Expat Business: Rocket Scientist and Phuket entrepreneur Don Battles tells his story tonight at RPM

PHUKET: NASA rocket scientist, farmer, entrepreneur, intellectual and whiskey-drinking former Phuket resident Don Battles will launch his autobiography ‘Merchant of the Orient’ tonight, 6:30pm, at the Speakeasy bar in Royal Phuket Marina.

Now living in Chiang Rai in his 30th year of Thai residence, Don will also tell us what he thinks a foreigner needs to do – and not do – to succeed in business here.

A big chunk of Don’s entrepreneurial years played out right here in Phuket, after he arrived on the island in 1995 and focussed his natural ingenuity and strong work ethic on producing a plethora of food supplies for Thailand’s burgeoning hospitality industry.

But Phuket is just one of many fascinating chapters in Don’s life. His book will take you on a journey through America and Russia, India and Korea, and of course, his beloved Thailand.

Questions will be invited.

Don Battles, author of ‘Merchant Of The Orient, An Entrepreneur’s Journey In Life’. Photo: Supplied

For more about Don and his talk tonight, click here.

Entry is free of charge, as are snacks. The bar opens at 6pm, with the presentation scheduled to start at 6:30pm. Autographed copies of the author’s book will be available at 700 baht.

All drinks at Happy Hour prices (two for the price of one) until 9pm.

Seating is limited. Those wishing to attend are urged to arrive no later than 6:15pm to raise the odds of getting a seat.

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For more information about Don and his secrets to real success in doing business in Thailand, see the Gazette’s interview with him, here.

This event is proudly sponsored by the Phuket Gazette, PGTV, and the ‘Phuket Today’ show, the island’s only national television program (aired daily on True Visions channels 59 and 85).