TIPS FOR DEALING AND SOCIALIZING WITH ARABS, MUSLIMS AND FOREIGNERS.

DEALING AND SOCIALIZING WITH JAPANESE

A Japanese businessman will never rush to agree or disagree with you, especially if you are Jewish in general and American in particular, regardless of your original ethnic and religious background. The very first thing you should expect to hear from a Japanese businessman upon hearing your business proposal is this very typical cliché “Possible, very possible”. He never replies by “Yes” or “No”. He always takes his time; at least one or two days before he gives you a definitive answer. He never consults with his wife or members of his family. His business decisions are solely made upon strategic, geographic, sales reasons and corporate analysis. Deep down in their psyche, Japanese remain cautious in dealing with their Jewish counterparts and American “monopolists”. They strongly believe that Jewish businessmen are aggressive, manipulative and extremely bright. This conception led them a priori to believe that Jewish businessmen will always try to sell their products and services by using a “non-argumentative rhetoric” and a series of presentations documented with market analysis, sales numbers, colorful examples and graphs of savings and cutting expenses. Consequently, they feel that they have to prepare themselves to deal with the “Jewish numbers" and verify the statistics provided by their Jewish counterparts. They also believe that Americans are lazy and extremely playful. Not necessarily happy people, yet extremely resourceful, positive and creative.

The majority of Japanese businessmen who are involved with import-export, consumers goods and retail industry taught themselves to believe that “Americans constant complaints about everything and anything, distorted social values, hostile takeovers, unmerciful business competitions, Wall Street stocks hysteria, families dysfunction, cheap, casual and easy sex, financial and economical auto-sufficiency and uncontrollable freedom prevent Americans for gaining the trust of other nations, and eventually, one day, America’s economical, financial, industrial and political might will collapse.” But for the time being, Japanese businessmen consent that Americans are doing great and are constantly creating and producing magnificent products in many sectors and endeavors. Thus, Japanese corporate executives decided to teach their employees and sales representatives to capture the moment and learn as much as possible about the most advanced forms and aspects of American science and technology. Stealing from Americans, copying American products, ameliorating their results and effectiveness do not offend the morality and the sacred way of life (Do in Japanese and Tao in Chinese) of industrial Japanese.

The majority of the older Japanese generation does not highly respect black Americans. The former prime minister of Japan in one of his public speeches demonstrated this racial bias. The younger generation could or would care less. Japanese students attending Japanese universities and institutions of higher learning believe that Americans do not have a solid and valid cultural heritage.

The universities professors who are over 50 years of age constantly remind their students that Americans have no discipline, no code of ethics, no loyalty and no individuality. However they admit that Americans are extremely resourceful, fun and entertaining, overwhelmingly humanitarian, and believe it or not brave and courageous. This is strange. Because, for years, Japanese believed that Americans are coward and are unable or unwilling to fight, to protect their own country and even themselves. This is a deeply rooted conviction which goes back as far as the second world war.

DEALING AND SOCIALIZING WITH IRANIANS

Iranians are diametrically different from the Japanese. Generally, an Iranian businessman or just any ordinary Iranian person (man or woman) is extremely engaging, loves to argue and to ask many questions. And quite often, his or her answer takes the form of a question. Expect to frequently hear this word “Really?” upon conversing with an Iranian. If he or she says “Really?” once, this means that he or she is still wondering and or doubting your intentions. If he or she repeats the word “Really” twice, this means that the Iranian person is seriously “questioning” your ability to deliver and or the sincerity of your intentions. Iranian people have a high level of self-esteem and self-respect.

They are among the most generous people in the world. They might not keep their promises all the time, but when they begin to like you or trust you, their generosity and their “extra mile” friendship will overwhelm you. Iranians who have traveled abroad and lived for a while in western societies where they had the opportunities to deal with Jewish businessmen, have tendency to have more trust and faith in Jews than in their own people. This is very true, especially if they are dealing with Iranians merchants who are in the business of used (second hand) goods. A former Iranian associate of mine, once told me: “It takes 5 Arabs to fool one Jew and 10 Jews to fool one Iranian.” Just like the Afghanistanis and Pakistanis, the majority of Iranian businessmen who live and work in the United States, especially in large and cosmopolitan American cities don’t fully trust Americans.

More: NEXT