Travel the World - for Free!
I have been very fortunate to travel to several countries of the world while on business - countries I may have never visited on a holiday. There are pros and cons to working/doing business in a foreign country vs. visiting as a tourist but I have found it to be very rewarding. I have made many friends, been invited into many colleagues' homes to meet their families, dined on local specialties, and seen all the local attractions (I've been to the Giza pyramids three times - see photo on the right) because business partners are always proud to show you their country. After all, don't we always take visitors to Alberta to the Rocky Mountains? Foreign business delegations traveling to Calgary always schedules time to go to Banff, often timing it to coincide with the weekend.
So even though I don't sell a product, I do consider myself an exporter. That is because I am exporting my experience and knowledge - basically I export a service. Many more Canadian service companies (and consultants), from environmental companies to engineering firms, could be exporting, but aren't.
Here are four ways to get started.
1. Consult.
Consulting overseas is essentially exporting a service. For many Canadians the obvious first step is to examine the opportunities offered by the Canadian International Development Agency (CIDA) - the executing agency of Canada's $2.87 billion aid program.
CIDA funds various development programs, some of which are administered and implemented directly by the recipient government and others by Canadian partners. In either case, experts are required for some aspect of the project. In my case, over the past year I have spent a total three months working in Indonesia providing export-related technical assistance to garment manufacturers in Bali.
To work with CIDA, all consultants must be registered with Consulting and Audit Canada. However, CIDA does not directly contact everyone and therefore it is useful to know the partners that cooperate with CIDA, and luckily a list of non-governmental organizations (NGO) is available on the CIDA web site (type 'voluntary sector division' in the search box, choose the first result and then click on 'Links to CIDA's partners').
CIDA also publishes a list of all its current bilateral projects which includes the name of the primary partner organization, the value of the project and time remaining. You may be able to offer your services to these organizations. From CIDA's home page, click on 'Projects' and then 'CIDA's contracts and agreements.'
Once you have gained experience working with CIDA, many international financial institutions such as the World Bank also hire consulting firms to plan, manage and evaluate their projects. For example, right now there is an Expression of Interest for a "Country Environmental Analysis" for Vietnam. It also helps to cultivate contacts within the World Bank as contracts under $100,000 are not publicly posted.
Even if you are not in the "development" business, think about what expertise you can offer to other countries.
2. Partner Overseas.
Very few companies are successful overseas if they do not have a local partner, regardless of whether they are selling a product or a service. The format of a partnership in services exporting (i.e. joint-venture, strategic alliance, equity agreement) is not necessarily the prime consideration but the Canadian company must take the time to determine what they need and want from their foreign partner. Someone to identify and pursue leads? Labour to undertake certain aspects of the project? Administrative assistance? Insight into local laws and customs? Language support? Competitive intelligence? The Canadian partner also needs to consider what they bring to the partnership. New technology? Expertise? Financing?
CIDA has funding available for Canadian firms developing partnerships in developing countries under its Industrial Cooperation Program.
Do you have a unique technology in demand overseas but are reluctant to start exporting? Don't assume all of the responsibility yourself - find a local partner and reap the benefits.
3. Network Locally.
This method for entering new markets is probably one of the most overlooked, despite its low risk. Every Canadian company working overseas is outsourcing some aspect of the project, usually to someone they know and trust - often one of their domestic suppliers. For example, most Canadian oil and gas companies have operations overseas as well - often in remote areas that require housing and catering. Rather than relying on local capabilities, they generally contract their camp services to well known Canadian firms, thus ensuring the comfort of their workers - because a camp full of unhappy and miserable oil rig workers is not a good thing!
Take a look at your current clients and see if any of them are doing business overseas.
4. Teach.
Everyone is aware of the opportunities to teach English overseas, which is what my sister is doing right now in South Korea (see photo at left). She signed her contract through a Toronto-based agency which is essentially exporting her knowledge of English and Canada (she has actually sung O'Canada to a room full of junior high kids, with no accompaniment!). At the post-secondary level, countries that are rapidly expanding their education systems are demanding skilled teachers and partnerships with foreign institutions in all professions. China and the United Arab Emirates are two that come to mind. However, it is not only within the formal education system that teaching and training opportunities emerge. The same issue of Canadian Business that printed my exporting advice (June 6 - 19, 2005) features a scantily clad model on its cover (I guess sex sells even business magazines) with the line, "The Business of Becoming China's Top Model." After four years of working in China, where white skin is highly valued (and here in North America millions are spent on tanning lotions and tanning salons - go figure), Canadian model Tracey Grebinsky is working with a local talent agency to: 1) train Western models about the complexities of working in China, and; 2) educate Chinese firms about the business of modelling (i.e. contracts, choosing a "look", working with agencies, etc).
