This space is hosted by davidlovejoyx
Space Summary
The Twitter Space discussion revolved around cultural adaptability and the mindset essential for success in entrepreneurial and nomadic lifestyles. It emphasized discarding preconceived notions and avoiding colonial mindsets when engaging with new cultures. The speakers highlighted the inherent traits of entrepreneurs and nomads contributing to their success, underlining the need for cultural flexibility. Purpose-driven living was identified as a core element of resilience, while practical experiences were extolled for offering richer learning experiences compared to formal education. The session stressed the significance of failure as a tool for learning and encouraged the acceptance of diverse perspectives to foster innovation. It concluded with a motivational call to savor the journey and value different viewpoints.
Questions
Q: What historical context shows the failure of colonial mindsets?
A: Colonialism often led to conflicts and failures.
Q: How does practical experience compare to formal education?
A: Practical experience offers more substantial learning.
Q: What’s vital for entrepreneurial growth?
A: A growth mindset and willingness to embrace failure.
Q: What role does purpose play in resilience?
A: It helps individuals stay focused and unshaken.
Q: How does flexibility affect success in new environments?
A: Being open and adaptable leads to better outcomes.
Q: What hinders adaptability to new cultures?
A: Preconceived notions and colonial mindsets.
Q: Why do entrepreneurs and nomads have unique characteristics?
A: They have ingrained traits essential to their roles.
Q: What traits should entrepreneurs cultivate?
A: Flexibility and cultural adaptability.
Q: How can one overcome preconceived notions?
A: By maintaining an open and flexible mindset.
Q: What is a common trait among successful entrepreneurs?
A: A strong sense of purpose and resilience.
Q: Why should one embrace diverse perspectives?
A: It fosters innovation and growth.
Highlights
Time: 00:00:31
Resilience through purpose-driven living.
Time: 00:00:23
Importance of flexibility in achieving success.
Time: 00:00:16
Unique characteristics of entrepreneurs and nomads.
Time: 00:00:10
Historical failures of colonial mindsets.
Time: 00:00:03
Challenges of bringing preconceived notions to new cultures.
Time: 00:00:00
Emphasis on the importance of cultural adaptability.
Time: 00:00:38
Role of failure in entrepreneurial growth.
Time: 00:00:45
Practical learning versus formal education.
Time: 00:00:50
Call to embrace diverse perspectives.
Time: 00:00:56
Final remarks and encouragement to enjoy the journey.
Time: 00:01:00
Session closing and audience appreciation.
Key Takeaways
- Adaptability to new cultures requires an open mindset and flexibility.
- Preconceived notions can hinder growth and adaptability.
- Colonial mindsets historically fail in new cultural contexts.
- Entrepreneurs and nomads possess unique
- ingrained characteristics crucial for success.
- Success in new environments hinges on cultural flexibility.
- Purpose-driven living enhances resilience and focus.
- A growth mindset is vital for entrepreneurship.
- Failure serves as a powerful learning tool.
- Practical experiences often provide more valuable learning than formal education.
- Embracing diverse perspectives can lead to innovation.
- Purpose-driven entrepreneurs often exhibit unwavering determination.
Behind the Mic
I guess we’ll go with that, and then it’ll come with me. So what’s, what do you think might be the hurdle, Caleb, between adapting to a new culture? What do you think the cause you chose to go there? So there’s a desire, but what do you think surprises people? That’s a good question. I think what can be the barrier or the enemy of adaptability and of growth in a different culture is coming to the table with preconceived notions that everything around you when you go to a new culture is just going to be the way that you’ve always had it from the culture that you came from, and that goes back into the whole realm of colonialism that we’ve seen in history. Usually things don’t go well when a colonial mindset is brought into a culture. Among the natives especially, I think that preconceived mindset, the mindset is key. So there are things, of course, that make up your makeup. Your makeup, David, my makeup, Barbara’s makeup, Noble Ron’s makeup, that are part of our DNA as entrepreneurs, as nomads, as business people, businessmen, business women, that are core pillars that, of course, that make us tick, and that’s great. But there areas that I think we need to be flexible on how the world operates and how culture operates, that can ultimately lead us to success. If we are flexible. When I first moved to China, like you, Barbara, and I’m not knocking colonialism, but some of my counterparts, they were living in their bubble. You are living in Shanghai, what, five or eight years or something? It’s a great city. I was there for a little over three. Just when I started to pick up the language, I left. I remember when I first got to China. I was in Beijing and there was the Sanlitun Bar Street. I don’t know if you’ve ever been there, but it’s, yeah, it’s called the US Embassy. Exactly. Yeah. My colleagues, they’d work at night, go to the bar, drink, and wake up the next morning just enough to go to work at KPMG. But they didn’t, and they’d come back and complain about how bad China is, and I’m just, I don’t feel it. I love it. And it opens so many doors. I’ve done a lot of business there from logistics to education to you name it. But yeah, I fully agree. Have a growth mindset. Fail several times. Fail fast. Fail often. And make success out of failure. I fully agree with