But she dreams of building Watering Can Press into a mini-empire in children's publishing.

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There are no Dilbert-style middle managers who might be tempted to become mini-empire builders.

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Occupying a former factory in Huashan is VVG Thinking, the latest venture by Grace Wang, an interior designer behind a mini-empire of shabby-chic cafes and boutiques.

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Married medalists Bart Conner and Nadia Comaneci (with seven golds between them in gymnastics from 1976 to 1984) have built a mini-empire catering to would-be Olympian gymnasts.

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Six years later, Lee, 34, sits atop a mini-empire of six dining establishments across the city -- including two Mexican restaurants, an American microbrewery and a cocktail bar.

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Now, he presides over a mini-empire that is ever-expanding.

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They are now, for the moment, one animated mini-empire.

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The main reason for the resulting rise in the number of mini-countries is the shift from empire or dictatorship to self-determination, especially in the past quarter-century.

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