The Mexican Perspective: Establishing Personal & Business Relations by Understanding Their Culture & Protocol
Excerpts
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Contact author at: Posiojr@hispanicvista.com |
Contact book agent at: HVCstore@aol.com |
From the
Foreword:
The Mexican Perspective is a series of vignettes explaining the Mexican point of view on topics and issues that Americans may be familiar with, but whose perceptions may vastly differ from the point of view of Mexicans. Mistaken perceptions about other people often lead to friction; this is often the case when discussing issues of importance between the U.S. and Mexico. Understanding the other side is useful for better understanding each other as citizens of the same North American Continent…
From
Relationships with
Americans
“…By and large, Mexicans have a great deal of respect and admiration for the United States and its people as a whole. The problems between Mexico and the U.S. have been more at the level of governments than at the level of people to people. The negatives between the two people, is more the making of Americans than of Mexicans. It is more the negative perceptions harbored by Americans about Mexicans, which in turn causes negative feelings towards Americans…”
From
U.S. Foreign Policy:
“…So, in my conversation with Mr. Fabela, I asked him. “Doesn’t Mexico fear a Communist take over?” His reply was a considerable shock - “Young man, Mexico has nothing to fear from Communism, and everything to fear from Yankee imperialism.”
I was floored by the answer. As of then, I had never though of the U.S. as an imperialistic country, and to be told by such a personage that Mexico, our country’s next door neighbor, thought of the U.S. as imperialistic and feared it over Communism – I could not fathom. I believe he saw in my face the expression of complete bewilderment, and in a friendly way said, “Young man, I suggest you read, read, and read some more on these subjects…”… “The above are merely examples. What is also galling to our neighbors is the lack of the common U.S. citizen’s knowledge about these activities. For instance, in the U.S. there is the cliché – “… two-bit Latin American dictator” as an expression of backward countries or its leaders, but there seems to be no realization that those “two-bit” dictators were placed in office by the U.S. and kept there as long as they were friendly to “our interests.”
From
Perceptions:
“…Part of the perception problem faced by Americans regarding Mexicans is that the image of Mexicans has historically stopped at describing “one of the images in the picture,” - the ugly or negative side. We have this perception based on newspaper accounts, movies and of course, everyone knows someone who has a friend, who was done a wrong in Mexico…”
From
Immigration:
“…So the poor of Mexico had the push in spades, and the God sent utopia within easy access as the pull – jobs were plentiful and relative peace and safety was present. All they had to do was work harder than the local natives, don’t complain and be (or at least act) subservient. It was a marriage made in heaven – for a time for both, but large migrations also bring friction – and bad economic times exacerbate the friction – and there is where we are today. But today is really no different than it was in the early 1990’s, or in the mid 1970’s, or in the 1950’s or in the 1930’s. Reading Ehrlich’s 1979 book and his account of events then and before, one could say the book was written not around 25 years ago, but in 2003. Nothing’s changed…”
From
Mexican-Americans Doing Business in Mexico:
“…A large percentage of Americans of Mexican ancestry can speak Spanish in varying degrees, which can be from poor to excellent, but most have limitations and difficulties with the spoken language. Many can understand Spanish far better than they are able to speak it. They have shortcomings with vocabulary, particularly with technical words. There is also the tendency to think in English, and then when transferring to Spanish, translation from English is what comes out. Many times the translated word(s) are not the correct usage in Spanish…”
From
Cultural
Considerations…
“…And of utmost importance in the Mexican culture is their love of family and friends. Family and friends take precedence over all other relationships. It’s not that it’s unique to Mexicans, it obviously plays an important part in every culture, but in Mexico it has a lot of passion…”
From
Maquiladoras and
Social Change:
“…But it would be remiss to not point out that there were many abuses both to laborers and the environment involving U.S. companies and their American executives. The abuses were made possible because many (but not all) Mexican officials could be bought – this many times included operating permits for operations or processes forbidden by Mexican laws. It included avoidance of Mexican environmental laws on the books at the time that were lax in comparison to U.S. environmental laws to begin with…”
From the
Faces of Mexican
Society:
“…For 71 years this is the way it was, so it became part of the Mexican psyche, part of the culture – it seemed for some time this would never change. In 2000, it changed, but it remains to be seen whether it will be sustainable or return to the old ways either by the new ruling elite, or if they fail in improving the lot of Mexicans, it could change yet again to a third political party possibly the PRD (Partido Revolucionario Democratico – mostly made up of former PRI disenchanted leftist members) or return to the PRI….”
