Working with Americans

4:

everyone knows

INTRODUCTION

To understand a culture, you must understand its values. Americans in business, are, thankfully, a straightforward group, especially helpful when trying to work out what makes them tick. True to the national constitution, there are three things held dear in pursuit of the almighty business deal: life (read: having fun at work), liberty (read: having control and freedom over the work we do) and the pursuit of happiness (read: money).

What is astounding is the consistency of the business values in the US today – stable for the past few decades – flavoured and integrated with the national values and cultures brought by the waves of immigrants starting their new lives in the country.

Everyone in the US knows that ...