Sly Bald Guys Forum

Confidence and Success => Business/Work => Topic started by: Robmeister on August 27, 2008, 08:27:19 AM

Title: Anyone Know About Cultural Mindsets In This Regard??
Post by: Robmeister on August 27, 2008, 08:27:19 AM
So I'm introduced to a large group of wonderful folk from the Ivory Coast to help them with various financial planning issues....life insurance, educational funding, retirement, etc...

I give a presentation and they are very attentive and have very good questions...They return their response sheets indicating that they want to see me individually.

We set the appointments....call them for reminders the night before....then they don't show up...

Call them after waiting 20 minutes or so and politely apologize if there was some misunderstanding...they don't really indicate a problem nor do they apologize.  Now, these are very sweet people.   So I fit them in for a reschedule...next day...maybe a couple days.

NO SHOW.....so then I politely arrange to meet at their home....KNOCK KNOCK = nothing or they've gone to the market.

Now I have been able to pin some of these appointments down....but I've never experienced this and am wondering if the are cultural differences as far as "appointments" or "being on time."

 @n(
Title: Re: Anyone Know About Cultural Mindsets In This Regard??
Post by: tomgallagher on August 27, 2008, 08:30:15 AM
Welcome to Africa Rob.
Title: Re: Anyone Know About Cultural Mindsets In This Regard??
Post by: Timmay on August 27, 2008, 08:40:53 AM
appointments?  what are those??
are they 2 bedrooms or three ?



ohhhhh APPOINTMENTS...like a  MEETING!  LOL...I thought you meant Apartments!
Title: Re: Anyone Know About Cultural Mindsets In This Regard??
Post by: Robmeister on August 28, 2008, 07:24:33 AM
C'mon...

There must be someone around here with a serious knowlege of this cultural phenomena...

Or I guess I really _AM_ the most read, best travelled and smartest in these parts  O:O
Title: Re: Anyone Know About Cultural Mindsets In This Regard??
Post by: schro on August 28, 2008, 07:54:19 AM
C'mon...

There must be someone around here with a serious knowlege of this cultural phenomena...

Or I guess I really _AM_ the most read, best travelled and smartest in these parts  O:O

Well, if you were the most read "best traveled" (whatever that means) and smartest, you should already know the answer to the question you posed.  8)

By the way, "traveled" only has one "L", Mr. Smartest.  8)
Title: Re: Anyone Know About Cultural Mindsets In This Regard??
Post by: Robmeister on August 28, 2008, 07:58:03 AM
C'mon...

There must be someone around here with a serious knowlege of this cultural phenomena...

Or I guess I really _AM_ the most read, best travelled and smartest in these parts  O:O

Well, if you were the most read "best traveled" (whatever that means) and smartest, you should already know the answer to the question you posed.  8)

By the way, "traveled" only has one "L", Mr. Smartest.  8)

dohhhh !!!!  :-\

Guess I ain't the "UPPER CRUST"   :-[
Title: Re: Anyone Know About Cultural Mindsets In This Regard??
Post by: schro on August 28, 2008, 07:58:49 AM
 :*))
Title: Re: Anyone Know About Cultural Mindsets In This Regard??
Post by: Timmay on August 28, 2008, 08:24:34 AM
ABC 123 HOOKED ON PHONICS WERKED FER ME!
Title: Re: Anyone Know About Cultural Mindsets In This Regard??
Post by: nomad on August 28, 2008, 10:27:22 AM
C'mon...

There must be someone around here with a serious knowlege of this cultural phenomena...

