"Colonial mentality syndrome" A continuation on the blog: Are Caribbean professionals longing for home...?

Exactly 4 years ago I wrote a blog on Caribbean students becoming professionals and their longing to go back home. In that Blog I mentioned this blog (I travel through time). What I indicated then was that the topic is quite complex, that I wanted to dedicate an extra blog on it.

It is August 2014, a new load of Caribbean students are arriving in Europe and probably North and South America as well. The students of 2010 are probably graduating, or already have. We are still in a global recession, jobs are scarce and things have changed compared to 4 years ago.
In said previous blog I mentioned the "colonial mentality syndrome" (CMS). And promised I would refer to this in a future (this) blog. I don't have statistics and other data to give a scientific basis for this topic, but base myself on experiences and chats with fellow Caribs. This is a blog that is open for (constructive) criticism and feedback. You are welcome to share your opinion and views as well.

For a lot of Caribbean Islands Tourism is one of the top economical sectors or industries, and therefore generates many jobs. However, one can argue that the tourism industry generates many low-level (paying) jobs and little high level (paying) jobs. Here is where the CMS comes in. Many times the top jobs are filled by people not native to the Island. I must be honest and admit that I have experienced many locals (on various Islands) being part of top management. Nevertheless, I am still seeing many foreigners in top management. To me it is funny as it is a mirror effect of Western countries complaining that foreigners (incl. Caribs) take their jobs. Therefore I try to take an objective look at things and leave nationalism, pride and personal feelings/opinion aside. The world is becoming more and more a global marketplace. This includes the job market. Is it then such a bad thing that a non-native has a job in a country he/she is originally not from? As I see it now, one should go and work where there is work and you are able to be the best you can be and happy. Are you a European dreaming of working in the tropics? Go for it. Are you a Carib dreaming of a cosmopolitan lifestyle and career in a modern western city? Go for it. At this point we should not let man-made borders stop us achieving our dreams. This sounds nice and reads like an idealistic pamflet, and many might say: yes, but you don't now my situation...

I agree, things are not as black and white, easy and straightforward as we would like them to be. So lets go back to the title of the blog and take a look at developments and opportunities back home. In a modern and ever more globalised world, the chance is big that you end up looking for a job with a large company or corporation. In tourism for example you might end up at one of the large hotel/resort chains, cruise lines, Airlines or operators. "Aha" I hear you say, "they are the ones employing foreign westerners for the top positions", hence the CMS. I used to agree with this quick judgement, but have changed my opinion over time. I personally know a couple of Caribbean natives who worked their way up and now have senior level jobs at these large corporations/organizations. I also know a lot of Caribs who occupy top level jobs locally on the Islands. Should we still point that CMS finger then? maybe yes, maybe no, but in any case, less. It all boils down to what you bring to the table. "Talent does get recognised", I was told long ago, and I believe this. It also depends a lot on your own efforts. We can get comfortable and less hungry and then get stuck into a certain comfort zone. Is there still inequality and do Human Resource depts. still show preference to foreigners? Probably, but don't let that stop you. Opportunity levels can differ per Caribbean Island and I tend to hypothesise that the Spanish Caribbean suffers most of CMS. The limiting factors I encounter when talking to people are: not having acces to travelling documents (Visa) and limited knowledge of International languages (English).

One of the many pitfalls for professional Caribs returning home is getting frustrated, when they are not able to bring change fast, and falling into the conformity trap. In my opinion this trap is biggest when working for the public sector (as a civil servant and/or politician). You need to be aware and accept what you will encounter upon your return. Of course your will to provide a positive contribution should remain top of your agenda, but don't be naive and get burned down to easy and quick.
A fellow blogger recently posted an interesting piece on this topic (in Dutch), urging students to think hard before coming back. Especially when dealing with Student loans ion USD$ and Euros. His advice was to stay abroad first to build up your career and pay off your student loans. And many of his readers (on social media) agreed.

