A Question Of Mindset

By Cindy King  ·  9 Comments
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It surprises new international businesses just how much their success depends on mindset.  And on the mindset of the people in their company and the mindset portrayed by the company as a whole.

French Hurdle To An International Business Mindset

What I encounter here in France is the opposite.  Almost every time I venture down the street I meet a business owner who’s own mindset is stopping his own company from even venturing abroad.  Now there might be a slight exaggeration there. But not much. Honestly.  This is a very common occurrence.

There is a French cultural aversion to saying it is good to make money.

This cultural aversion has some funny quirks.  You see, when there is a cultural difficulty to speak openly about something, sit back and watch.

Two things usually happen:

  • People will not be able to find the solutions easily.  Simply because they cannot ask the best questions to find the best solutions.
  • Or they find different solutions.  And this is where you usually realize just how differently your thought processes are.

Here in France, I have met many a business owner who was almost physically unable to say that he wanted to make money.

Instead the business owner usually diverts conversation back to how it is good to provide jobs for others.  And if I dare prod and ask how much money he would like to make, no matter how gently, there is usually an immediate anti-American or anti-capitalist response.  Veiled or unveiled.

In addition to the cultural aversion in talking about making money, companies here in France are expensive to run.  From government taxes to 37 and a half work weeks… with 5 weeks statutory vacation.

So it is understandable that French businessmen appear more hesitant to attempt international business development.

So, French businessmen probably have a higher hurdle in adjusting their mindset to acquire an international business mindset.

But it is only a hurdle.  And this hurdle is the hardest.  Once you get over it, it is usually easy for them to acquire an international mindset.

Your International Mindset

Cultural handicaps aside, it is usually easy to start acquiring an international mindset.  You simply need to jump in and take action to develop your international markets.  As you come into contact with different cultures, you will need to respond.

And it is how you respond that develops your international mindset.  You cannot really develop an international mindset through procrastination and inactivity.

You need the cross-cultural connection to develop your skills. It is not something you can outsource.

Read more about how you can develop your international mindset here on Get International Clients.

International business success depends on personal mindset development just as much as on good business practices.

And there is a trend in businesses needing to adapt their mindsets.   If you rely on international web marketing to reach your foreign markets you will also need to adjust your mindset to do business with social media.

A flexibility and willingness to adjust your personal mindset is of great value in international business development today.

What do you think? Please leave your thoughts and comments below.

Photos from Shutterstock.

  Filed under: mindset

                            


Cindy King