The cover story of a recent Economist magazine, read “The beginning of the end of Putin.” The deeper meaning of those well chosen words might be “The beginning of the end of autocracy.” As always in Russia, there is a third side of the coin. Putin … [Read more...]
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 … [Read more...]
HELP A RUSSIAN?
Russians, like everyone else, need help once in a while. But, helping a Russian, they say, is like trying to save a drowning man who won’t give you his hand. I have surely had that experience at times. It is a pathetic experience, and so often one … [Read more...]
Russia~ Where everything is difficult and everything is possible!
An early reply I remember hearing in Russia was “Nyet, it can’t be done.” It was a common challenge. Then I learned how to respond. “I realize it is difficult,” I said, “but if you were to do it, how would you do it?” Then I got a different … [Read more...]
Business in Russia, Again.
“Doing business in Russia is like doing business anywhere else, but different.” Now that I am getting involved with new ventures with Russians and/or on Russian soil, I am reapproaching all I have experienced and written about in my book, “Walking … [Read more...]
The Troika Today, Putin, Medvedev, and Luzhkov?
In Russian politics, there is always the “troika,” like three horses unevenly pulling the sleigh thorough the cold and rugged Russian countryside. I had wondered if or where was the third horse with Putin and Medvedev in their “tandem” harness. The … [Read more...]
The Politics of Russian Business
One thing you have to understand is that Russia is a political country. You can't do things alone. Never mind about the Kremlin. That is another ocean you probably won’t have to challenge. But, even at the daily business level, it can be like … [Read more...]
Starting a Business in Russia~How is it Different?
“Doing business in Russia is like doing business anywhere else…but different.” Business is business, many think. Yes and no. How is doing business in Russia different from, say, the United States? Here are five points I can make—there are … [Read more...]
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 … [Read more...]