
让你有负罪感的快乐是什么？
沉浸在别人将会帮助我走出困境的愚蠢信念中。
你干过的最糟的工作是什么？
在伦敦奈茨布里奇区(Knightsbridge)的Austin Reed为马蒂•费尔德曼(Marty Feldman)量裤腿内侧的长度。
你的一生中香港有什么变化？
从把内地人看作土包子到看成香港的救世主。
你对于在中国做生意有什么建议？
先别做。除非你需要卖东西换现金。
对中国人向海外扩张呢？
假装糊涂。假装你对中国政府非常重要。
什么地方最适合做生意？
重要的是人而不是地方。唯一重要的是要与名声好的人做生意。
你会如何描述中国人做生意的方式？
和其它地方没什么两样。我发现，如果你竖起一根手指给别人钱，无论是什么文化礼节，你的手指都会被打断。
你喜欢成为社交杂志的主角吗？
我认为那很可怕。我讨厌被称为社会名流，胜过被称为社会主义者。我是忠实的资本主义者。
你最高明的商业点子是什么？
一两个月后你就会知道。那是我曾经有过的最辉煌的点子。
最差的呢？
抱着大生意上床睡觉。我染上了嗜眠症。
谁对你的影响最大？
爱因斯坦(Einstein)对智力，吉米•哥尔德斯密斯(Jimmy Goldsmith)对品味，南非企业家安顿•鲁伯特(Anton Rupert)对生意。
你的黄金定律(Golden Rule)是什么？
不惜一切代价避免负现金流。
钱对你有多重要？
它在两个方面很重要。它给了我自由，让我可以在自己喜欢的时候，按照自己喜欢的方式去做自己喜欢做的事。我还可以帮助那些没有钱的人。
你想什么时候退休？
十年前。
你希望人们如何记住你？
我一直很喜欢希莱尔•贝洛克(Hilaire Belloc)的名言：“当我死的时候，我希望他们会说：他罪孽深重，但他的书有人读过。”
译者/何黎
http://www.ftchinese.com/story/001034921
The Hong-Kong born entrepreneur came to England at the age of 13 for his education. Now living between Hong Kong and Belgravia, London, the 56-year-old is best known as the founder of the high-end lifestyle chain Shanghai Tang which he set up in the mid-1990s. In 1998, he sold the company to Richemont, the luxury goods group. The cigar-smoking Sir David went on to set up the China Clubs (Hong Kong, Beijing and Singapore) and he also opened the Cipriani in Hong Kong and the China Tang restaurant at the Dorchester Hotel.
Describe your job in 10 words.
Doing things about which I am passionate and profitable, I hope. That’s 11.
How would your PA describe you?
I have three PAs in Hong Kong who have worked with me for a total of 60 years.
What are your three best features?
I am succinct, good at taking action, unafraid of tackling difficulties.
And your worst?
Shouting, shouting louder, shouting more and louder.
What do you like most about your job?
That I’m able to do things I love.
And least?
On days I don’t want to work, I have to, lest the bank manager calls.
What is your guilty pleasure?
Indulging in a foolish belief that others will help me out of difficulty.
What’s the worst job you’ve ever done?
Measuring the inside leg of Marty Feldman at Knightsbridge Austin Reed’s.
How has Hong Kong changed in your lifetime?
It’s gone from regarding mainlanders as country bumpkins to its saviour.
What advice would you give for doing business in China?
Don’t yet. Unless you have something to sell for cash.
And for Chinese expanding overseas?
Pretend you don’t understand and pretend you are something very important in the Chinese government.
Where is the best place to do business?
It’s not the place but the people that count. The only thing that matters is doing business with honourable people.
How would you characterise the Chinese way of doing business?
No different from anywhere else. I find if you give money with one finger up, whatever the cultural etiquette, it will be snapped out of your hands.
Do you like being featured in the social pages?
I think it’s horrible. I hate being called a socialite more than being called a socialist. And I’m a committed capitalist.
What is your smartest business idea?
You’ll learn about it in the next couple of months. It’s the most brilliant idea I’ve ever had.
And worst?
Getting into bed with big business. I contracted narcolepsy.
Who has been your biggest influence?
Einstein for intellect, Jimmy Goldsmith for style and Anton Rupert, the South African entrepreneur, for business.
What is your Golden Rule?
Avoid negative cash flow at all cost.
How important is money to you?
It’s important in two ways. It gives me the freedom to do what I like, when I like and how I like. And I can use it to help others who haven’t got it.
When do you want to retire?
Ten years ago.
How do you want to be remembered?
I’ve always liked the Hilaire Belloc quote: “When I am dead, I hope it may be said: His sins were scarlet, but his books were read.”
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