you, Barbara. It makes me think, we call them digital nomads. How do we define digital nomad without excluding the real nomads of the steppe, for example? How can we really integrate these two concepts? Because one might perceive the expatriates of colonialism’s time as nomads, you know, because there are the similarities. And if I think of the stories, true stories, like the one I just heard yesterday from my neighbors here in Ireland, a woman telling the story of her grandmother who was born beside a river with no house or anything, just living in nature, and today she herself is moving across countries every year. So, my question to summarize is, in simple terms, how do we integrate these two ways of seeing a nomad person and find a common ground for these two concepts? Oh, that’s so beautiful. I would say the best place to start, especially when it comes to perspective and mindset, there are those people that they will always have that mindset where they’ll see expatriation and completely see it as a colonizer. Then there are those people that definition of being a global citizen, while I, that really does stick with me versus like a digital nomad. I will learn the different cultures. I will assimilate as much as I can into the culture to appreciate that culture and see how it can impact how I do business, how I form relationships. Colonialism to me is more of a, it’s very rigid. It’s very, well, this is how it is. And Barbara, you mentioned that, coming from the States and you’ve got to be out of this time and this way. But just moving into a different culture and learning how their core values translate is such a game changer. It’s like you don’t have to bring your beliefs with you, but assimilate, grow, learn, shift. Find that new perspective of true appreciation instead of antiquated meaning of colonization. And I think that core component is the relationships you build. Thank you, Barbara. You’re very right. And your point of view resonates a lot. Thank you. I think what it brings me back to is, you were saying how does it start? And I think it’s the colonialism starts with an intention of domination. And then how you get away from that is just talking to people local, understanding their perspective, going in with a growth mindset and an open mindset to understand why they do what they do. Talking again from my experience moving to China, I was able to go out and make a lot of relationships with the local Chinese. Of course, relationships with expatriates were built. But I was very curious about the local Chinese and seeing what makes them tick. And before you know it, yeah, you make those friendships and people that other expats never experienced. Because with a colonial mindset, you go in and you’re like, oh, it’s not like Europe. I’m going to be here temporarily. Three years is just a stepping stone for me. Again, my counterparts, they always felt that way. They were there for two, three years. And I, even though I didn’t stay more than three years, I fully immersed myself into the culture, trying to learn the language and cultivate those relationships. So to boil it down, it’s relationships and keeping an open mindset. I think for me, that is how you move away from that old colonial mindset, colonial way of going to a new country. Absolutely. Absolutely. I was going to say, as we move on to make the final rounds, final comments, I want to go ahead and toss this out to David. David, are you there? Are you with us? Yes, I am. Thank you. Please take the final round here. Thank you very much, Barbara. Thank you for all the work and to all our participants and everyone who’s been involved today. If I were to summarize and bring my thoughts to the final comment, I’m very pleased with what I’ve heard and seen. I’m very glad that everyone here has contributed with unique experiences. One thing I’d like to share from my experience, and this also came from a learning curve, is that initial expectations versus reality could be initially shocking. With an open mindset, like everyone has mentioned, and then the willingness to adapt and to push towards a purpose bigger than one’s self can really elevate the entire experience and make it fulfilling. Seeing things from the other perspective, from the local point of view, and contributing back is how we add value. That’s it from my side. Thanks once again to everyone. Thank you very much. So I’ll hand over to Caleb. Caleb, any last thoughts, comments? Thank you, David. Yeah, echoing what David just said beautifully, eloquently, and I live by the motto of seek first to understand and then to be understood. Like I said, round off your harsh edges. Don’t sacrifice who you are as a person, but seek first to understand. The adaptability is really key to success. When you’ve learned more in that one year, you’ll understand different cultures and you’ll flourish. Thanks very much. Like you mentioned, Caleb, having a purpose makes you a little bit unshakable because you’re more. It’s a growth mindset, goes back to entrepreneurship. Put yourself out there and fail fast, fail often. Have those learnings. I learned more in one year as an entrepreneur than two years in the MBA. It’s not even comparable. So, yeah, fully agree there. As we’re bringing this to a close. Are there any questions that anyone has or any last comments that you’d like to say before we close this out? Feel free to request a speak if you don’t have a speaking. I see a couple of people are listening. That’s fine. Barbara Noble, thank you so much for contributing. And of course, Caleb, a real pleasure. You should do this again. Thank you for your perspectives, and everyone, just enjoy the journey. See you out there. Okay, have a great weekend. Bye.”
