Page 41 - Horizon Han22

Doing Business the American Way: 6 Ways to Prepare for Your Next Market
Visit. By Norma Foster
For 2 long, hot, and tiring days in 1985 I had been struggling to adapt to the time difference in New Orleans. I was about to
make the most important pitch of my life for a contract that would be ridiculously exciting and challenging in equal measure. I’d travelled to the USA rich in enthusiasm and largely ignorant of what might lie ahead. Running on instinct made up for my lack of experience. I had a great relationship with the clients, worked hard and was very open and honest, which saved the day and ultimately won me the contract.
I often hear clients ask before their business trips to the USA “Everyone speaks English, we’ve got that special relationship and yes, it’s big, but it can’t be that complicated, can it?”
The answer is – yes it can. We can simplify things with the right approach.
The best way to work with Americans is to think like them, understand their values and their need for good planning. With 332,403,650 people in the USA, 50 individual states, 6 timezones (Eastern, Central, Mountain, Pacific, Alaska, Hawaiian Time (https://www.timeanddate.com/ ) and over 14,700 airports, we know that the opportunity in the USA is massive.
So, what can you do better to smooth your introduction to new American
partners? Andrew Hubbert Photography
Horizon issue 2.indd 41 14/12/2022 14:50:04