Global Business Insights
As far as I can remember, I wanted to do something international. Maybe, it’s the fact that I went to an international school. After spending almost four years in two American high schools I found the American culture limiting. This is not a criticism. Had I stayed in Japan, my guess is that I would have found Japan’s conformist society even more boring and against my very value of being. Today, while I found American culture limiting, I am thankful for two things that it gave me. First, America is the only land of freedom and opportunity. It first defined freedom for everyone. Today in America, it didn’t theoretically matter if you were a man or woman, what race you were, and what your sexual orientation might be. Anyone could succeed. It took a lot of smarts or luck, never giving up and anyone can get there. The rest of the world is harder to navigate in different degrees. If anything, competition, both in the US and around the world, seems tougher to me. Maybe, it’s because I’m older and not as sharp or energetic or both. This is a fact of life I have accepted. Second, America has 50 states, each different and unique. It’s a big enough opportunity and challenge for most. I wanted to both conquer the world and enjoy the cultural richness of many countries. I also wanted to challenge the whole world so I can feel like I won everywhere. I came up with these goals when I was quite young in my early 20’s. In hindsight, I realize I had stupid, irrational assumptions and was greatly overaffected by James Bond novels and movies.
First of all, James Bond is a Caucasian character, who operated in a mostly Caucasian dominated world. In the 60’s and 70’s when I grew up as both a teenager and in my early 20’s, the character defined what was “cool” and it seemed every guy and girl from every country aspired to be “James Bond cool.” At least for me, I never felt like anyone had to be Caucasian or British to be cool. I always felt anybody from any country could espouse “James Bond’s coolness.” The original character just happened to be British since that’s the world Ian Fleming, the character’s originator and author knew best. I don’t think Ian Fleming had any secret desire to prove that only Caucasian or British superiority had exclusive rights over “cool.” For today’s Hollywood entertainment professionals, who might be contemplating a departure from a British agent to another country’s agent or another racial caricature would be extremely disappointing to me and absolutely unnecessary. James Bond reflects a character that lived in the 50’s, 60’s and 70’s and 80’s and he should forever remain there. At least, that’s what I think.
If I had to grow up anywhere in the world, I would still choose America. Sure, some small number of guys and gals would have better opportunities because their daddies or mommies are either influential, rich or both. After all America is also the land of crony-Capitalism. But that’s usually reserved for the super-elite and the Billionaires. That’s less than 1% of the nation. For 99% of us, it’s still the land of freedom and opportunity. Every country has some level of crony-Capitalism, Socialism or Communism In fact, I believe crony mentality is much worse in countries led by a Dictatorial governments and Communist governments. Socialist governments can be but crony-mentality exists in some degree everywhere where there are humans.
For those of you who live or work in America, you have the best advantage to succeed. Congratulations.
I spent the first two years after college being exposed to domestic businesses in America. I learned a lot and today feel that I needed to learn how to do business in America first. I just wasn’t prepared to spend 20 or 30 years learning domestic business to become an expert. An American domestic profession could be very honorable and financially successful. There is nothing wrong about it in my opinion. For me, I just had an unexplainable stirring that I had to engage in international business.
After having done international business for over 30 years, I’m glad I did. I hope you will share in my many adventures which I wrote in my first two books, then used as examples of my MIP (Make the Impossible Possible) method to success in my third book. The fourth book will also summarize my life and business adventures in Japan.
