Spies, Spies, What’s this all about?

Because of my long business connections in Russia, six years in residence, people have come to me for an opinion on the new Russian spy saga. The answer I want to give is, “What spies?” When I first heard about this I laughed out loud. It was a surprise—a surprise that they all got caught. And a surprise they were sent over here—to do what? The joke however, is on some Russians who didn’t get the word that the Cold War is over. Hearing what the spies did (or didn’t do) and who they are, with assumed names like “Murphy” (what a laugh) the bottom line may well be that they have taken their Russian  bosses for a ride, living in America on Russian money. Russians have a right to be embarrassed.

 But seriously, it shouldn’t surprise any of us. The Cold War is over, but there are some on both sides who can’t accept that. If they do, they lose their jobs. Franz Kafka said, ” Every revolution evaporates and leaves behind only the slime of a new bureaucracy.” The challenges today are very different, being economic and socio-political, not mainly military. Of course there are real questions about the timing of this long known network. To undermine the improving Russian/American relations is suggested. That will only give the old cold-warriors something to talk about.

In my book I observe, “In Russia there is much secrecy, but no secrets.” It is all about relationships. In my Russian telecom company I had to let a girl go once. She was well liked but not doing the job. The next week she got a job with our main competitor and was on the phone to tell me how they were planning to compete with us. She felt still part of our corporate relationship.

 There is more to learn, of course, but until then it still is a laugh, on both sides.

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

Review on “Walking on Ice…” from top Russian magazine.

 New Book on Business in Russia – American author brings a fresh and honest look at doing business in today’s Russia

 From Andrei Zolotov, Jr., Editor, Russia Profile, Moscow:

Essentially, it is a collection of essays, although one part of the book is structured in chapters on Russian geography, demography, culture, business and politics, while the other is simply called “An Essay Collection.” These pages bear an openly Chekhovian description of a weekend spent at the dacha with an extended Russian family next to a carefully worded account of the role of crime and corruption in business practices and how they can be worked around; a tribute to Boris Pasternak next to a report about the October 1993 revolt and the shelling of parliament from an unusual perspective of a businessman whose operation was headquartered in the Comecon building at the very center of those dramatic events.

The author analyzes the role of the Orthodox Church in shaping the Russian psyche and identity, and categorizes Russian women in types which would make some of them blush. What brings these essays together is a transpiring love for both the strengths and weaknesses of this country and its people.

Read more »

Words are Things

 Language is a wonderful thing. It contains words which express ideas, action, meaning. Two quotes about this are below. One from Lord Byron and the other from one of special favorites, Franz Kafka.

Words are things, and small drops of ink,

Falling like dew upon a thought, produce

That which makes thousands, perhaps millions, think.

                            Lord Byron “Don Juan”

Life’s splendor forever lies in wait about each one of us in all its fullness,

but veiled from view, deep down, invisible, far off.

It is there, though, not hostile, not reluctant, not deaf.

If you summon it by the right word, by its right name, it will come.

Franz Kafka (1883–1924),