Business in (Western) Europe; Yeah, It's cute!
I make a regular trip to Europe because of clients. Whenever I go there, I think they are cute. They try so hard, they try to appear so "hard" that they almost become comical. They are almost like puppies, you can't get mad at them because they are so funny.
In Western Europe, guns are not allowed. The number of guns even in the city of London is not even comparable to the same number in New York. In the latter city, there is a real possibility that you get killed if you do piss off wrong people. We, bankers, generally won't meet those people unless we get involved in things we shouldn't. In London, people lack that fear/conception. They think they can get tough, as hard as they would like to on the street and won't piss off the wrong people. Since the number of wrong people is small, so are the chances of you meeting them in your normal circumstances. Therefore, Europeans try so hard. They appear to us as "a wuss with absolutely with no manners." Europeans appear tough, but they really are not when it comes to a real situation.
They do the business the same way. A lot of ****ing around, but nothing gets done just like London streets. A lot of it! They like trash-talk, and there are millions of Europeans who act like the number 1 draft in the locker room when in fact they are not even drafted. Also, I have to tell you, HUMILITY is valued in America.
You got to know your place, where you are now, to progress. That's America. Europeans act like everyone is a starting QB! We learn at the very early life that we have to try, but not everyone becomes a starting QB and not everyone wants to be. We try to be the best at what we do.
I find the Chinese very different. Fundamentally, they are driven by the same desire as us, money, or making more of it. The Japanese, very different.
Of course, I am oversimplifying and generalizing, but I think what I say makes sense to a lot of people who go to Europe a lot or who come from there and to people who work in New York City where a lot of businessmen from across the world visit.
Everyone I go to Europe, it doesn't make me think of arts and crafts which Europe is known for or cultures. It makes me think that there is a lot of talk, but no real action, and it takes ages to get anything done there.
