imagine you are the communications manager firmer Cedar’s bends and you’re
manager firmer Cedar’s bends and you’re
manager firmer Cedar’s bends and you’re getting this cool job you can actually
getting this cool job you can actually
getting this cool job you can actually start introducing your brand in China
start introducing your brand in China
start introducing your brand in China now you know that luxury products from
now you know that luxury products from
now you know that luxury products from the West do very well in the whole of
the West do very well in the whole of
the West do very well in the whole of Asia so you know you’re gonna be a
Asia so you know you’re gonna be a
Asia so you know you’re gonna be a success but China is a bit of a weird
success but China is a bit of a weird
success but China is a bit of a weird place for you it’s different than what
place for you it’s different than what
place for you it’s different than what you’re used to so they they pronounce
you’re used to so they they pronounce
you’re used to so they they pronounce bends differently and whenever you
bends differently and whenever you
bends differently and whenever you actually demonstrate what your cars are
actually demonstrate what your cars are
actually demonstrate what your cars are all about they look at you weird but hey
all about they look at you weird but hey
all about they look at you weird but hey you don’t understand the culture so you
you don’t understand the culture so you
you don’t understand the culture so you really don’t know what’s going on it
really don’t know what’s going on it
really don’t know what’s going on it will be okay and then after a while you
will be okay and then after a while you
will be okay and then after a while you find out that the pronunciation of bends
find out that the pronunciation of bends
find out that the pronunciation of bends is actually completely wrong so the
is actually completely wrong so the
is actually completely wrong so the Chinese the way they say bends is wrong
Chinese the way they say bends is wrong
Chinese the way they say bends is wrong they say and my apologies to the Chinese
they say and my apologies to the Chinese
they say and my apologies to the Chinese amongst you because I don’t speak
amongst you because I don’t speak
amongst you because I don’t speak Chinese but I was helped for this and
Chinese but I was helped for this and
Chinese but I was helped for this and what they say is then see which is
what they say is then see which is
what they say is then see which is actually rush to the death so you have a
actually rush to the death so you have a
actually rush to the death so you have a car in which you can rush through the
car in which you can rush through the
car in which you can rush through the death now you don’t want to pay a lot of
death now you don’t want to pay a lot of
death now you don’t want to pay a lot of money for that do you so you don’t find
money for that do you so you don’t find
money for that do you so you don’t find that out as a foreigner
that out as a foreigner
that out as a foreigner and when you do and these it can be
and when you do and these it can be
and when you do and these it can be easily corrected at least that is not
easily corrected at least that is not
easily corrected at least that is not too hard to do but of course it’s
too hard to do but of course it’s
too hard to do but of course it’s already cost you millions of dollars
already cost you millions of dollars
already cost you millions of dollars because you have to now pronunciation
because you have to now pronunciation
because you have to now pronunciation and every ad campaign and everything
and every ad campaign and everything
and every ad campaign and everything differently so it is easy to change it
differently so it is easy to change it
differently so it is easy to change it is called over the translation is now or
is called over the translation is now or
is called over the translation is now or the pronunciation
the pronunciation
the pronunciation now is venture which is called dashing
now is venture which is called dashing
now is venture which is called dashing speed so that’s much better for your car
speed so that’s much better for your car
speed so that’s much better for your car now Gerber a brand of baby milk actually
now Gerber a brand of baby milk actually
now Gerber a brand of baby milk actually didn’t get the skyrocketing success they
didn’t get the skyrocketing success they
didn’t get the skyrocketing success they were waiting for in South America and
were waiting for in South America and
were waiting for in South America and they didn’t understand and they started
they didn’t understand and they started
they didn’t understand and they started asking why and then it turned out that
asking why and then it turned out that
asking why and then it turned out that parents didn’t want to buy the baby milk
parents didn’t want to buy the baby milk
parents didn’t want to buy the baby milk for their children because Conibear in
for their children because Conibear in
for their children because Conibear in Spanish means to vomit this it sounds so
Spanish means to vomit this it sounds so
