Nov 23, 2010

What Happened?

Sometime around 2000, Goldman Sachs in all their wisdom coined the phrase, "BRIC Countries." This was a catchy acronym that had little meaning for most of us at the time. It was meant to infer that we would see those four countries, Brazil, Russia, India and China, growing quickly as emerging markets.

Today, 2010, it feels almost like a cliché to the two of us. In the year 2000, we were in our ninth year of working in Russia with eight years still to go. We had already booked our first trip to China. It was to be our first around-the-world trip, starting in Omaha with stops in NYC, Moscow, Beijing, Shanghai, Los Angeles, Denver returning to Omaha.

The extreme contrasts between China and Russia at the time were exciting and educational for us. The clients and participants in our programs in both countries always reminded us of our Influence and Focus participants in the US!

In Moscow, the growth of wealth was surging forward as the price of oil rose higher and higher. Being an extraction economy, the oil, natural gas, nickel, gold, other minerals and treasures taken out of the ground kept the place booming. Arriving in Beijing after three weeks in Moscow, life appeared more calm and quiet. This was then a government city. Moving onto Shanghai, the pace of life picked up and the city buzzed with energy. Multi-national corporations, as in Moscow, had high-rise buildings on every corner and life was changing for our new Chinese friends.

The Russian economy reached it's zenith and began to slump two-three years ago. The brilliance of the people, their huge loving hearts and deep spiritual beliefs remain today as they deal with a variety of challenges. The Russians are bright, strong, hardy, incredible people. Our lives have been enhanced and changed for the better because of them.

Many Chinese, on the other hand, continue to thrive both at the country and individual levels. More and more friends are purchasing another new condominium, sending their children to Montessori schools and vacationing abroad. The economy is booming amidst conversations about currency conversions. The Chinese are funny, kind, caring people. Our lives have been enhanced and changed for the better because of them.

It was always our intention that India would open for us. And, thanks to our friends and clients, we arrived in India in 2009.

This year, 2010, was different in so many ways and similar in others. We are keenly aware of no longer considering the three countries, Russia, China and India as simply three of the four BRIC countries. To us, these countries have touched and even changed our lives. In each country there are people who are our friends and people who love us and whom we love.

It was 1992 when we first visited Moscow. The Berlin Wall had fallen and the Soviet Union had disintegrated. People wanted to understand how to take what the excellent Soviet educational system had offered them and enter what would become a market economy. Within less than 15 years, life as it was known in Russia changed drastically. Without any apparent or conscious intention of doing so, the beautiful and rich Russian traditions were suddenly becoming quite Western, at least in the cities. Much of the rich culture and heritage that we experienced in 1992 are now less evident.

At an even faster pace, China quickly followed the flow toward Western ways. This was true even though China's history and traditions were ancient and very much at odds with what one might call Western. Still, new malls popped up everywhere. Every brand name chain store and fast food restaurant known in the US was suddenly on every corner of each large Chinese City.

And India?

Compared to the many years of back and forth travel in both Russia and China, we are "new" to India. And yet, at some level we are not. There is a deep recognition in India. People seem to immediately accept us, trust us, know us, care for us, help us, open up to us.

India is fast becoming the most populous country in the world. Goldman Sachs estimates that if the present trajectory continues, India also will remain the first or second fastest growing large economy through 2050.

Unlike China with it's one child policy, the birth rates in India add multiple babies to families year after year. With English as one of the two official languages of the country, India works almost flawlessly all over the world, using the currently accepted language of global business.

Whether working inside a company with Indian employees, working with an NGO striving to save lives and educate or simply walking on the streets of well-known cities of India, we find a genuine sweetness and goodness of spirit. No matter where we have found our selves in India, we also find warmth, acceptance, bright minds, keen senses of humor, kindness and considerate approaches in every aspect of life.

Many inventions or great historical ideas from the past that we believed originated in some other country, we have now found started in India.

Yes, historians confirm that great civilizations were being developed by 3000BCE in India!

Having now again been invited to experience the privilege of having a working/teaching role in another so-called developing economy, our minds fill up with questions. The Indians have the benefits of seeing how at least two other countries have given up a part of their own heritage in order to be "players" in the global economy. To some degree, this has meant moving to more Western cultures. Is this what India truly wants?

As a result of what happened, what have I learned about myself?

Tim: I was a history major in college. I did not study Indian history for even a minute. I studied only 20th century Chinese history briefly. I spent years studying Russian history. At the time, no one was teaching Indian history. It was the Cold War.

For years, academics and consultants told us that Japan would be the only significant economy in Asia. We believed them.

FGI, some years ago, had a client looking at the future of their product line. We proposed that India was a good target. They laughed us out of the room, saying that India would never be a viable market for consumer goods.

I clearly understand how privileged I've been to observe the dawning of economic miracles in three magnificent countries. I have been invited to work with local professionals in each country. They have taught me more than I can ever express about life, culture, work ethic, dedication. They have welcomed me into their cultures, their homes. They have been patient with me when I was unknowingly culturally insensitive. Many of them have become dear friends.

I am blessed to participate in creating the world of 2050 - where India and China will be at least co-equal with the US. I am thrilled for my grandchildren.

Carol: Odd, but true: many people go into a shell or feel uncertain in a new environment. I've witnessed this over and over. What makes me that "odd one?" I seem to come alive in a new way when given the gift of flowing into a new culture. I am freer to be my genuine, authentic self. Seems crazy at some level - and counter-intuitive.

Fewer people in Russia, China and now India seem to be "strangers" to me than sometimes here at home. I'm still learning what this could mean, but perhaps it's something about Soul Recognition?

I do know I ache with concern that the depth, beauty and wisdom of ancient cultures may be unwittingly traded off for plastic and things that glitter - illusions. I worry about traditions, the beauty of multiple languages, the rich heritage of family recipes, the stories of lives gone by.

At the same time, I give thanks for the privileges I've been given to witness. Such exciting times in Russia, China and India.