Asian Challenges

Newcomers to Asia can benefit from talking to old Asian hands. Here are ten presumptions you should not pack in your suitcase when you board the plane to Asia. There are more.

1. Ethics. Do not presume the business people here have the same ethics you consider yourself to possess. As a matter of fact, do not presume any ethics.

2. Contracts. Do not presume a written contract is binding. You are playing an on the road game. When it comes down to push and shove, the referee always sides with the home team.

3. Value Systems. Do not presume the person you are dealing with, holds the same value systems as you do.

4. Priorities. Do not presume the factory has the same priorities that you hold.

5. Quality. Do not presume the factory boss has the same concept of product quality that you possess.

6. Brands. Intellectual Property, Trademarks & Logos. Do not presume the people you are dealing with will respect any of your intellectual property.

7. Long Range Vision. Do not presume the people you are dealing with have the same vision concerning this transaction that you have.

8. Long-term Relations. Do not presume the middleman has a sincere interest in long-term business relations. Quick cash is a much greater motivator than what may happen next year.

9. Loyalties. Do not presume business loyalties. While the terms ‘connections’ and ‘relationships’ often pepper conversation on business, they often evaporate when one individual gets the advantage.

10. Words are Words, nothing more. Do not presume that what someone tells you is anything more than what they think are the words you want to hear.