Why did I wrote this blog? As a 37 year old Caribbean native, I hope I can raise awareness on CMS and provide support for the new generations and their knowledge and will to change. If you feel that our generation (35+) can still stir-up a revolution....let me know

Current affaires, business and The Caribbean

The largest Tourism show (ITB Berlin) in Europe just ended. On the second day, we received the sad news about the situations in Japan. However, business went on as usual. I was at the Aruba stand handling a full agenda of meetings and appointments. Things for Aruba are looking good. A small part we play in what is keeping this world go round.

Going into the ITB my head was full of chatter and thoughts. It was a cocktail of recent privatisation/re-organisation, marketing plans, budgets, happy and not so happy people, The Middle-East, local politics, a sick grandmother of 92, contract negotiations, cash-flow problems and my personal stuff.

The world does not show mercy on you, this is life. The Dharma, the one truth, the one and only law if you will. In western terms: These things come with the job. Then watching the images from Japan on the news, puts things back into perspective. Don’t take life and yourself too serious, it is all impermanent.

Nevertheless all these things can get to you and cause some stress. So….how to handle this the Caribbean way?

Currently, the Caribbean has this romantic and exotic image of bei

Image via Wikipedia

ng the most relaxing and fun place on earth. Has it always been like this? I have read and learned a bit about our history. Not so relaxed and fun at all. Slavery, bloodshed, genocide, disease, racism and exploitation. Some of these still go on, however, in comparison, it is much better now.

One of the Caribbean’s greatest heroes, Toussaint l’Ouverture, has been through similar situations as I am encountering now (not that I can compare myself and my situation with him, but at the basis it can be compared a bit).

Toussaint did what he believed in and he was pushed by goodness and love for his people and country (and by people we are talking all races here, he did not discriminate). He came from nothing and grew to become a loved and respected General (also feared by his enemy). It is said that he did sleep only 3 – 4 hours a day while carrying out battles, thinking of strategies, running the country (Haiti and at some point the Dominican Republic as well) and taking are of his family. His life drifted through bloody periods, then prosperity and bloody again. In the end he died alone and forgotten in a dungeon far away from his beloved Caribbean.

Reflecting on this I sometimes think about what I am doing and why I am doing it. The same reasons Toussaint did. Will I gain glory? Will I go down empty handed and be forgotten?

The Caribbean way tells me that the reasons mentioned above should be enough. Glory is secondary and not real. All is impermanent. Surprisingly these things are also taught in Eastern/Asian wisdom. I’ve practiced and learned a bit of Japanese Zen Buddhism for the past years and therefore it helps answer my question:

What is a Caribbean boy into marketing to do amidst all these current affaires, pressures and life? What can I do to help?

Take it day by day, be driven by the love of what it is you are doing and never mind the rest.

It might not be a practical consolation, nevertheless….to all our Japanese brothers and sisters….. you will manage and get out of your current situation.

As Mr Paulo Coelho says: the one who fights a good fight on a daily basis will be redeemed.

Never give up, keep on going, one love …from the Caribbean 2 the World/Japan/New Zealand/Haiti/Libia/Tunisia/Egypt/Zimbabwe…./…./…../…..

Related articles

• Op-Ed: Davidson Toussaint on Why Tourism Is Not Unrealistic For Haiti

• A Tsunami Could Hit the Caribbean (repeatingislands.com)

What they don’t teach you in Marketing class

Marketing is a widespread “phenomenon”. When I started my studies, it was still relatively new and specific. Nowadays, it seems, everybody is a marketer. Or at least feel they are. I remember one professor telling us: “forget everything you have learned, throw away all your marketing books. Just use your common sense”. Marketing for him was 90% common sense and 10% application of theoretical knowledge. (just like Yoda tells Luke Skywalker in Star Wars: let go of your feelings….feel the force).

In many ways I do agree with him. There are many people out there who can be considered marketing geniuses, without having a formal degree in marketing. But, for all us “licensed” marketers, these can be some comforting words. I think it was in Tim Harfords book "The Undercover Economist" where he said something like:
I might not be as good as Einstein or other famous people, but at least I do the best I can at what I do best, and that is my contribution to this world

Lets look at the classical marketing approach of 80-20. Try to achieve 80% of marketing goals by using 20% common sense or theory? It will bore in the likes of around 70 - 30. In any case, just apply the percentage-mix you feel works best for you. This is what they don’t teach us in school or marketing courses.

