Businessmen from India

The shaft of the arrow had been feathered with one of the eagle's own plumes. We often give our enemies the means of our own destruction. (Aesop)

Businessmen from India

Recently people doing business in India have told me how difficult business there can be. Basic utilities like electricity and water are very unreliable. The legal system is subject to corruption. Government regulation depends on your relationship with the bureaucrats, not the rules. Business partners don't want to offend you or lose face, so they agree to do things they can't get done. Bringing you bad news is avoided at all cost. Labor costs are low, but people will switch jobs for the slightest increase in pay. And it goes on and on depending on the city, industry, neighborhood, and your ancestors.

Indian businessmen do incredibly well in the US because they have practice overcoming complex problems like these. You can learn how to prosper by applying the few basic principles they live by. These are applicable to help desk techs and CEO's.

Trust others but make sure they are actually accomplishing what they say they are. Even experienced partners occasionally screw up. Have an alternative plan in case things don't get done on time.
Don't rely on your relationship with one person. Establish relationships 3 or 4 people deep. If one leaves, you need the others to keep going forward.
Spend time cultivating people. Get to know them. Find out about them personally as well as from business. It is amazing how often this will give you the leverage you need to succeed.
Help others constantly. Go out of your way to encourage, help, and promote others who are growing. That help will often come back to save you in a crisis.
Constantly focus on doing things quicker, cheaper, better, and with less people. This alone is the greatest job security guarantor in the USA.
Take time to read, plan, and think. Americans are terrible at this.

In India it is essential to have multiple layers of preparation. In America we get by without them. Americans also often wonder why they got laid off and how they will survive when laid off. Preparation and fearless execution will do more for your earning potential than anything else.

Something to do today

List where you only have one layer of protection. Then list how you can improve that.

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Tomorrow: Interview follow up - get help

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Message Added: January 16th, 2008 at 5:38 am