What Is To Be Done?

What is to be done to move Russia into the 21^st century world? It always has been a very tough question, but more possible of success today than ever before. It will lift Russians who can accomplish so much more if they develop an environment of cooperation and mutual need and respect. But it’s not easy. While it does not require sleeping on a bed of nails, as the hero did in Nikolai Chernyshevsky’s famous novel What Is To Be Done to prove his dedication to his Markist ideals, it does require a clear and serious intent, dedication, perservance, and many other things.

In a land historically devoid of the predictability of law, the cement of Russian society is built on personal relationships. That interwoven matrix is complex. That is why one never makes commitments he cannot deliver. It is deeds, not words that count. Character is more important than contracts. Once that trust develops, I found the Russians reliable, resourceful, dedicated, and extremely hard-working. New leadership can develop out of that growing pool of forward-looking younger men and women. And contracts can be a result.

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Heroes! —“The Great Patriotic War”

I have always admired the veteran Russian men and women in their baggy suits and medals from WWII, “The Great Patriotic War.” They suffered so much—and survived. Several of these men were the “guards” at a desk by the door to our office building in Moscow. If they knew you, they would shake their head in their gesture of acceptance.

One day, during the time of celebration of the end of the war, Victory Day,I was invited down into the basement where there was a lunch room and was asked to give a talk. I made it short and said wars were not started by men like them, and me. It was politicians who made wars. They all applauded and shook their heads in agreement. When I told them I drove a tank in the Army, then I was really accepted.  Then they gave me a poster, one like we had in America. It was a woman with a red head scarf and a finger to her mouth with the admonition “Don’t Talk.” (See above.) The American one read “Loose Lips Sink Ships.”

That poster hangs in my office today.After that, I was always treated with extra respect.

Learn more about Russians. Buy here “Walking on Ice, An American Businessman in Russia”. Your comments are welcome.

The International Space Station

Tonight I watched the International Space Station fly overhead, a star-like speck, illuminated by the distant sun, silently sailing by the almost full moon,  It took six minutes from the Pacific horizon to the horizon over Arizona and the US. This is called Expedition 28 and there are six men up there, three from Russia, two from the US, and one from Japan. The commander is Andrey Borisenko from St Petersburg. (His story is fascinating.)

What a time to stop, watch, and think about our travels in space—they have gone so far, and so far to go in the future. The final Space Shuttle mission to the ISS is scheduled for July 8. As a boy I read all the Jules Verne novels, all amazing forecasts of what has happened since. I remember where I was when Sputnik first flew over head—I was in Maine. And when our first astronaut, Alan Shepard, was in orbit—I was in California.

 We will see much more in the future. What a life!

Talking to our Future World Business Leaders

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I had the privilege of addressing the Executive MBA (EMBA) class at Colorado State University this week in preparation for their June trip to Russia. My book, “Walking on Ice, An American Businessman in Russia” is a textbook for this US/Russian MBA course, so they were well prepared and had good questions.

I covered what I call “the third side of the Russian coin” which really is the underlying thousand years of cultural influences on Russian thought, behavior, and therefore business. Much progress is being made, but there’s much more to be done.

We discussed particularly the present growing “Generation 3” as I call those who entered the great post-Soviet change fresh for the universities and institutes in the early 90s. And the present excitement and wonderment over the Skolkovo efforts to reinforce the great technology values in young Russia and bring it successfully and profitably onto the world market. The recent partnership with Silicon Valley is a cornerstone of that initiative.

To quote Alexis de Tocqueville on the subject of Russia and America: “Their starting-point is different, and their courses are not the same; yet each of them seems to be marked out by the will of Heaven to sway the destinies of half the globe.”

 From my experience in Russia, I am so happy to see this sincere interest in Russia from a leading American MBA program. I am glad to see CSU playing a part in this destiny. I am confident there will be good results.

Learn more. Buy here “Walking on Ice, An American Businessman in Russia”

Changing Russia~ Patience Pays!

The American or Western visitor or businessman has a special challenge in fitting into the colorful and exciting environment of an evolving Russia. The world is not really so flat as to obscure the character of a people, though superficial similarities make these defining traits less visible. Even in this high-tech world, we need to understand the deeper meaning of a people, including those cultural elements that make them on occasion behave differently. Although Russia is in a great state of change, the effects of a thousand years of history are not erased in a decade or two—if ever.

After over thirty years doing business in Asia and Europe, I went to the new Russia in 1991. The contrasts with the rest of the world were amazing and at the same time stimulating. I was fortunate to gather around me in Russia some of the most dedicated, hard working, ethical, intelligent, and enjoyable young people I have ever worked with. I found a mutual sense of understanding and a team spirit toward the common goal. I started a telecom company and lived there for six years, managing the task in the cauldron of the chaotic residue of the Soviet Union and the stumbling progress of an emerging New Russia. With such smart men and women in Moscow the venture was successful, providing advanced telecom services to Fortune 1000 companies in Russia, to major Russian businesses, and to diplomatic offices, including the American Embassy.