Spanish means to vomit this it sounds so so easy to to not do but it’s actually
so easy to to not do but it’s actually
so easy to to not do but it’s actually hard to miss if you don’t speak the
hard to miss if you don’t speak the
hard to miss if you don’t speak the language and you don’t really get
language and you don’t really get
language and you don’t really get involved and these are costly but small
involved and these are costly but small
involved and these are costly but small mistakes and they’re just the tip of the
mistakes and they’re just the tip of the
mistakes and they’re just the tip of the iceberg there are many layers of
iceberg there are many layers of
iceberg there are many layers of cross-cultural problems and many layers
cross-cultural problems and many layers
cross-cultural problems and many layers of cross-cultural communication mistakes
of cross-cultural communication mistakes
of cross-cultural communication mistakes now let’s talk about feet we are happy
now let’s talk about feet we are happy
now let’s talk about feet we are happy with feet right we are relaxed about
with feet right we are relaxed about
with feet right we are relaxed about feet feet can’t really offend us not
feet feet can’t really offend us not
feet feet can’t really offend us not here but they can offend us of they can
here but they can offend us of they can
here but they can offend us of they can offend people in Asia and in Arab
offend people in Asia and in Arab
offend people in Asia and in Arab cultures their feet are considered very
cultures their feet are considered very
cultures their feet are considered very unclean and when they’re unclean that
unclean and when they’re unclean that
unclean and when they’re unclean that means that you can’t show them so if you
means that you can’t show them so if you
means that you can’t show them so if you show the soles of feet to Asians or to
show the soles of feet to Asians or to
show the soles of feet to Asians or to Arabs they are very offended you should
Arabs they are very offended you should
Arabs they are very offended you should actually not show them at all not
actually not show them at all not
actually not show them at all not covered not bare so my clients a
covered not bare so my clients a
covered not bare so my clients a financial service provider in Amsterdam
financial service provider in Amsterdam
financial service provider in Amsterdam asked me to look into his cross-cultural
asked me to look into his cross-cultural
asked me to look into his cross-cultural communication that he was doing for his
communication that he was doing for his
communication that he was doing for his markets in Asia and his son and in the
markets in Asia and his son and in the
markets in Asia and his son and in the Middle East so he had a service he said
Middle East so he had a service he said
Middle East so he had a service he said if you use this service then you don’t
if you use this service then you don’t
if you use this service then you don’t have to worry about everything is ok now
have to worry about everything is ok now
have to worry about everything is ok now his enthusiastic web designer
his enthusiastic web designer
his enthusiastic web designer looked for a picture for the front page
looked for a picture for the front page
looked for a picture for the front page that would be actually very close to
that would be actually very close to
that would be actually very close to that feeling so when all is happiness
that feeling so when all is happiness
that feeling so when all is happiness and enthusiasm he showed me this so this
and enthusiasm he showed me this so this
and enthusiasm he showed me this so this is exactly what you shouldn’t do this is
is exactly what you shouldn’t do this is
is exactly what you shouldn’t do this is exactly what is the most offending thing
exactly what is the most offending thing
exactly what is the most offending thing that you can do in Asia and in Arab
that you can do in Asia and in Arab
that you can do in Asia and in Arab countries now when I told the web
countries now when I told the web
countries now when I told the web designer he had processed this through
designer he had processed this through
designer he had processed this through his own set of values when I told him he
his own set of values when I told him he
his own set of values when I told him he actually still wasn’t impressed and he
actually still wasn’t impressed and he
actually still wasn’t impressed and he thought yeah you know people can
thought yeah you know people can
thought yeah you know people can actually be difficult but everything and
actually be difficult but everything and
actually be difficult but everything and uh well you know leave it there and I
uh well you know leave it there and I
uh well you know leave it there and I said well there’s no point to actually
said well there’s no point to actually
said well there’s no point to actually even start selling your product if this
even start selling your product if this
even start selling your product if this is what you put on your home page so
is what you put on your home page so
is what you put on your home page so people filter this through their own
people filter this through their own
