National Day is just around the corner. I wonder if all of you in business development are feeling this way.

On one hand, there is the joy of celebrating our nation’s birthday; on the other, there is the tension of facing the year-end crunch with less than 100 days remaining.

In this final sprint, business development professionals, burdened with heavy responsibilities, are racing against the clock.

With that said, I’d like to offer a word of encouragement to all you business development heroes.

After weathering countless trials and tribulations over the years, I’m sure you’ve all mastered a wide range of skills.

Today, let’s take a look at these skills that are ingrained in the DNA of every business development professional.

Eagle Eyes: Evaluating Projects Is Like a Traditional Chinese Medicine Pulse Diagnosis

In the course of investment promotion, the projects we encounter can truly be described as “a dazzling array of options that blur the vision.”

Projects of all sizes vary wildly in quality; what’s high-quality isn’t necessarily a good fit, and we must always be on guard against projects that use “sugar-coated bullets” or “mysterious gimmicks.”

In the field of investment promotion, judgment is an art.

Authenticity, quality, investment value, financing risks... Investment promotion professionals must rely on their five senses to gain insights, combining knowledge and experience to make judgments.

Moreover, projects have a relatively short shelf life; for government-run industrial parks to make it onto a company’s shortlist, speed is paramount.

Over time, investment promotion professionals have honed skills akin to those of a seasoned traditional Chinese medicine practitioner.

When presented with a project, they deftly press their index and middle fingers together to “take its pulse.” What appears to be a leisurely “observation, auscultation, inquiry, and palpation” is, in reality, a process of keen scrutiny and clear-eyed assessment.

If a project is viable, they immediately reach out to arrange a meeting; if not, they avoid wasting anyone’s time.

It is precisely because they have honed their “eagle eyes” that investment promoters can avoid “negative-point” projects—those that disguise themselves as state-owned enterprises through clever naming, conceal pollution emissions through packaging, or seek policy benefits through fraud—thereby minimizing corresponding losses.

Climbing Walls and Leaping Roofs: Searching High and Low

Only after entering the workforce did I realize that it’s not just tour guides who travel far and wide—investment promotion professionals do too.

Guided by the philosophy that “wherever the project is, that’s where we go,” investment promoters are always ready to drop everything and hit the road.

Every day, when you call, they’re either meeting with a client or on their way to meet one.

Reading thousands of books and traveling thousands of miles—this encapsulates the work of an investment promoter.

The more places they visit, the more they naturally come to understand.

They are like living maps, capable of conducting a thorough SWOT analysis of regional industrial development.

They can also share their experiences with you—such as the business philosophies of entrepreneurs in coastal regions or the key considerations of investors from inland areas. No journey of a thousand miles begins without a single step; no mighty river is formed without countless small streams.

Behind every major project contract lies the tireless effort of investment promoters—knocking on doors, traveling long distances for site visits, and forging the path step by step with their own feet.

Steel Resolve: The Courage to “Start Over”

After finally identifying a project with high technological content that perfectly aligns with the region’s industries, the park established a dedicated task force to formulate an investment strategy. They met with the investor three or four times, exchanged seven or eight phone calls, and invited them to the Economic Development Zone for on-site inspections and negotiations on at least three occasions.

Finally, senior executives from both sides finalized the agreement, only for the other party to cancel their plans just as the contract was about to be signed.

This is not merely a regret.

It is a double disappointment.

In every administrative building, the offices of the investment promotion staff are often the last to turn off the lights. They meet with clients during the day, review and summarize at night, and work late into the night drafting proposals and preparing reports.

However, the objective realities of investment projects—long cycles and numerous variables—inevitably render all these efforts futile.

To say we aren’t disappointed would be a lie, but what investment promotion professionals lack least is the courage to “start over.” By transforming disappointment and pressure into motivation, they quickly regroup and throw themselves into the next project.

The lessons learned from this failed project may very well be the key to success in the next one.

Renewal and Growth: The Journey of a “Jack-of-All-Trades”

When first entering the industry, investment promoters often start with nothing, struggling to grasp project details and engaging in superficial conversations with investors.

Realizing that their existing knowledge was insufficient to support their work, investment promoters embarked on the arduous journey of “repairing the boat while sailing.”

During work hours, they attend industry-specific seminars and practical investment promotion training; after work, they return home to continue learning through live streams and online courses.

Beyond professional knowledge, they must also master business etiquette and the art of negotiation...

It is truly the path of a “well-rounded professional.”

All their efforts and accumulated knowledge were dedicated to achieving true “professionalism.”

Gu Chuan Lianxing regularly hosts live streams on industry-related topics. After sharing relevant materials for free with an investment promotion leader from a certain region, Gu Chuan reciprocated by sending a massive data package in return.

Looking at the well-organized course summaries and notes in the package, I couldn’t help but be moved.

Even after becoming a master of investment promotion, he continues to commit to learning.

As times change and industries transform, maintaining professionalism requires not only a solid knowledge base but also continuous learning—only then can one keep pace with the times and seize opportunities for growth.

This is likely the secret to success for investment promotion professionals as they race against time and stay one step ahead.

With less than 100 days remaining, I am confident that these highly skilled business development experts will continue to give their all and achieve outstanding results.

Guchuan United will also stand shoulder-to-shoulder with you, working together to successfully conclude the 2022 campaign.

Finally, we wish all business development professionals a happy National Day and thank you for your efforts in driving regional economic development!

For a brighter tomorrow for our country, our investment promotion professionals are on the move!