In line with something that Forrest Gump's momma might have told him, my mother always used to always tell me, "Whatever doesn't kill you makes you stronger." During this past year, this line has come to mind quite often while leading my company and our staff through the global financial crisis. Now that the worst of the economic downturn appears to be behind us, I find myself thinking about the ways China's talent market is stronger today compared with this time last year.

In looking at my own staff as a microcosm of typical Chinese mainland professionals, I believe the biggest difference is that my staff today are much more mature than before. After going through such a difficult and challenging period, they have to be. Over the past year, their capabilities have been put to the test. While many were previously able to achieve strong results during times of highly favorable market conditions, 2009 revealed just how strong and deep their capabilities actually were.

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...te key messages and receive quicker, more complete buy-in from our people than before. They are more focused and less distracted as a result of what they went through last year. They have more appreciation for the situation they're in and what they have, rather than always thinking that better situations are so plentiful and easy to come by. As an employer who is happy to stay alive after last year, all this is making my life a whole lot easier. What do you know, my momma was right.