people filter this through their own ideas people get confused also about
ideas people get confused also about
ideas people get confused also about what perceptions are in different areas
what perceptions are in different areas
what perceptions are in different areas of the world generally we offend without
of the world generally we offend without
of the world generally we offend without knowing it we make each other sometimes
knowing it we make each other sometimes
knowing it we make each other sometimes angry without knowing it between
angry without knowing it between
angry without knowing it between cultures we don’t want to offend we
cultures we don’t want to offend we
cultures we don’t want to offend we don’t want to make people angry but we
don’t want to make people angry but we
don’t want to make people angry but we misinterpret and once we do that we
misinterpret and once we do that we
misinterpret and once we do that we actually start retracting getting
actually start retracting getting
actually start retracting getting annoyed getting into our own normal way
annoyed getting into our own normal way
annoyed getting into our own normal way of behaving and we cannot communicate at
of behaving and we cannot communicate at
of behaving and we cannot communicate at all anymore
all anymore
all anymore wouldn’t it be fantastic if we would
wouldn’t it be fantastic if we would
wouldn’t it be fantastic if we would understand each other’s perceptions if
understand each other’s perceptions if
understand each other’s perceptions if we would understand what somebody else
we would understand what somebody else
we would understand what somebody else sees when they look at us what somebody
sees when they look at us what somebody
sees when they look at us what somebody else feels when they look at us when we
else feels when they look at us when we
else feels when they look at us when we do the simplest things somebody else
do the simplest things somebody else
do the simplest things somebody else might be offended and we don’t know
might be offended and we don’t know
might be offended and we don’t know wouldn’t it be great if we would know
wouldn’t it be great if we would know
wouldn’t it be great if we would know that because if we would know that we
that because if we would know that we
that because if we would know that we would actually be able to to connect to
would actually be able to to connect to
would actually be able to to connect to each other and not feel offended or feel
each other and not feel offended or feel
each other and not feel offended or feel disrespected or even fear each other now
disrespected or even fear each other now
disrespected or even fear each other now clap the culture what is culture
clap the culture what is culture
clap the culture what is culture actually culture is actually
actually culture is actually
actually culture is actually a perception the the collective
a perception the the collective
a perception the the collective perceptions that people have with each
perceptions that people have with each
perceptions that people have with each other it’s like glue it’s like DNA
other it’s like glue it’s like DNA
other it’s like glue it’s like DNA within a group of people so culture is
within a group of people so culture is
within a group of people so culture is determined by circumstances often it’s
determined by circumstances often it’s
determined by circumstances often it’s determined by geography and history now
determined by geography and history now
determined by geography and history now if you have hot climates people live
if you have hot climates people live
if you have hot climates people live outside they live outdoors so they they
outside they live outdoors so they they
outside they live outdoors so they they trade in the streets they work with each
trade in the streets they work with each
trade in the streets they work with each other in the streets they meet and they
other in the streets they meet and they
other in the streets they meet and they also spent their money outside of the
also spent their money outside of the
also spent their money outside of the house when you have a cold climate
house when you have a cold climate
house when you have a cold climate people stay inside say in Scandinavian
people stay inside say in Scandinavian
people stay inside say in Scandinavian countries it’s cold and hot outside so
countries it’s cold and hot outside so
countries it’s cold and hot outside so people stay inside inside of their
people stay inside inside of their
people stay inside inside of their houses inside of their rooms and that’s
houses inside of their rooms and that’s
houses inside of their rooms and that’s where they spend their money on also
where they spend their money on also
where they spend their money on also it’s not a coincidence that IKEA
it’s not a coincidence that IKEA
it’s not a coincidence that IKEA actually started in Scandinavia so the
actually started in Scandinavia so the
actually started in Scandinavia so the Dutch have actually also adjusted to
Dutch have actually also adjusted to
Dutch have actually also adjusted to their natural surroundings we are a
their natural surroundings we are a
their natural surroundings we are a small country by the sea with a lot of