Every person who has endured, survived and accomplished any kind of marketing course is sent into this world with a manual of theories, models and other stuff he or she can apply. This is always very noticeable with newcomers in any organisation. They start right away applying some model in order to achieve a goal which it should lead them to. This is all very good. That’s why they learned that stuff and why they have been hired and everybody is happy (at least that was in a nutshell my first start at where I work).

Then after a while you start noticing that your knowledge and implementation of these models mixed and based on common sense…..don’t always get approval. Something is wrong. The model indicates that in situation A one should apply model X and based on market trends, data and statistics, the logical outcome and therefore action should be AX. Still you meet resistance and negative feedback. How do you deal with this? Nobody taught me this in school?

Marketing, for a large part is what some call: “a people’s business”. And whilst theoretically we have been thought what the definition of People’s business is, we have not been trained on how to deal with this when things don’t go as planned.

Many times there are different people involved in determining the decision or direction of a marketing objective, strategy or tactic. They all have their own respective common sense, knowledge and experience. However….it’s a people’s business. They also have their own interests and desires that get included into the equation. Sometimes these “personal” factors defy common marketing sense and any existing model or theory. Yet, depending on the person, they can be very decisive in determining the chosen direction. As a marketer caught in the middle one should also have a certain level of political and diplomacy skills. How to reach a consensus where common marketing sense, partly based on facts and figures, can still please some of the personal desires. Sometimes it takes a little bit of pleasing in order to get the big plans rolling.

Scene in BBC's mini series ROME. Where Mark-Anthony and harras Octavian (Julius Ceasars Heir) for having pleased the poor people. However, Octavian sees the bigger picture:

Mark Anthony: What have you done?

Octavian's mother: What is the reason of this? You are giving the plebs their money!!
Octavian: I have promised it. I am sorry I have not told you before, I knew yo'd object. I have decided to enter public life, and this is a great way to introduce myself to the people.
Mark Anthony (very angry): That will be seen as a direct challenge to ME!
Octavian: Yes...but that isn't y intention at all. I suggest we make a public display of unity. That when you leave politics and I step in, you will be protected by me from your enemies in the senate. And I can provide that.
Mark Anthony: Who the **** do you think you are?
Octavian's mother: He does not have the money.
Octavian: I was able to borrow it in advance of my inheritance.
Octavian's mother: ...How much..did you borrow?
Octavian: Not much in the grand scheme of things?
Mark-Anthny:..How Much...?
Octavian (calmly answers): 3 million sesterstius

Here Mark Anthony and Octavian's mother completely flip out. Because that was a substantial amount of money back then. And to just give it away to the poor people.
Octavian's line always stayed with me: "Not in the grand scheme of things". He went on being one of the longest sitting roman rulers and set Rome on a course of prosperity.

As a marketer, one should always keep the end result in sight. It is essential that you create a track record of achieving results by keeping your focus. Because you can please people as much as you want, but at the end of the day, if you cannot deliver results all the pleasing has been in vain. And in the big bad business world, your actions to please can be easily set aside as being: It’s business…nothing personal. So even if you get fired, your achievements will not go un-noticed and will help you get back on your feet.

It is essential that you develop a 6th sense, if you will, for knowing exactly how to determine your marketing decision mix (based on facts vs. based on pleasing key people). This can only be achieved through experience. If someone wrote a textbook on this and schools started adding this to their curriculums, it might help a bit. But reality is never as exact as books make you believe.

So again, what my professor told me a couple of years ago is very useful:
“Forget everything you know and learned about marketing. Use your common sense”.
Determine for yourself why and who do you have to please and to what extend. Whilst never betraying your true marketing sense and instincts (integrity) for achieving real results.

And as Sir Richard Branson says: everything is allowed, as long as it is legal.