Re-evaluate whether you have an exportable service. I'm a big believer that almost anything can be exported.
So pack your bags and get ready for an international adventure.
Copyright© 2005.
Cheryl Lockhart of International Strategies Ltd. assists small- to medium-sized Canadian and foreign enterprises navigate the complexities of global business development. Services include international project identification and management, market research and analysis and foreign partner development.
To learn more about exporting and gain access to more FREE e-zines, visit her web site http://www.intl-strategies.com
 Google News Updated : Fri, 22 Aug 2008 00:13:38 GMT UPDATE 1-Microsoft enlists Seinfeld for ad campaign--source - Reuters Reuters - By Steve Gorman LOS ANGELES, Aug 21 (Reuters) - Comedian Jerry Seinfeld will star in a $300 million marketing campaign for Microsoft Corp aimed at burnishing the image of its computer operating system, a person familiar with the effort said on Thursday ... Jerry Seinfeld and Bill Gates to star in anti-Apple ads Seinfeld to be pitchman for Microsoft Publ.Date : Thu, 21 Aug 2008 21:27:28 GMT IAC Officially Breaks Up - Wall Street Journal
Wall Street Journal - By DAVID BENOIT and KATHY SHWIFF IAC is left as a collection of more than 35 Internet companies -- including search engine Ask.com, dating site Match. IAC: And Then There Were Five Diller's IAC Split May Fail to Boost Investor Returns (Update2) Publ.Date : Thu, 21 Aug 2008 23:17:40 GMT My Super Sweet 16: The Miley Cyrus Edition - E! Online
E! Online - Miley Cyrus is about to show up all those spoiled brats on My Super Sweet 16 who think they're cool being flown to their party by helicopter or when they're carried in like a princess by a group of hot dudes. Miley Cyrus to Celebrate Turning 16 at Disneyland Miley Cyrus Sweet 16 Publ.Date : Thu, 21 Aug 2008 20:21:48 GMT Hillary Clinton's Staff Looking to Avoid Embarrassing Anti-Obama ... - FOXNews
FOXNews - Hillary Clinton's staff is trying to avoid an embarrassing anti-Obama demonstration by her supporters during the floor vote at next week's Democratic convention in Denver. Clinton Will Attend Fund-Raiser for Towns Clinton for VP? She Says Ask the Obama Campaign Publ.Date : Thu, 21 Aug 2008 23:15:16 GMT Microsoft's Photosynth wilts under pressure - Computerworld
Computerworld - By Gregg Keizer August 21, 2008 (Computerworld) Within hours of its launch, Microsoft Corp.'s new photo-stitching service went dark, overwhelmed by demand, the company said Thursday afternoon. New Microsoft photo site spends first day offline New Microsoft Tech Converts Photo Soup Into 3-D Image Publ.Date : Thu, 21 Aug 2008 23:28:59 GMT Marlins let one slip away in San Francisco - Sports Network
Sports Network - San Francisco, CA (Sports Network) - Marlins reliever Kevin Gregg's wild pitch in bottom of the ninth inning scored Emmanuel Burriss to send San Francisco past Florida, 4-3, in the finale of a three-game series. Giants walk off on Gregg's wild pitch Giants beat Marlins on wild pitch in 9th inning Publ.Date : Thu, 21 Aug 2008 23:33:45 GMT GM to Invest $500 Million To Build Chevy Cruze - Wall Street Journal
Wall Street Journal - By KATHY SHWIFF General Motors Corp. will spend more than $500 million in the US to build the Chevrolet Cruze, a next-generation compact car. GM announces $500M investment for small car GM to invest $500 million in small car plant Publ.Date : Thu, 21 Aug 2008 21:10:12 GMT Work From Home |
PARLOT::Ebooks, Scripts,
Websites, and more... I once worked with a developer who showed up at... Read More Training managers use many of the same interpersonal and analytical... Read More Project management is a very important business concept because it... Read More If you search on Google for "virtual assistant", you'll find... Read More We draw conclusions about people through observation, their behavior, past... Read More Many kinds of interferences or disturbances can confuse a message.... Read More I recently received a most interesting phone call.When I answered... Read More The goal of perfection is a challenge. It is often... Read More Leadership is only sustainable when leaders consistently come up with... Read More The Comfort Zone I... Read More Many entrepreneurs and chief executive officers are unaware that there... Read More This module focuses on the basics of Knowledge Mapping, its... Read More Hiring the first personal business assistant is an exciting time... Read More Certain processes enhance creative output and others enhance innovative output.... Read More I read a report in the Toronto Star stated that... Read More Here's a scary statistic. According to four prominent research firms,... Read More Yet there is a place for those external 'raft-build's', 'away... Read More If you are a department, division or subsidiary manager, your... Read More As a child, you probably heard, "to thine own self... Read More Eventually, your business is going to need to have some... Read More I have a short story to share with you about... Read More There is a pervasive belief that time pressure stimulates creativity.... Read More Define the Problem First. It seems obvious, but how many... Read More Recent studies have shown that industrial supervisors are working at... Read More A long time ago, I learned something about being a... Read More
Adsense
websites
Project Management - Its Just A Button
Training Managers and New Trainers
Project Management 101
How to Find the Right Virtual Assistant for You
Making Assumptions - A Critical Communication Mistake In Business And In Your Personal Life!