small country by the sea with a lot of
small country by the sea with a lot of neighbours and these neighbours actually
neighbours and these neighbours actually
neighbours and these neighbours actually spoke other languages so we learnt many
spoke other languages so we learnt many
spoke other languages so we learnt many languages and we’re very known for this
languages and we’re very known for this
languages and we’re very known for this people are very amazed that we speak so
people are very amazed that we speak so
people are very amazed that we speak so many languages and that’s because we
many languages and that’s because we
many languages and that’s because we wanted to trade we had to protect
wanted to trade we had to protect
wanted to trade we had to protect ourselves against the water so doing
ourselves against the water so doing
ourselves against the water so doing this we actually learned how to protect
this we actually learned how to protect
this we actually learned how to protect land how to reclaim land and now we are
land how to reclaim land and now we are
land how to reclaim land and now we are the best water managers in the world
the best water managers in the world
the best water managers in the world because of the challenges we’ve had
because of the challenges we’ve had
because of the challenges we’ve had we’ve created some real business all all
we’ve created some real business all all
we’ve created some real business all all over the world have any of you ever
over the world have any of you ever
over the world have any of you ever looked outside of the window when you
looked outside of the window when you
looked outside of the window when you land at Schiphol Airport every single
land at Schiphol Airport every single
land at Schiphol Airport every single centimeter of our country is organized
centimeter of our country is organized
centimeter of our country is organized and I I have been with foreigners next
and I I have been with foreigners next
and I I have been with foreigners next to me in a plane and they were just
to me in a plane and they were just
to me in a plane and they were just looking outside and going what it’s so
looking outside and going what it’s so
looking outside and going what it’s so organized
organized
organized we had to that’s how we survived so this
we had to that’s how we survived so this
we had to that’s how we survived so this is what has become part of who we are
is what has become part of who we are
is what has become part of who we are perceptions are actually something we
perceptions are actually something we
perceptions are actually something we are not aware of
are not aware of
are not aware of we meet other people to meet other
we meet other people to meet other
we meet other people to meet other people that are different it’s like
people that are different it’s like
people that are different it’s like looking through yellow glasses all of
looking through yellow glasses all of
looking through yellow glasses all of your life you don’t know that you’re
your life you don’t know that you’re
your life you don’t know that you’re looking through yellow glasses because
looking through yellow glasses because
looking through yellow glasses because there’s nothing else that’s all you see
there’s nothing else that’s all you see
there’s nothing else that’s all you see but actually if everybody around you
but actually if everybody around you
but actually if everybody around you also has yellow glasses that will be the
also has yellow glasses that will be the
also has yellow glasses that will be the end of it the moment you meet somebody
end of it the moment you meet somebody
end of it the moment you meet somebody with pink glasses that look at the world
with pink glasses that look at the world
with pink glasses that look at the world in a different way then it gets
in a different way then it gets
in a different way then it gets complicated because you don’t know
complicated because you don’t know
complicated because you don’t know they’re wearing pink glasses they don’t
they’re wearing pink glasses they don’t
they’re wearing pink glasses they don’t know that you’re wearing yellow glasses
know that you’re wearing yellow glasses
know that you’re wearing yellow glasses so actually it’s sometimes very hard to
so actually it’s sometimes very hard to
so actually it’s sometimes very hard to communicate unless you start
communicate unless you start
communicate unless you start understanding you have actually met
understanding you have actually met
understanding you have actually met somebody with other glasses and this is
somebody with other glasses and this is
somebody with other glasses and this is how we start understanding other
how we start understanding other
how we start understanding other cultures by meeting them by starting to
cultures by meeting them by starting to
cultures by meeting them by starting to understand how they think when I went
understand how they think when I went
understand how they think when I went abroad that was when I understood what
abroad that was when I understood what
abroad that was when I understood what it was to be a Dutch person I didn’t
it was to be a Dutch person I didn’t
