Know The Game, Play The Game takes a fundamental approach to what it takes to develop a successful career in a multinational company. Like any game that you participate in, the more you understand the rules, the better sense you have for the game’s strategy, and the more you can anticipate the moves of the players involved, the better your chances are for succeeding. This is the initial challenge for many mainland professionals who are seeking opportunities or greater roles within multinational companies. They wish to participate in a business environment that is relatively new to them, but don’t yet have the insights into what multinational managers value most with regards to an employees capabilities and promotability. They have had limited exposure to the corporate environments and management practices that they must understand better in order to develop the right type of skills and professional habits to succeed. Of course, the easiest advice to give someone wishing to gain world-class business and management skills is to obtain an MBA from abroad, preferably from a well-known educational institution such as Harvard, Wharton, Stanford, or some other world-class MBA program. This is certainly an attractive option for those fortunate enough to be able to study overseas. But how many mainlanders have the money or resources to afford such an investment? For the overwhelming majority, this is not a realistic solution. That’s why Ive written this book. It’s for those mainland professionals who need another alternative to gaining a deeper understanding of the multinational corporate world, and to acquiring international capabilities and perspectives through the resources available to them here in China. Although the career development opportunities that a multinational firm can offer are excellent, getting there is a high hurdle to clear for many. And once inside, advancement to a top management position is a real challenge. This book shares those insights into how multinational compani