How Invisible Communication Barriers Kill Productivity
Management Apathy
Supplier Sees 53% Reduction in Out-of-Spec Orders Case Study
Creativity and Innovation Management :- Thought Leadership
The Comfort Zone
Have You Always Thought That The Best Ideas Come From Research Or Management? Think Again
Knowledge Mapping
Hiring Your First Business Personal Assistant: Some Guidelines for Successful Hiring
Lateral Thinking, Logical Thinking, Applied Creativity
Do You Hear That?
What To Do When Your IT Project Is Late, Over Budget, and Looks Like It?s Never Going To Work
Motivating Employees - Ten Ways to Start You Off
Managers Who Spend PR $$ Wisely
To Thine Own Self Be True--Its Better for Business: What Arthur Andersen Would Say to His Company
How Your Business Can Pick A Software Developer
5 Creative Evolutionary Leadership Niche Strategies!
Creativity Management and Time Pressure
Problem-Solving Success Tip: Define the Problem First
Leadership Skills
Catch Your Staff Doing Something Right
Affordable and Reliable Web Hosting Starting at $4.49/Month
Top 10 Things Every Business Should Provide for Every Worker - Including the Boss!
Doing business and meeting the needs of workers is increasingly... Read More
Five Strategies To Strengthen Your Company?s Financial Management
Too many businesses wait until a crisis occurs before they... Read More
Is Your Business Healthy?
Most business owners I work with want to grow their... Read More
The Three-Dimensional Communication System
Human communication is always three-dimensional. No spoken or written message... Read More
Year 2010: Permanent Employees No Longer Required
Jack Welch joined a conference that was held in Duke... Read More
Stop Waste, Fraud and Abuse
Each year, businesses write-off six percent of revenue to waste,... Read More
How To Get What You Really Want
As a small business owner, entrepreneur or independent professional, it's... Read More
A Renewed View of the Modern Business Culture
Life can sometimes be unexciting if not refreshed by the... Read More
Meetings and Road Trips
Managing a meeting is like setting off on a long... Read More
Quick Tip - Effective Meetings Begin With Goals
Goals are critically important for the success of a meeting.... Read More
Downsizing in Organisations - The Real Truth
I've met and worked with many people in all sectors... Read More
Problem-Solving Success Tip: Define the Problem First
Define the Problem First. It seems obvious, but how many... Read More
Why I always Keep my Promises
Integrity is very important to me, and I try hard... Read More
Problem Solving the Problem Solving Meeting
We go to meetings to share information, to report on... Read More
Motor Vehicle Policy and Your Employee Risks
It is becoming more common for employers to require employees... Read More
Performance Evaluation: How To Create Change
STEPS TOWARDS GIVING A GOOD APPRAISAL INTERVIEW: Give specific feedback.... Read More
Weaknesses of Wishing
When you're starting a business, you might wish for a... Read More
Are You Measuring Something Meaningful?
Avoiding inert measures that anaesthetise your performance management.INTRODUCTIONYou sit before... Read More
Getting to Consensus
The need to get people in an organization to pull... Read More
Creativity Management ? Quality from Quantity
Creativity can be defined as problem identification and idea generation... Read More
What Cross-cultural Training Can Do for You
International business is more complex than ever before. Success in... Read More
Making Change Work
Shaky FoundationsWhilst over 60% of businesses will be looking to... Read More
Bullying and the Not for Profit Organisation
Where there is people there is politics! Bullying is now... Read More
Satisfied Employees, A Powerful Marketing Strategy
Even in today's still uncertain economic times, there are companies... Read More
Dealing with Marginal Performers: The Therapeutic Approach
--PREPARATION: The purpose of the therapeutic approach is to spark... Read More
Business Management |