Hi CCL, OMG, took me more than an hour to go through the posts. More than 500 of them. I am a 理工男 with three degrees and feel fit in to say something about the situation.
1. You should tell your 理工男 that life sucks and very few can make it in the business world. His company's chance of success is nil to less than 1%. As a high tech company owner, I know that well. He's better off suck it up in a tech firm in Ottawa. During the hi-tech crash about 10 years ago, there are over 2,000 companies started in Ottawa by guys just like your 理工男 of all ethnics. How many succeeded? Probably less than 20 with close to $1 billion poured into those companies. How many Chinese ones succeeded? 0.5 I think.
2. If the whole world can stay as upper middle class, why the hell your 理工男 can not be a normal Joe? Your 理工男 does not have what it takes to win. He should have a closer look at himself.
3. What he knows in terms of technologies is not very relevant. It's all luck and how you are viewed in customers' eyes.
4. I had the same idea to go back to China ten years ago. My wife calmly told me "Sign the divorce papers before you go, I do not want to worry about you all the time." I am pretty thankful for the decision my wife took. Our company did well in Canada. If your 理工男 want to start a company, do it in Canada, that Canadian company's success will boost his ego to the max.
5. I challenge ANYONE of Chinese men who go back to China that they are not looking for romantic encounters deep in their hearts. Everyone of those 海归 are basically dirty old man looking for fame and a good feeling about themselves. Egos!
6. Tell your 理工男 forget about the stupid idea of a great successful company and his oversized ego!! The glory can never be achieved for him now. The glory and ego are for man and woman under 30! If your 理工男 got successful, the comment is "oh finally he got it".
For the best of your situation, you need to make the decision for your 理工男. Tell your 理工男 to move his ass and get a real job and suck it up to life. He has responsibilities to the family other than his pitiful ego to be "successful". He need to take his fxx head off the sands and get real.
