Business in Asia is generally a formal affair. Since Covid19 has decimated most businesses here in Thailand were borders remain tightly closed after nearly 6 months, some rethinking has been required. The Thai government has made it abundantly clear that it does not welcome "disease carrying foreigners who won't wear masks." And that when borders re-open (maybe late 2020, or in 2021) priority will be given to regions and countries with ZERO community transmission for a minimum of 30 days. Which rules out most of the white so-called-developed-first-world for the next 12-18 months.
New business strategy required! Urgently!
And so, becasue needs must, I have joined a Thai business referral club. I'm the only non-Thai in a Thai speaking group of soon-to-be-50 Thai business owners. All of them have 5 years + experience as business owners here, so are well connected. We have committed to growing one another's businesses, and the weekly meetings thus far have been very formal. Dark suits, microphones, stages, tables with satin skirts, 1990s style hotel conference rooms.
As we prepare for the official opening of the group, we had a get-to-know-each-other pool party yesterday - at a private and very elegant pool villa. Because Trust and Conection are a basis for good business referral.
Now I've been to a LOT of Thai functions in my 17 years here, ranging from drunken village parties around a fire pit, some very spicy laab and a lot of Lao Khao to elegant wedding receptions. I've also been to Thai government functions where shoes with toes showing are not considered polite, nor are bare arms, cleavage or anything that shows the knees. My convent girl self has always felt oddly at home at these events. So the Pool Party invitation was a curve ball. I imagined something rather like this 🤣 - Thai people being very proper, prudish and restrained about sun and water.
Image by sippakorn yamkasikorn from Pixabay
It was also a themed party, which seemed odd. "Sports Theme." Both my daughter and I decided to opt for conservative - I DID wear yoga clothes, but made sure to wear a long singlet which covered me to below the butt line. 😆
"Red bikini or black one?"
The withering look from Miss 16 said it all, and I dug to the back of the drawer for a sensible, not too revealing navy blue one piece swim suit. We both packed enormous cover-up towels AND extra beach cover up tops, just to be sure.
Let it be said that what transpired was nothing short of shocking to me, after 17 years in this formal, ancient and restrained culture. Business cultural faux-pas? I should not have worried at all. My biggest concern quickly became how to keep up with the Thai drinking games and still remain sober enough to drive home.
"Mot Gaew, Mot Gaew!!" - means drink it finished. 😆 🍺 🍷 Chanted by the whole room of some 35 business people who all seem to have unbelievably unrestrained alter egos. 🤣
I need not have worried about the conservative swim suit. Cos everyone was basically thrown into the pool fully clad. My swimsuit never even got wet.
It all started conservatively enough with beers around the pool, Thai language chit chat and the obligatory Thai FOOD in abundant quantity!
After which the pace shifted dramatically to a cross between team-style geting to know you games with a Thai teenage birthday party flavour. 🤣 The "Mot Gaew, Mot Gaew" for the losers or last to participate were an interesting twist. Thai language charades with a professional theme? It was intense and like a no-rules game show!!
Did I mention it was a serious language building hot-house event??
The games eventually moved to the poolside and there was not a dry person left by round 3. Lots of laughter, engagement, more food, alcohol and splashing.
Nope - gotta say I've never played drinking games or swum fully clothed with my new clients before.
Did we have fun?? Actually we had a blast. LOADS of fun. We were among the first to leave at almost midnight and about half the group spent the night at the pool villa.
Culture, and especially business culture, is a strange beast. It changes its spots and sometimes reveals itself in unusual ways. Like last night.
Those of use who have lived in Thailand for a while often shake our heads and use the Thai Tourism Authority slogan, Amazing Thailand. Me? I'm often heard to mutter, Never a Dull Day in the Kingdom.
There WAS a NICE vibe this morning as photos were swapped and people comfortably made new business appointments with new friends.
Grateful. And tired. Early night tonight!
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That was a blast 🤣 nice to have lots of fun once in a while. I could do with such a party!
It WAS a blast and soooo much fun!! Had never expected to have so much fun at a business meet&greet team building 'thing'. My face hurt today from laughing so much last night!!
Hope you find - or make - some fun in your world soon too!
!ENGAGE 15
Thank you 🙂
ENGAGEtokens.Looks like you guys had wonderful time together
And tomorrow's post? The DIY Organic & Natural Hair Detangling Mask 🤣 for those of us who were far too tired to wash and detangle our hair at 1am (after a soothing single malt on arrival home) and woke to a serious hair crisis! 😆
We did! Serious fun and just a playfulness that is not easily seen in western business. It reminds me of the old chinese idea of only doing business with family, and with people we trust. Strangely that idea translates across to crypto too.
!ENGAGE 15
ENGAGEtokens.I love that they managed to surprise you, after all those years. Some great news for your business too.
@tipu curate
It IS WONDERFUL to be surprised by people who don't predictably stay in their box, right? It's a huge adjustment and cost to change product locations, labeling, information etc and to focus more on the Thai audience - but it is necessary. I didn't expect it to be fun.
The highly globalized world and marketing of 8 months ago has evaporated and there are major stragegy shifts required.
Thank you for the generous tip! 😍 !ENGAGE 25
A bit of an evolve or die situation. Not easy but necessary. In a way, not a bad thing to keep things closer to home either. The need to localise has been apparent for some time, has it not.
It's not as simple as "the need to localize" here. A very comfortable western idea. 😉
Thailand has had 39 million plus visitors every year - that HAS been the local economy. The Thai people who work here are not cashed. The rich Thai people have always spent their money in Switzerland, Germany, France, Japan, Korea...
Thailand is in shock - and everyone rapidly adjusting to a whole new playing field. Up to 60% of the businesses in this tourist town are now permanently closed and the rest of the businesses are scrambling to reinvent in a new word where white people don't and will no longer have the economic power they've had in the last 50 years. All good, necessary and progress for most people except the dying western economies. Yes, very much a forced do or die.
One day at a time.
There are plenty of businesses closing in the western economies too, which will never reopen. Especially bad in Victoria at the moment, where those who were hanging on by the skin of their teeth have now been given the final straw. Relations with China are apparently not going well either. I think a few countries are going to have to figure out how to localise again. Even individual states might need to become more self sustaining as they each become more protective of their borders.
It's certainly going to be a shock to the system for first world countries, as it's a long way to fall. I’m rather sorry that they dragged other countries into dependence on them, though.
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How fun! I wonder if everyone at this point just feels the need to decompress in some way? Thinking and acting outside the box in more ways than one. Ugghh, well sounds like it will be a long time before us germ-infested Americans are let back in. 😂 Tourism all over is taking a hit, as are so many other industries. We are definitely not immune here, though not quite as dire as a country that relies so heavily on tourism to bring in wealth. I hope these new contacts can help you stay afloat during these times, and I know you'll bring plenty of good ideas to the group as a whole.
You get to know people better if they let their hair down (or, in this case, get it wet) ;)