Or I guess I really _AM_ the most read, best travelled and smartest in these parts  O:O

Well, if you were the most read "best traveled" (whatever that means) and smartest, you should already know the answer to the question you posed.  8)

By the way, "traveled" only has one "L", Mr. Smartest.  8)

dohhhh !!!!  :-\

Guess I ain't the "UPPER CRUST"   :-[

now thats FN funny :*)) :*)) :*))
Title: Re: Anyone Know About Cultural Mindsets In This Regard??
Post by: Brkeatr on August 28, 2008, 11:04:46 AM
I believe if you "google"......"Mr. White Man's Time"......you will get an answer to your question.....I can't seem to get the article attached for some reason
Title: Re: Anyone Know About Cultural Mindsets In This Regard??
Post by: nomad on August 28, 2008, 11:19:35 AM
here you go, try this

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/1565687/'Mr-White-Man's-Time'-wins-punctuality-prize.html (http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/1565687/'Mr-White-Man's-Time'-wins-punctuality-prize.html)
Title: Re: Anyone Know About Cultural Mindsets In This Regard??
Post by: Brkeatr on August 28, 2008, 11:21:02 AM
Thanks Nomad......I can't figure out what I was doing wrong.... :Xo!   ....finally did get it..... ;)

www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/1565687/'Mr-White-Man's-Time'-wins-punctuality-prize.html
Title: Re: Anyone Know About Cultural Mindsets In This Regard??
Post by: Casey Jones on August 28, 2008, 12:11:09 PM
Fascinating

*Buys a ticket to the Ivory Coast*

You SBGs wanna party it up in my 2009 West African Villa next summer?
Title: Re: Anyone Know About Cultural Mindsets In This Regard??
Post by: tomgallagher on August 28, 2008, 12:43:05 PM
here you go, try this

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/1565687/'Mr-White-Man's-Time'-wins-punctuality-prize.html (http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/1565687/'Mr-White-Man's-Time'-wins-punctuality-prize.html)

That about sums that up.
Title: Re: Anyone Know About Cultural Mindsets In This Regard??
Post by: time2shine on August 28, 2008, 02:03:13 PM
Fascinating

*Buys a ticket to the Ivory Coast*

You SBGs wanna party it up in my 2009 West African Villa next summer?

Expect me late, or don't expect me at all  ;D
Title: Re: Anyone Know About Cultural Mindsets In This Regard??
Post by: Robmeister on August 28, 2008, 03:17:12 PM
here you go, try this

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/1565687/'Mr-White-Man's-Time'-wins-punctuality-prize.html (http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/1565687/'Mr-White-Man's-Time'-wins-punctuality-prize.html)

Oh, man.....this is flippen spot ON !

Well that splains a LOT !!
Title: Re: Anyone Know About Cultural Mindsets In This Regard??
Post by: GASlick on August 28, 2008, 09:28:23 PM
Apparently it IS a cultural thing.  That would drive me crazy.
What's the point in making an appt in a society like that.  Just come on over whenever you want.
Title: Re: Anyone Know About Cultural Mindsets In This Regard??
Post by: Robmeister on August 29, 2008, 07:58:34 AM
Apparently it IS a cultural thing.  That would drive me crazy.
What's the point in making an appt in a society like that.  Just come on over whenever you want.

One guy...he has a 10:00am appt with me.

@ 10:20 I call him and he says his daughter has the car. 

I ask, "So are we not meeting this morning as planned?"

He says, "No...we meet today"

(as if my calendar is just WIDE OPEN and he can just waltz in whenever he gets around to it)

Ended up going to his house the next day.

What's amazing is that--what we're used to here in the U.S.--is when a client misses an appointment, when ya call them, they're like, "Oh, gosh...I am SO sorry..."

These folks are like, "Hello.....yes, hi Mr. Rob....ten o'clock?....yes...ten o'clock...I am at the market right now...."

According to that article, setting an appointment is more "advisory" basis.  Not sure what that means, but I'm guessing that it means that "setting" a 10:00am appointment means, "I recommend we meet at 10:00." or "Ya really might think about us getting together at 10:00"

Weird stuff.
Title: Re: Anyone Know About Cultural Mindsets In This Regard??
Post by: Alexander215 on October 25, 2008, 04:50:53 PM
To prevent wasting your time I would have them sign something saying something like there will be a fee of $$$ if blah blah contractual obligations aren't met. Or something like that.