266 CultureShock! Bolivia
on the defensive. A diplomatic but fi rm response () will be
greatly appreciated by the other people at your table. In fact,
they will probably back you up, once you’ve broken the ice.
At the same time, the person who made the remark is more
likely to question his/her premise when learning that Bolivian
indigenous cultures are admired outside of Bolivia.SITUATION 7
You are planning to do business in Bolivia and have set up
a lunch appointment with a Bolivian businessman who has
expressed enthusiasm about your ideas in a written letter
and is interested in participating in some way. Do you go to
the lunch prepared to: Present a business plan and to offer specific financial
advantages to your lunch companion should he decide to
participate?
Talk about your family, the latest international football
matches, how you’ve adapted to the altitude: anything and
everything except business? Since this is a first in-person
meeting, your companion will want to find out in his own
way whether he/she is going to feel comfortable working
with you, and you should want to know the same.
Begin the luncheon with conversation about non-business
matters, leaving the business talk for dessert and coffee?
Reject the participation of this person if he does not seem
anxious to begin as soon as possible, since you want to
see someone who is totally motivated?Comments
In general, the only purpose of a first in-person meeting is
for the two parties to get to know each other and develop a
sense of whether or not they will feel comfortable working
together long term. The most probable answer here is .
would seem like a nice compromise, but in Bolivia
this is not often the case. However, may become readily
applicable depending on the verbal hints you receive from
the potential client/customer/partner.