The Answer is Blowin’ in the Wind

Observing current events is required to be successful in collaborating internationally and for creating long lasting relationships.  Recently Bob Dylan was criticized for his decision to follow the directions of the Chinese government who had vetted his concert.  For those of us that grew up with Dylan’s music and had followed his life, we may have felt our hearts skip a beat upon hearing this.  Was this the same Bob Dylan who led protests and sang his own kind of music?  Was this the same Bob Dylan that danced to a different drummer?  I think this is a smarter Bob Dylan and more universal Bob Dylan and one that has a deep knowledge and respect for cultures and for a deeper understanding of his place in the universe.

  Contrast Bob Dylan’s actions with those of Kent and Vyxsin who are participants in CBS’s Amazing Race which runs on Sunday nights.  You may wonder how this fits into your understanding of being successful globally or even locally, but it truly does.  Participants in this episode were in India and competing by completing challenges in order not to finish last ending up being eliminated from the next lap of this global race.  Kent and Vyxin were running close to last and needed to catch a taxi to the airport.  They verbally yelled at two people in a taxi to “Get out” because they were in a race and obviously needed to use the taxi more than the current occupants.  I had visions of ugly Americans and two people who did not respect the people of India where they were guests.  I felt embarrassed by their actions and saw this as a perfect example of cultural ignorance and American superiority complex.

  Consider President Barack Obama’s current relationship with the King of Saudi Arabia who, according to the Miami News Herald, has now asked the Pakistanis to step in should the Saudi King need help in case of an uprising.  You need to ask why, why would he take that action?  Why would he not trust the United States?  Why would one of the world’s largest oil producers no feel uneasy with the President of the United States?  From the King’s point of view, he sees our President as a threat and no longer an ally.  The Saudi King had asked President Obama to not embarrass President Hosni Mubarak and move so quickly to have him removed from power.  It’s fairly obvious this did not happen, Egypt revolted and Mubarak is confined.  The Saudi King has stated in a recent nightly news broadcast, that he no longer thinks of the United States as he did in the past but he thinks of things which will be good for the Saudis, even if it means making new allies, new relationships.

Revert back to our friend Bob Dylan.  Bob Dylan appears to understand the Chinese culture, appears to understand that his desire to have a concert in China will only happen if he respects that government and their guidelines to perform.  He wasn’t the ugly American, rude, arrogant, pushy, as Kent and Vixen were in India, and he didn’t turn his back on his friends who offered advice.

To be successful globally you need to understand the culture you’re dealing with.  You need to understand the nuances of the local market place.  You need to respect the moral standards and values of your colleagues and your partners.  You may not necessarily agree with them, but to build those relationships you must understand yourself first, understand your biases, and after dealing with those you can only hope to be knowledgeable enough to grow.  As Bob Dylan sang, “The answer my friends is blowin’ in the wind, the answer is blowin’ in the wind.”

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About the author

Peter Samardak

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