it was to be a Dutch person I didn’t know how we thought that was just normal
know how we thought that was just normal
know how we thought that was just normal I never thought about it but the moment
I never thought about it but the moment
I never thought about it but the moment I went outside of my country I
I went outside of my country I
I went outside of my country I understood who we were who we
understood who we were who we
understood who we were who we collectively are and also what we what
collectively are and also what we what
collectively are and also what we what others think about us and would others
others think about us and would others
others think about us and would others feel about us I started understanding
feel about us I started understanding
feel about us I started understanding that wouldn’t it be great if we could
that wouldn’t it be great if we could
that wouldn’t it be great if we could look through each other’s glasses and
look through each other’s glasses and
look through each other’s glasses and see how somebody else sees the world and
see how somebody else sees the world and
see how somebody else sees the world and see how somebody else these
see how somebody else these
see how somebody else these possibilities and success were we don’t
possibilities and success were we don’t
possibilities and success were we don’t if you look at different perceptions
if you look at different perceptions
if you look at different perceptions this is one that actually causes a lot
this is one that actually causes a lot
this is one that actually causes a lot of emotions here in Europe we cannot not
of emotions here in Europe we cannot not
of emotions here in Europe we cannot not react to this picture this is so intense
react to this picture this is so intense
react to this picture this is so intense for us because of our history but I’ve
for us because of our history but I’ve
for us because of our history but I’ve seen a boy with this kind of shirts many
seen a boy with this kind of shirts many
seen a boy with this kind of shirts many of times in Asia and in India in India
of times in Asia and in India in India
of times in Asia and in India in India this is the symbol of fertility there’s
this is the symbol of fertility there’s
this is the symbol of fertility there’s nothing wrong nobody understands in
nothing wrong nobody understands in
nothing wrong nobody understands in India that we think about Second World
India that we think about Second World
India that we think about Second World War when we are old in the net in Europe
War when we are old in the net in Europe
War when we are old in the net in Europe or in the Netherlands or in the West we
or in the Netherlands or in the West we
or in the Netherlands or in the West we lose youth
lose youth
lose youth in the East East and in Africa we
in the East East and in Africa we
in the East East and in Africa we actually gain wisdom there’s a
actually gain wisdom there’s a
actually gain wisdom there’s a difference in perception like the Dutch
difference in perception like the Dutch
difference in perception like the Dutch have actually been excelling in water
have actually been excelling in water
have actually been excelling in water management there is a way of every
management there is a way of every
management there is a way of every culture to excel and we have to find out
culture to excel and we have to find out
culture to excel and we have to find out what other cultures have become good in
what other cultures have become good in
what other cultures have become good in because of what they have gone through
because of what they have gone through
because of what they have gone through in their existence what they’ve had to
in their existence what they’ve had to
in their existence what they’ve had to battle so if you look at Asian and
battle so if you look at Asian and
battle so if you look at Asian and African nations you will see that they
African nations you will see that they
African nations you will see that they have learned a lot of sustainability
have learned a lot of sustainability
have learned a lot of sustainability because of what happened in their lives
because of what happened in their lives
because of what happened in their lives because of what happened in their
because of what happened in their
because of what happened in their existence they had to face daily
existence they had to face daily
existence they had to face daily challenges that we didn’t have to face
challenges that we didn’t have to face
challenges that we didn’t have to face or don’t have to face anymore so they
or don’t have to face anymore so they
or don’t have to face anymore so they have actually created creative muscles
have actually created creative muscles
have actually created creative muscles and they actually know how to solve
and they actually know how to solve
and they actually know how to solve things that we don’t know anymore if you
things that we don’t know anymore if you
things that we don’t know anymore if you look at Africa people in Africa most
look at Africa people in Africa most
look at Africa people in Africa most people in Africa at the first phone they
people in Africa at the first phone they
