Very often, the international perception that we have of international trade comes from school books. To explain the balance of payments between countries, the illustrations shown to the students are a bottle of red wine for France, an iPhone for the USA, cars for Germany, lambs for New Zealand, barrels of oil for the Emirates… This is supposed to explain, with some effectiveness, the chronic deficit of balances from region to region.
Of course, these images are funny but so realistic. Because if we can leave globalization to discover the richness of the diversity of countries, people, heritage, crafts, know-how and services combined, the unification of cultures and mass consumption could largely be balanced in favor of the creation of wealth and therefore jobs in all regions of the world, without exception.
Now that globalization has led to increasing interdependence between countries, what lies beyond?
It is our personal duty to research, analyze and understand the new trends and ideas that are now influencing trade and the capitalist and globalized economy.
Moreover, limiting oneself to understanding the reality of the world through economics is a mistake. We think that each of us should understand the world and have his own opinion through four pillars : Economics, Politics, Ecology and Sociology. We can then place ourselves personally in an open and interconnected world.
“Passion is one great force that unleashes creativity, because if you’re passionate about something, then you’re more willing to take risks.”
Yo-Yo Ma
Understand all men and women
One day, on a mission in Japan, as I was walking alone in a zen garden in Kyoto to occupy my Sunday afternoon away from family, I felt Japanese. With this feeling of being well in this peaceful place, felling not as a foreigner but as a citizen of the world. Unfulfilled attempt to feel the world as a single entity without borders or barriers and to have the universal capacity to accept all the differences of the world and of human beings, whatever their differences.
I felt this experience everywhere else, America, Asia, Africa, Europe and each time I felt the possibility of union between peoples despite the existence everywhere of real violence within our societies.
An idealistic image of humanity
Is man by nature good or bad ? Both ?
From Plato to Rousseau, from Bob Marley to Bono, from Mandela to Luther King or Gandhi, all have preached and many still preach a united, just and equitable world. One world.
The existence of the self is supposed to be established through this universal unity, not only between men but also between man and the nature that nourishes him. By understanding this, we understand the stakes of the political, economic, social and ecological coordination of the world and the “raison d’être”, purpose of the major world organizations and the agreements concluded.
Slowbalization
Be elsewhere to feel Irish, Aussie, Vietnamese or Chilian.
It is the practice of international trade that brings peace and development to nations. To practice fair and sustainable business is to seek the existence of oneself (and one’s business) everywhere on the planet. Realizing your personal development by finding a profesional way deepened as an art. The art of exporting its business by adapting to the opportunities offered in the world.
When we’re asked the question of why do we travel everywhere, we always answer that we are trying to establish our existence. Being elsewhere to feel deeply at home when back. To be able to appreciate our heritage, culture and tradition even more. It is for us the search for a spiritual state.
Get enriched with others
In every sense of the term. Exporting means knowing how to immerse your corporate values in the culture of others, finding opportunities there to improve people’s livelihoods. And the challenges and milestones facing our generation are huges ; Fighting global warming, making extreme poverty history, managing the continued growth of the world’s population.
We always say to those who export that it is our responsibility to maintain and create jobs through our actions abroad. Keep this in mind, if you go international, you feed entire families. We create jobs for our children, our brothers and sisters, cousins, uncles and aunts and entire families elsewhere. We must grasp our action as a whole.
I therefore see in exporting a way of questioning our relationship to our own actions and more broadly our relationship to the world. It is only when we are aware of our strengths and weaknesses that exporting can be approached. International business means to enrich yourself with others, understand them and remain aware of yourself and the distance between the two.
Your personal conquest
I refer to this technique as a personal development tool. Make your life the ascent of a mountain. Exporting is the same thing. To reach the top, you have to overcome the risks, the difficulties, the doubts. But once at the top, you will have the exhilarating feeling of having conquered the elements and you will in turn be able to watch from above those who seek their paths, and guide them.
This is the essence of exporting, finding your way, your path, elsewhere. Somewhere.
This is where our profession takes on its full flavor. Because our planet is so beautiful and our life so short that we must at all times take advantage of our happiness in doing this job, to accept the difficulties as the trials to overcome that will make us better.
Our world is beautiful by its diversity but also by the complexity of the simplest things he’s offering to us.
Every day, realize in your action that succeeding in exporting is not just about succeeding in reaching the top of the mountain and signing new deals. On the contrary, the ultimate success is cultivated through all the small simple steps bet one after the other. Simply. From beginning to end.
It is after each action, each step, that you must appreciate your work and your value. The quality of the details is as important as the project as a whole. Because if some arrive at the top of the mountain, at the top, others get lost on the way. This is why the best advice is to appreciate each action at its fair value, to enjoy success in even simple tasks and to share your optimism.
You can’t walk to Kuala Lumpur, Buenos Aires or Auckland by magic. Every day decision involves your entire company. Many think only in terms of financial goals, of the end result, neglecting the intermediate steps. Before arriving at your destination, you have to go through the hazards of the journey.
Imagine starting a trial-run from Portugal to Italy. Thinking only about getting to Italy is useless. Before, it is necessary to be able to arrive each evening at the desired destination.
Amusing
I remember reading on the web the story of a group of young British people who decided to cross Europe by walk to raise funds for a humanitarian association. Full of good will, they crossed the Channel and began their journey through France. After only two days they abandoned their project because they realized that people do not speak English, making their journey impossible. There is no point thinking too much about the future, writing incredible plans, when it is here and now that your future is decided.
Act step by step, consciously, in the present to be able to adapt your strategy at any time with your goal of conquering the world in sight.
“Feel the warmth of humanity with every breath,
Pierre PERDRIAUD
Be aware of the time and space, don’t waste them in vain,
Take advantage of your vision, make it your mission,
To give the world what it values most, a precious gift,
Love that transcends all boundaries, don’t let it leave,
And the power to imagine and create, don’t hesitate.”
Happy CEO 