In the past 12 months I’ve done presentations in five countries on three different continents. What have I learned from all that? Every conference room across the world is exactly the same. It’s odd how no matter what country I’m in, I always end up at the front of some big room in an office, with a long rectangular table and a projector, going through a PowerPoint presentation.The ones here in Hyderabad are a little different, if only for one reason. While most of them have Indian names -- Marathra, Shakra, etc. -- there is one floor where every conference room is named after a famous US movie -- Beauty and the Beast, Beautiful Mind, Cinderella, etc. I'm pushing
for the Spinal Tap room -- maybe the air conditioning in there could go up to 11 and they would never fold the meat on the sandwiches served during lunch meetings.
One thing I've definitely learned in all of my travels and meetings with people from across the world is that most of what Thomas Friedman has to say about the flattening of the earth is probably right. I remember the first time I got a call from overseas back in the mid-80s. A friend of mine was in the UK on a soccer tour for 10 days and he called me to let me know how much fun he was having. He would say something, there would be a few second delay, then I would respond, followed by a few second delay before he would say something. Now I’m collaborating with people from the other side of the world on a daily basis, working together and usually laughing at the same jokes.
I know I’m not exactly plowing fresh ground here – anytime you travel it’s easy to be wowed. I know that I have a tendency to just focus on the challenges of my job, the work that needs to get done and the next conference call I have. But I also try to remember every day how lucky I've been to have global positions working with people from across the world, learning new cultures and traveling on someone else's dime. I try to remind myself to focus on the people you're working with, not the room your in.
for the Spinal Tap room -- maybe the air conditioning in there could go up to 11 and they would never fold the meat on the sandwiches served during lunch meetings.One thing I've definitely learned in all of my travels and meetings with people from across the world is that most of what Thomas Friedman has to say about the flattening of the earth is probably right. I remember the first time I got a call from overseas back in the mid-80s. A friend of mine was in the UK on a soccer tour for 10 days and he called me to let me know how much fun he was having. He would say something, there would be a few second delay, then I would respond, followed by a few second delay before he would say something. Now I’m collaborating with people from the other side of the world on a daily basis, working together and usually laughing at the same jokes.
I know I’m not exactly plowing fresh ground here – anytime you travel it’s easy to be wowed. I know that I have a tendency to just focus on the challenges of my job, the work that needs to get done and the next conference call I have. But I also try to remember every day how lucky I've been to have global positions working with people from across the world, learning new cultures and traveling on someone else's dime. I try to remind myself to focus on the people you're working with, not the room your in.
