“Grappling With Soviet Symbolism,” New York Times

In the May 15, 2010 edition of The New York Times, was an article by Andrei Zolotov, Jr. “Grappling With Soviet Symbolism. This paralleled well with the sentiments in my book  “Walking on Ice, An American Businessman in Russia.” So, I wrote a letter to the New York Times and they, surprisedly, answered at once telling me it was going to be published in the International Herald Tribune. I expect to see a copy of that soon. Here is what I wrote:

 “What a welcome account of the obvious change happening in Russia today. It has been happening, but slowly and often unnoticed by the press. Lenin said Russia progressed one step forward and one step back. I say today it is three steps forward and two back, but we must acknowledge that residual step and help build on it. Zolotov covered it all well. Indeed, it is often the “blink” of events that help turn the head and then the body in a new and better direction. The Smolensk fatal crash killing the Polish leadership on the anniversary of the Katyn massacre may well have been that unexpected moment that turned the Russian heads. In my seventeen years in Russian business, it has been so obvious that the country was inching toward a reality first foreseen by Peter the Great, now led by the world-conscious young as they lead Russia out of the historic dark past into the light of the new world.”

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

My First Lesson ~ Getting around "No"

The Cold-War stereotype of the Russian was a man in a gray suit and brown shoes who simply said “no.” One of my first lessons in doing business in Russia was learning that image is both true and false. In the stark and crowded 21st floor room in what was to be our office for a few years I, an American nice guy with no telecom credentials, discussed some business plans with a few potential employees. It was an atmosphere of awe and wonder. “What is the crazy American talking about?” they were thinking. “Doesn’t he know this is Russia?”

 It was Russia indeed, 1992 in fact, only a few months after The Hammer and Sickle came quietly down over Red Square and the whole of what was then The Soviet Union. But these were not gray suited men or babushkas shoveling snow. These were sharp and eager young graduates, men and women, from the top technical school in Moscow. But, their initial reaction still reflected the centuries of Russian resistance to taking initiative and personal responsibility. But I quickly learned how to get around that cultural block and get something done.

 At first I presented the new business idea to the young Russians as I would do at home. But, often I would get a silence, maybe a head shaking, in any case a definite “no, it can’t be done.” They might have reasons to put forth, but those were seldom pertinent. Then the thought came to me to get on their side of the table and say, “I know it would be difficult, but if we had to do it, how would we do it.” Then, the lights would come on, the discussion would catch on fire, and solutions would come forth.

 I quickly learned that the Russian, especially during Soviet times, was often blocked from doing what he wanted, but under the new environment and if approached pro-actively, he expressed a resourcefulness like nothing I had experienced in my decades of international business management. From that start we built a major telecom company in the new Russia with a team that grew to over sixty and delivered state-of-the-art telecommunications to the rapidly expanding expatiate business community and to some top Russian clients, too.

 I also learned quickly that you have to be part of a dedicated team. With good leadership, they then will get excited with the potential of successful creativity and work hard to achieve the goal. It’s all about relationships.