From
Mexico a Small Size
Melting Pot:
“…Of importance to keep in mind is that Mexican is not a race, it is a nationality; the country of Mexico is a melting pot made up of all races and most ethnic groups, and there is no such thing as – “you don’t look like a Mexican” anymore than there is a “you don’t look like a U.S. citizen” remark in the U.S…”
From
Historical
Vignettes:
“…Most discrimination in Mexican society is based on social, economic or educational factors either not present or absent from individuals. Most discrimination is in the form of social discrimination. But, again, discrimination towards the pure Indian is ever present in some form or another – covertly or openly. And further, not only are many of their civil rights denied them, but also much of their ancestral land ownership has not been respected…”
From
Confidence or Lack
Thereof:
“…Invariably Americans want to know: is Mexico still nationalizing foreign businesses? (It seems everyone in the U.S. has heard of how Mexico nationalized the oil industry and threw out Americans from Mexico.) And how about all those revolutions, do they have their act together now? And how come Mexico has a few millionaires and even a few billionaires and everyone else is poor? And politicians, how come they are all corrupt? You can’t visit or do business in Mexico without giving a mordida (a bribe). Everyone in Mexico wants to come to the U.S. illegally and receive welfare, health and other benefits…”
From
The Question of
Corruption:
“…An American businessman said to me, “1 can appreciate and even sympathize with Mexico on the error of some of the negative perceptions that I have long held, but can the corruption be excused, or is this also a figment of our misconception in the U.S.? “ Sadly, no, it’s not a figment…”
From
Real Estate Fraud:
“… “Mexicans may not have the Brooklyn Bridge to sell, but there are those who will sell you the Sea of Cortez or the Gulf of Mexico at a bargain price. But just as not everyone in the U.S. is trying to sell the Brooklyn Bridge, not everyone in Mexico is trying to sell their equivalents. Real estate fraud, is alive and well in any country…There is little protection that can be afforded to Brooklyn Bridge buyers, but for the rest, normal precautions are what are needed to avoid falling into a get rich quick scheme.”
From
Mexico’s Many Gifts to the World:
“…A Mexican gift that revolutionized the Women’s Liberation Movement – a Mexican chemist produced the formula for the – hold on to your seat – birth control pill. That’s right, it was a Mexican chemist, in a Mexico City laboratory who came up with the pill that launched the sexual revolution and liberated women….”
From
Usage of Names:
“…Possibly nothing gives Americans more trouble in Mexico and other Latin American countries than the usage of names. Each person seems to have so many different names that it boggles the mind. Americans are used to using one last name and no matter how many names we always use the last name in the sequence in a business card. Not so in Mexico…”
From
Professional and
Social Titles:
“…As important as the name is, so is the title of the person one is talking with or writing to. There are social as well as professional titles. Business cards provide the professional title. Courtesy and respect dictate the usage of the social titles…”
From
Nicknames:
“…Just when you’re getting used to the name of the person you’re talking with, someone enters the office and calls him by another name, and you are back on first base, wondering what the heck is going on. You’ve more than likely have just been victimized by one of the many nicknames. Mexican friends most often refer to each other by their nickname….”
From
Language
Sensitivities:
“…The very first things Americans have to learn is – the language of Mexico is Spanish – not Mexican. There is no such things as – “Do you speak Mexican?” Or, “they speak Mexican.” There are numerous dialects or languages spoken by different natives, but each has its own name for instance the Mixtec speak Mixteco…”
From Humor:
“…One of the joys of knowing the Spanish language is to be able to participate in the tremendous sense of humor of the Mexican people. There is no catastrophe that can befall Mexicans that within hours will not be converted into a humorous anecdote….”
From
Social Etiquette:
“…In Mexico, the word “educado” (educated) is used mostly to describe a well mannered person. To distinguish someone with school education the word “preparado” (prepared) is most often used. This should give you an idea on how much importance is given to good manners. To Mexicans, good manners and courtesy are a reflection on ones upbringing; it is a reflection of ones parents and family…”
From
The “Macho”
Side of Business or Women Doing Business in
Mexico:
“…U.S. women executives have it both easier and harder when it comes to doing business in Mexico. Women are treated with the utmost of respect, and are given an audience or received with frequency faster than male counterparts. But don’t be misled into thinking that this may be more than courtesy. It is more often a courtesy, what is done with the advantage will depend on the woman executive – her knowledge, femininity, demeanor and diplomacy…”
Excerpts on
Business in
Mexico
From Commitment to the
Market
“…Successful marketing or other business in Mexico will require a commitment on your part. It will be counterproductive to enter the Mexican market only to abandon it at the first sign of a downturn. Or not enter the market due to lack of confidence in the future of Mexico. Particularly when the lack of confidence is based on old and unwarranted perceptions…”
Business Hierarchy
“…Though things are in constant change in Mexico, and modernization is the call of the times, there are still enough holdovers to warrant a discussion on the management hierarchy and protocol of dealing with them…”
Did He Say What He Meant,
or Meant What He Said
“…You will find that their business language is always diplomatic, always agreeable. They avoid conflicts simply by agreeing, or not saying anything on the subject. They will not criticize visitors or their presentation. They avoid having to say no, and dislike it when someone corners them into having to say no…With all of that, how does one know what is going through their minds? …”
Business Tips
“…You have a product or service you want to sell in Mexico. You have no contacts, or even an idea as to how to start….The fast way is to choose a good consulting firm, but if this is not a feasible option here is what you can do…”
Telephone Communications
“…Up until recently, and still in many areas, there has been a terrible shortage of telephone lines in Mexico. Many businesses only have one telephone line, and many who have two or more lines don’t have a rotation system. This means that when you call, and get a busy signal, you have to hang up, and call one of the other numbers they have listed in their business cards, letterhead or promotional materials. Each line is independent of the other….”
Networking
“…Part of the problem is American made. Somehow Americans who know somebody who knows somebody in Mexico will start there. There was a case of a company that wanted to investigate opening a chrome plating operation for tire rims in Baja California, Mexico. His Mexican wife had a cousin who managed a hotel in Mazatlan, Sinaloa, so he was called on to provide contacts for her husband….”