people in Africa at the first phone they ever used was the handful they never had
ever used was the handful they never had
ever used was the handful they never had the system of landlines and we are all
the system of landlines and we are all
the system of landlines and we are all happy with our smart phones right but
happy with our smart phones right but
happy with our smart phones right but let’s be honest guys they run out of
let’s be honest guys they run out of
let’s be honest guys they run out of power continuously you have to update
power continuously you have to update
power continuously you have to update them continuously
them continuously
them continuously and you have to buy a new one every two
and you have to buy a new one every two
and you have to buy a new one every two years so are they so great the Africans
years so are they so great the Africans
years so are they so great the Africans have actually created a banking system
have actually created a banking system
have actually created a banking system with a simple telephone they’ve actually
with a simple telephone they’ve actually
with a simple telephone they’ve actually created a lot of potential just by this
created a lot of potential just by this
created a lot of potential just by this small device it’s sustainable it’s
small device it’s sustainable it’s
small device it’s sustainable it’s practical they use it as a radio they
practical they use it as a radio they
practical they use it as a radio they use it as a flashlight and they actually
use it as a flashlight and they actually
use it as a flashlight and they actually do it in a far smarter way than we do I
do it in a far smarter way than we do I
do it in a far smarter way than we do I am an advisor voluntarily to my shining
am an advisor voluntarily to my shining
am an advisor voluntarily to my shining star foundation in Malaysia and in this
star foundation in Malaysia and in this
star foundation in Malaysia and in this role I actually work as the only
role I actually work as the only
role I actually work as the only Caucasian with Asians I see that my team
Caucasian with Asians I see that my team
Caucasian with Asians I see that my team is flexible I see that they are
is flexible I see that they are
is flexible I see that they are innovative and they actually asked me to
innovative and they actually asked me to
innovative and they actually asked me to structure the organisation but they are
structure the organisation but they are
structure the organisation but they are doing all the fence
doing all the fence
doing all the fence ethic work and they solve all the
ethic work and they solve all the
ethic work and they solve all the problems in the end with the means they
problems in the end with the means they
problems in the end with the means they have with the network they have I am
have with the network they have I am
have with the network they have I am very inspired by the way they want to
very inspired by the way they want to
very inspired by the way they want to grow professionally and personally and
grow professionally and personally and
grow professionally and personally and spiritually and I really learned from it
spiritually and I really learned from it
spiritually and I really learned from it as a Dutch person with a good education
as a Dutch person with a good education
as a Dutch person with a good education to understand how to solve problems in a
to understand how to solve problems in a
to understand how to solve problems in a different way so what I would like to
different way so what I would like to
different way so what I would like to say to end with is we actually are a
say to end with is we actually are a
say to end with is we actually are a fantastic group of amazing people we all
fantastic group of amazing people we all
fantastic group of amazing people we all have different talents we all have
have different talents we all have
have different talents we all have different gifts we need to respect each
different gifts we need to respect each
different gifts we need to respect each other we need to find out what each
other we need to find out what each
other we need to find out what each other’s gifts are and we need to start
other’s gifts are and we need to start
other’s gifts are and we need to start working and evolving together it will
working and evolving together it will
working and evolving together it will take a bit of energy from all sides but
take a bit of energy from all sides but
take a bit of energy from all sides but there is so much to gain there is so
there is so much to gain there is so
there is so much to gain there is so much to work with and we can grow and
much to work with and we can grow and
much to work with and we can grow and develop and find solutions we could
develop and find solutions we could
develop and find solutions we could never have found in one culture between
never have found in one culture between
never have found in one culture between cultures so let’s grow let’s evolve
cultures so let’s grow let’s evolve
cultures so let’s grow let’s evolve let’s be bright together
let’s be bright together
let’s be bright together [Music]
”
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