“It was the early 2000s. ARGO was still young, I was full of energy – and suddenly I was given the opportunity to lead my first workshop in Asia. Shanghai. 30 executives from across Asia, including Australia. The first ARGOnaut in the Far East. I was prepared.

At 7 a.m., I landed in Shanghai. I headed toward immigration, saw signs saying ‘Visa’… and thought, ‘Interesting.’ Two minutes later, I realized that word applied to me as well.

I didn’t have one.

Neither had my office mentioned that you need a visa for China, nor had I given it any thought myself. What followed had cinematic quality. Two gentlemen with Kalashnikovs escorted me politely but firmly to a counter. I signed something that, to this day, I hope was not a property transfer. My passport disappeared. I was led into a room. Guarded.

There I sat. First ARGO workshop in Asia.

Then a lady from Austrian Airlines appeared. ‘Mr. Thoma, we will now take you on the return flight back to Vienna.’
My response: ‘That’s not possible. Tomorrow, 30 executives will be waiting for me. I am definitely not flying home.’
Then came her idea: Flight to Hong Kong. Apply for an express visa there. Fly back. Said and done.
Escorted – by a very stern-looking officer – I was led through every checkpoint. Ticket purchased. Escorted back to the room. Waiting. Escorted onto the plane. Passport handover like a state ceremony.

Hong Kong. To be safe, I asked while disembarking whether I was actually allowed to leave this time. They nodded. Red Star Agency. Application. ‘Ready at 6 p.m.’ My flight back to Shanghai was at 8 p.m.

In the meantime, I was so tired, stressed, and irritable that even my natural optimism briefly took a break. Shower, four hours of sleep – and suddenly I felt like an entrepreneur again instead of a problem case.

That evening I landed in Shanghai once more. My client’s driver picked me up. The next morning, I stood in front of 30 executives and probably delivered the most authentic opening of my life.
And at midnight, I was back on a plane to Vienna.

What did I learn there?
Not every problem is dramatic. But every problem tests your attitude.
Entrepreneurship does not mean that nothing goes wrong.
Entrepreneurship means: You get back on the plane anyway.

In 30 years, ARGO has developed many models. Clifton, TA, cultural development. But in Shanghai, I learned something much simpler: When you take responsibility, there is no return flight.”

At ARGO, we believe in living what we teach: self-control, responsibility, and problem-solving competence included.