I plan on starting my own RE development shop in 4 or so years, and one thing I keep hearing about is the amount of Chinese capital that wants to be invested in the United States. Do you all think that learning Mandarin would be a good idea to help me connect with potential investors?
Edit: Thanks for the responses guys, looks like I'm going to spend my time elsewhere
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They want to put chips in our brains now. I don't think we will need to learn foreign languages anymore.
If Chinese capital is going to invest money with your firm, it won't have anything to do with you knowing Mandarin, it will be because your firm is offering returns that are attractive to them and they believe in the strategic vision of your firm. That said, I guess it wouldn't hurt to learn, but I don't think learning Mandarin is going to give you a distinct advantage when it comes to capital raising. Many in the Chinese funds speak English anyway, or at least have interpreters.
I think that investors who are investing or thinking about investing in the US RE are sophisticated enough to know the language. The language shouldn't be a problem for them at all.
Regarding learning the language. I think that it isn't going to be an investment of any sort, rather a waste of time and money. Unless you're going to live in China in foreseeable future and you know that for sure, learning Chinese will be a fruitless endeavor.
If I were you I'd focus on what you do best and on things that are going to allow you to run your shop.
I lived in Tokyo for 5 years, speaking Japanese was an important part of my being there and my Japanese is still shit. Asian languages are kinda difficult, to speak fluently? Impossible if you are not immersed in the country. Your idea to learn mandarin for the reasons you describe does not make sense to me and would be a waste of time.
No, it isn't a good investment. If you define investment as worth the time and money spent, then it's a terrible idea.
That being said, there is a worth beyond the professional to learning anything new, even if you can't master it. I know that sounds New Age-y and shit, but its the truth. It's one of those things where you ask; what are you working for? Long term? Making a whole bunch of money in your 20's is great, because it allows you a freedom to learn and explore and have fun, but if you don't actually use the leisure time it affords you to do something you find meaningful, it's not worth anything at all.
If you want your kid to be a maths whizz, I'd say yes
No.
For business purposes, they'll all know English better than you'll ever know Chinese.
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