American Spending Habits
When the holidays come around, we spend more time with our families and friends. We talk about what has been going on recently in our lives and what dreams and goals we have for the future. Being an American, one thing I notice that Americans talk a lot about is things that they just bought or things that they want to buy in the near future.
Just spend some time with an American family and you will hear talks about topics such as cars, houses (and improvements made on houses), electronics (such as cameras, camcorders, computers, TVs, etc..), and investments (retirement funds, stocks, real estate).
Americans, in general, like to talk about how much money they saved when they bought something or about the features and benefits of something they just bought. So, if someone bought a new car, for example, he or she would tell you all the features of the car, including what engine size and warranty it has. Another example is the TV - maybe it has TiVo, or it's an LCD or the sound quality is great.
Whenever a new item is available on the market, someone buys it and wants to tell you about it. Take XM satellite radio, for example. If one of your friends bought it and is American, chances are, he or she will be excited to tell you all about all the channels it has and how the reception is great. Americans also like to ask if you have a new car or a new house or if you have made any improvements on your house. It is considered a good topic for small talk.
When they are done talking about things they bought, Americans then like to discuss things that they want to buy in the future. And, believe me, it is a temptation to spend money, because there are so many new items and bigger and nicer things to buy. You see advertisements on TVs all the time, reminding you that you should have something new. If you are trying to save some money, it's best that you stay away from stores all together. I say this because if you go to a store and see that there is a discount or a sale for something, you will buy it for sure, even if you don't need it. You will think, "Wow, this is a good deal. I should get it."
One last note I'd like to add is that the quality of certain items is not as good as it was in years past, however prices are not necessarily much lower. Take TVs, for example. If you want a fairly large TV, but not a wide screen one, you will pay over $300. This new TV will probably last between 10 and 15 years. However, 30 years ago, a TV was made to last longer, maybe 20 to 25 years. What happens is that manufacturers know that consumers want to change out their TVs for a newer one, so they are constantly updating TVs to be bigger and have more functions. And for all this, the price goes higher and higher. But, chances are, these new models of TVs won't last long.
Well, I said I was done, but I'd like to touch on one related topic - DEBT. Americans own and use several credit cards and easily accumulate charges that become hard to pay. In addition, they buy bigger and bigger houses and cars that cost increasingly more. It has become commonplace, therefore, for Americans to accumulate debt. And when it comes time to pay one debt (for example, credit card charges), if you don't have the money, you borrow it from somewhere else, say a home equity line of credit. Pretty soon, it becomes normal to have a lot of debt and to live the lifestyle of never being able to pay everything you owe. Some Americans don't worry about debt and continue to accumulate it because they are used to the comforts and conveniences. They don't want to have a budget or get rid of their cable or extra services. So, they become complacent about money. It becomes something that has to be spent but is never fully repaid. It is a dangerous game with a high price in the end.
The solution: I think Americans would do well to downsize a little when it comes to house, cars, and electronics.
Sunday, November 26, 2006
Friday, November 03, 2006
Top 10 Ways to Build Successful Business Relationships with Americans
1. Keep lines of communication open. Let your American colleagues, business partners, and customers know that if they have any questions, concerns or suggestions, you welcome them to contact you. Once in while make contact yourself. Call or email “just to say hello” or to “see how you are doing”.
2. Be proactive and assertive. Your ideas are important and deserve to be heard. But if no one asks your opinion, you might never share it. Instead of waiting to be asked, speak up. It’s okay. In the US business environment, it’s better to be proactive than reactive, and assertive rather than passive. Americans respect people who honestly, clearly and directly express their ideas. It is okay to express what you want without being too aggressive. If you don’t express your “good ideas” or “intelligent opinions” people might wrongly assume that you don’t have any.
3. Verbally express your abilities and skills. If there is a project you can contribute to, state confidently what you can do. Don’t worry about appearing obnoxious because you won’t. You will appear confident and others will like it. Volunteering your skills for a work project is highly respected behavior in American culture. It shows you want to be trusted to achieve results.
4. Expand your values but don’t compromise important ones. If you live according to certain religious, family, educational values or others, and they are very important to your happiness, don’t eliminate them when around Americans. Instead, find ways to adjust your values within the American environment. Also, if you like some American ways and values, it’s okay to add them to your life as long as they don’t conflict with your current lifestyle.
5. Share your cultural ways. Educate Americans about your customs whenever you have the opportunity. Explain why you use certain gestures, eat certain foods, wear special clothing, or practice important traditions. Sharing your culture with Americans will help them understand you and get to know you better.
6. Find a way to connect on a personal level. When speaking with or writing to American colleagues, customers, or business partners, ask small talk questions. Ask how their family is doing and if they are enjoying any hobbies. It’s okay to ask such questions. When you are having a conversation with Americans, pay attention to the kinds of things they talk about: home improvements, sports, shopping, local news. Take an interest in their personal lives and they will do the same.
