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The giant French service industry company, Accor Group, found that the perfect candidate for the job of developing its business in China was already working for the group as one of its executives. Reggie Shiu, vice-president of Accor Asia Pacific, in his office. He is a Shanghai-born, US citizen who can still speak fluently in the Shanghai dialect. Reggie Shiu, senior vice-president for Accor Asia Pacific, was born in Shanghai and moved to Hong Kong with his parents at the age of four. Four years after his graduation from a US university as a Bachelor of Science, Shiu joined Group Accor in 1980 at the Roosevelt Hotel in New York. Accor Group was set up by two Frenchmen who had studied and worked in the US and the company grew to become one of the world's largest travel, tourism and corporate services conglomerates over the next three decades. Today, Shiu is responsible for business development in Asia with special emphasis on China. Busy Schedule Shiu said his hotel career could be traced back to his campus life. He washed dishes and set the tables at a restaurant when he was a junior university student. Despite of his busy study schedule on campus, he actively involved himself in the university community. "I was the vice-chairman of our school debating committee," said Shiu. Basketball and swimming were the sports he pursued when he was able to relax. However, he was always pressed for time to do what he really liked. Study and his part-time job consumed almost all of his spare time. He was either in the classroom or library during the day and then rushing to the restaurant to begin his night shifts. He formed the habit of sleeping only four to five hours a day from then on. "I could sleep a bit later on Thursday when we did not have classes in the morning," he said. "How I regret that I didn't enjoy life when I was a student! Study and work are important; life is also important. When you grow up, you do not have time." He said he did not want his children to have to work as hard as he did. If they want to have part-time jobs, he would allow it when they were university students. "It all depends on them," he said. "However, it is my responsibility to provide enough money for their university education." Well-run Home "Every day is dashing around," said Shiu, "but I will try my best to find a balance between work and family." He tries to spend every weekend with his family but family get-togethers sometimes have to be adjusted to his business schedule. "I promised my wife to accompany her shopping this Friday but I had to change the date when a meeting suddenly came up," said Shiu. Arriving home, he had told his wife he had two pieces of news for her - one was good but one was bad. "The bad news is that I have a meeting this Friday; the good news is that I am free next Monday, I told my wife," said Shiu, who has managed to keep his sense of humor. Fortunately, he has a supportive wife who was born in Singapore and is a full-time housewife. "Before our marriage, we made an agreement that she is in charge of the internal affairs (family affairs) while I am responsible for the external affairs." With a well-run home, Shiu can concentrate totally on his work. The greatest pleasure for Shiu is to eat home-cooked meals with his family. Although a leader in the tourism industry, Shiu's family seldom travels with him. They like watching movies at home. Shiu plays video games with his two sons and encourages them to play the games. "Playing video games trains children's thinking and logic abilities. Their communication capacity will be developed when I exchange playing skills with them." he said. And his wife always reminds the boys: "Never be too idealistic. Get down to earth. Life is not what you dream about." Balanced Life Shiu does not think he is successful enough. "When you think you are successful, you are doomed," he said. Shiu has his own definition of success. "To me, success is the three responsibilities: be responsible to myself, to my employers, subordinates and partners, and to my family. "The three should have equal weight but flexibility is also needed. Now business occupies 50 percent, family 40 percent and myself 10 percent. "I'm always working hard to meet others' expectations but seldom for myself." Suppose Shiu were given one day off and did not need to concern himself about anything. "I would read a novel or even watch a spider knitting nets," Shiu answered. But Reggie Shiu's motto remains always to strive to be better and to find a balance between business, family and himself.