ONLY IN RUSSIA: LOVE & HATE

ONLY IN RUSSIA: LOVE & HATE

There are two kinds of people in the world: those who love Russia and those who hate it. The first group is motivated by the adventure, authenticity, warmth, and generosity of the Russian people, and, not to forget, by the country’s market potential. The second group sees a dangerous, dirty, corrupt, inefficient, and unorganized country, with grim and rude people.

Depending on how you look at it, there is some truth to both views on Russia. Most foreigners, and even most Russians, waver between love and hate several times per day because of the challenges and surprises that Russian life throws their way.

But there is one truth that is undeniable, and that is that if you do not love living in Russia more than you hate it, you will have no chance of success in Russia.

I often see them sitting next to me in the airplane before landing in Moscow: the western businesspeople, drying the moist palms of their hands on their trousers, for fear of what lies in store for them once they put their feet on Russian soil. These fearful visitors invariably encounter one problem after the other. There is a 50-meter-long queue at passport control and the window closes just when they are next in line. When it is finally their turn to show their passport, they almost get arrested because their friendly effort to say 'zdrazdvuitje' (hello) in Russian is misinterpreted by the grim officer in front of them for some garbled insult. Subsequently, while waiting for their luggage at the luggage belt with the sign 'Berlin', as that is where they came from, it arrives at the belt with the sign 'Paris'. This, of course, they find out only after they have already spent an hour trying to declare their luggage as 'lost'. The taxi driver cheats them, and at their hotel the receptionist cannot find their reservation and their credit card is not accepted. Business has not even started yet, but their trip is already ruined and there is little chance that their luck will change for the better.

On the other hand, those businesspeople who focus on the positive side of things and welcome the chance to experience something out of the ordinary and appreciate the unorganized adventure that doing business in Russia often is, usually succeed. They learn a little Russian, wink at the moustachioed lady at passport control and are not surprised to find their luggage at the wrong luggage belt. These are the people who get satisfaction from solving Russia's daily riddles.

These are also the people that have a genuine interest in their Russian business partners, and eventually end up making friends with them.

These people understand the popular racing term: “your car goes where your eyes go” and focus at the positive.

But most of all, they understand the secret ingredients for success in doing business in Russia - love and a good sense of humour.