7. Get to know the people behind the scenes. There are always people working alongside the people you do business with who help get the job done. They could be sales people, secretaries, warehouse workers, or others. Whenever you visit them in the US, or when they come to visit, ask how things are going. At least make an effort to ask about their families. If they have pictures with them, ask to see them. Americans appreciate this kind of small talk because it makes them feel a part of the company. They will also appreciate your personal good news and pictures and the occasional greeting card. It’s even okay to include a picture of your pet!
8. Spell things out. Don’t assume everything in a conversation or email was completely understood the first time it was discussed. Rephrase and add all the details that are involved in the current project. The English language is a literal language. Nouns must be described by adjectives to give them more meaning. And don’t forget to copy emails to everyone who has an important role in the project. Make sure to clarify and confirm all decisions each step of the way.
9. Acknowledge agreement and disagreement in conversations. Everyone has motives when they communicate. These are goals that each person needs to accomplish to move things along on a project or sale. Talking to other people helps move closer to those goals. Pay attention to the person you are talking or writing to. Is he or she trying to get your approval, your opinion or your agreement? When you are in a conversation, besides expressing your opinion, consider the other person’s viewpoint and when you agree, express it. When you don’t agree, express that as well. Being honest about how you feel will gain you much respect from Americans.
10. Be sensitive about time. Americans often schedule more than one meeting per day and often have busy schedules. For Americans, a lunch meeting usually lasts no more than two hours and a dinner meeting, no more than three. If you feel that the others are preoccupied about the time, ask, “How are you doing on time? Do you need to get going soon?”
1. Keep lines of communication open. Let your American colleagues, business partners, and customers know that if they have any questions, concerns or suggestions, you welcome them to contact you. Once in while make contact yourself. Call or email “just to say hello” or to “see how you are doing”.
2. Be proactive and assertive. Your ideas are important and deserve to be heard. But if no one asks your opinion, you might never share it. Instead of waiting to be asked, speak up. It’s okay. In the US business environment, it’s better to be proactive than reactive, and assertive rather than passive. Americans respect people who honestly, clearly and directly express their ideas. It is okay to express what you want without being too aggressive. If you don’t express your “good ideas” or “intelligent opinions” people might wrongly assume that you don’t have any.
3. Verbally express your abilities and skills. If there is a project you can contribute to, state confidently what you can do. Don’t worry about appearing obnoxious because you won’t. You will appear confident and others will like it. Volunteering your skills for a work project is highly respected behavior in American culture. It shows you want to be trusted to achieve results.
4. Expand your values but don’t compromise important ones. If you live according to certain religious, family, educational values or others, and they are very important to your happiness, don’t eliminate them when around Americans. Instead, find ways to adjust your values within the American environment. Also, if you like some American ways and values, it’s okay to add them to your life as long as they don’t conflict with your current lifestyle.
5. Share your cultural ways. Educate Americans about your customs whenever you have the opportunity. Explain why you use certain gestures, eat certain foods, wear special clothing, or practice important traditions. Sharing your culture with Americans will help them understand you and get to know you better.
6. Find a way to connect on a personal level. When speaking with or writing to American colleagues, customers, or business partners, ask small talk questions. Ask how their family is doing and if they are enjoying any hobbies. It’s okay to ask such questions. When you are having a conversation with Americans, pay attention to the kinds of things they talk about: home improvements, sports, shopping, local news. Take an interest in their personal lives and they will do the same.
7. Get to know the people behind the scenes. There are always people working alongside the people you do business with who help get the job done. They could be sales people, secretaries, warehouse workers, or others. Whenever you visit them in the US, or when they come to visit, ask how things are going. At least make an effort to ask about their families. If they have pictures with them, ask to see them. Americans appreciate this kind of small talk because it makes them feel a part of the company. They will also appreciate your personal good news and pictures and the occasional greeting card. It’s even okay to include a picture of your pet!
8. Spell things out. Don’t assume everything in a conversation or email was completely understood the first time it was discussed. Rephrase and add all the details that are involved in the current project. The English language is a literal language. Nouns must be described by adjectives to give them more meaning. And don’t forget to copy emails to everyone who has an important role in the project. Make sure to clarify and confirm all decisions each step of the way.
9. Acknowledge agreement and disagreement in conversations. Everyone has motives when they communicate. These are goals that each person needs to accomplish to move things along on a project or sale. Talking to other people helps move closer to those goals. Pay attention to the person you are talking or writing to. Is he or she trying to get your approval, your opinion or your agreement? When you are in a conversation, besides expressing your opinion, consider the other person’s viewpoint and when you agree, express it. When you don’t agree, express that as well. Being honest about how you feel will gain you much respect from Americans.
10. Be sensitive about time. Americans often schedule more than one meeting per day and often have busy schedules. For Americans, a lunch meeting usually lasts no more than two hours and a dinner meeting, no more than three. If you feel that the others are preoccupied about the time, ask, “How are you doing on time? Do you need to get going soon?”
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