Category: Living, Working, Retiring

Doing Business in Mexico One thing that often puzzles observers from the U.S. about Mexico is the apparent dichotomy between how Mexicans behave at the personal level, and how they manifest themselves in anonymity. Thus, your Mexican friend is willing to do anything for you in times of need, but that same person – when […]

Doing Business in Mexico Although denied officially and, personally by many Mexicans, racism in Mexico is so evident that most foreigners notice it right away. All you have to do is look at Mexican-produced television programs, especially the internationally-known genre of Mexican telenovelas (soap operas). There you will see many Caucasians playing leading roles, while the darker-complected […]

Doing Business in Mexico In July, I wrote about racism and how this affects business in Mexico. The article provoked a huge reaction. I got love mail and hate mail. This month I’ll share some of the most thoughtful responses with you. One writer wrote to say: Who spoon-fed you this garbage? Some of the most successful […]

Doing Business in Mexico I get many inquiries from non-Mexicans interested in investing in or starting a new business in Mexico. The inquiries usually ask the normal “administrative” curiosities: What are the numbers for the industry? (Sales, outlets, what have you). How competitive is the market; how easy/difficult it is to get the legal permits, […]

Doing Business in Mexico Every time there are presidential elections in Mexico, there is a panic that the country is about to enter a new crisis. This is to a large extent based on past experience, so much so, that it is part of the “Mexican mindset.” The end of various past administrations has been […]

Doing Business in Mexico To many outside Mexico, the country often seems “exotic.” Described as “surreal,” endless description about the inner soul of Mexico (the ” Mexico Profundo,” or the “Deep Mexico”), complex, traditional, contradictory, passive-aggressive are just but a few words often heard when referring to Mexico. No doubt, the pre-Columbian heritage has added to […]

Doing Business in Mexico Empowering employees in Mexico presents a different series of challenges than in the United States. Mexico’s hierarchical and authoritarian tradition makes it extremely difficult for managers to delegate responsibilities to their employees—something any manager or director must do to run an efficient business. Empowerment in Mexico can be successful, though, if […]

Doing Business in Mexico Favors are done in every culture, but how favors are given and received differs among cultures. Comparing the mainstream U.S. culture and Mexico regarding this issue, we find striking differences, which often lead to important misunderstandings among people. In the U.S., informal favors are seen as voluntary actions, which nevertheless create […]