Russia has been the highlight of my international business career—enriching and enjoyable.

Learn more. Buy here  “Walking on Ice, An American Businessman in Russia”

Is Obama the Catalyst?

I have an Iranian friend, a man with military background in Iran and America and who still has family and friends in Tehran. He said to me, after the Tunisian and Egyptian revolts, that President Obama was the underlying inspiration. I listened. It was news to me.  His explanation made sense.

These young men in the Middle East, he said, see that a man of mixed race and multicultural heritage was able to swim up the stream of Anglo domination, get a top education, and win a free election in the most powerful nation in the world. A man with the name of Barack Hussein Obama. These young yearned for the freedom to choose their own path and do their best. They said, “Why not me?” He explained Obama’s Cairo speech was the thing that inspired them all. It was articulate, well versed, and respected.

With the freedom of the Internet, the ideas flowed, my friend said. Tunisia, Egypt, Libya, and also the young of Iran are fully charged he said. It is the change that is happening. And we all pray it will continue to move toward peace, freedom and responsible democracy. We will see.  

What do you think?

The Wonderful Moscow Metro

Russia can’t build a decent car. But it can build the best rockets, incredible fighter planes, all kinds of technology, and the world’s best subway, the Moscow Metro. You’ve heard about them. They are works of art. In the main Metro ring and stations in Moscow they are filled with statuary and frescoes. The architecture is superb.

The Moscow Metro was built in 1935,  is 301.2 km (187.2 mi) of length, 12 lines, and 182 stations. The highest passenger traffic is highest on weekdays, when the Metro carries over 7 million passengers per day. Of course you know about the dogs that ride the Metro daily to visit their favorite dining grounds.

Ride the Moscow Metro. It is a treat. Get a guide book and top off at the most artistic stations. But do it on the weekend.

Learn more. Buy here  “Walking on Ice, An American Businessman in Russia”

Kraków ~ a city I want to see!

In my many world travels, I have never been to Kraków, an ancient city in southern Poland on the Vistula River and just north of the Tatra Mountains.  I have been to Slovakia just 100 miles to the south, but not to this legendary city.

It has a history going back to the Stone Age, was a city in the 7^th Century, was almost destroyed by the Mongols in the 1200s, and today the second largest Polish city after Warsaw and a major national economic, academic, and artistic center. It suffered under the Nazis and its Jews suffered the same deaths as elsewhere in Europe  

Kraków is proud to be the home of the archbishop of Kraków, Karol Wojtyła, who became Pope John Paul II – the first Slavic pope, and the first non-Italian pope in 455 years. My friend Andy is from Kraków and we meet often down on Inspiration Point here in Corona del Mar and watch the sun set over The Pacific. He goes back every year to see if his home city is still there.

Yes, we should all someday go to this famous  historic city, Kraków.

“Dos Gringos” for the screen?

The comment I continually hear from readers of my family book “Dos Gringos” is that it ought to be a film.

“In the middle of the Mexican Revolution, a penniless Norwegian and a drifting Irishman meet in an El Paso bar and are hired by a Pittsburg con-man to fix a gold mine in Mexico with parts which, they discover too late, purposely don’t fit.” I agree it should.  Some of what I have heard:

“This is Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid—with accents.”

 “Can’t put it down.  So much intrigue.”

“A page turner, better than most out of Hollywood.”

“Thrilling – and funny.  Crazy guys.”

 If anyone has an idea how I can get this responsibly started toward a film, let me know. I have had classes in screen writing and would be open to working on a financed production. Quality is the thing.

 Let me know if you have ideas.

 If you haven’t read it –get  YOUR copy of “Dos Gringos”  here.

“BATTLESHIP POTEMKIN”

 One of the most famous scenes in film history is that of the baby carriage bouncing down the steps of the great steps of Odessa. The film is Sergei Eisenstein’s 1925 Battleship Potemkin. The film, newly restored in 35mm was recently shown in LA and I drove in to see it.

Although a classic propaganda film, it is a dramatized account of a great Black Sea Russian naval mutiny in 1905 and a resulting street demonstration which brought on a police massacre. But important also was an experiment with the effect of film editing on audiences, and Eisenstein attempted to edit the film in such a way as to produce the greatest emotional response, so that the viewer would feel sympathy for the rebellious sailors of the Battleship Potemkin and hatred for their cruel overlords. In the manner of most propaganda, the characterization is simple, so that the audience could clearly see with whom they should sympathize

 I was so pleased to see this historic film.

Buy here  “Walking on Ice, An American Businessman in Russia”