Full Transcript for Working With Different Cultures In Business

there's still elements that you can take home as Joshua Maddux: 00:04:08 nuggets that you can learn from. Joshua Maddux: 00:04:10 So although you may have not got that project or whatever, that loss looked Joshua Maddux: 00:04:14 like there's still elements to learn from. Joshua Maddux: 00:04:16 And I encourage the business owners all the time to, to still look at what Joshua Maddux: 00:04:19 can you learn from that situation? Joshua Maddux: 00:04:21 So a little bit of world travel just a tiny but some incredible stuff. Joshua Maddux: 00:04:26 Working with different countries, different, all different types Joshua Maddux: 00:04:29 of companies that are looking to enter the U S market. Joshua Maddux: 00:04:32 And I imagine that, that has never been faced with any type of challenge. Joshua Maddux: 00:04:37 Whether that's language bear here or. Joshua Maddux: 00:04:40 Just time zone differences, there's so many elements there and I know, before we Joshua Maddux: 00:04:45 hit record, I know one of the things that you and I were discussing was cultural Joshua Maddux: 00:04:48 differences and cultural expectations a little bit what, what does that look like? Joshua Maddux: 00:04:54 Obviously. Joshua Maddux: 00:04:56 We want to be respectful of cultures and, different cultures work differently. Joshua Maddux: 00:05:00 I know America is very big on focusing on work and your work is Joshua Maddux: 00:05:06 what defines you where other countries you're defined by your family and Joshua Maddux: 00:05:10 your hobbies more your work just happens to be how you make a living. Joshua Maddux: 00:05:14 And I think that's something that culturally different Joshua Maddux: 00:05:18 countries, value differently. Joshua Maddux: 00:05:19 So not necessarily something that we're looking to disrespect in culture Joshua Maddux: 00:05:23 specifically, but talk about the differences and the expectations there. Frances Harder: 00:05:26 Yes. Frances Harder: 00:05:26 It's not. Frances Harder: 00:05:27 Yeah, it's observations that you learn really, and it's not a negative, it's Frances Harder: 00:05:32 just that dealing with these different cultures is a learning experience. Frances Harder: 00:05:36 It has been for me. Frances Harder: 00:05:37 And I think it probably would be the same for you. Frances Harder: 00:05:39 And when people have like dealing with say the Egyptians and you talk Frances Harder: 00:05:43 to somebody who's in the industry and you'll pass on your experience Frances Harder: 00:05:46 and they'll say exactly why. Frances Harder: 00:05:48 Experience iPad. Frances Harder: 00:05:49 They have also had the same experience and we, you and I were talking about before. Frances Harder: 00:05:53 Experience, maybe working with the Chinese has been exactly what your Frances Harder: 00:05:57 experience was like ditto of mine. Frances Harder: 00:05:59 And so it's very

interesting to work with different cultures. Frances Harder: 00:06:03 And I lived in Germany for six years, so I got to, and I ended up marrying one. Frances Harder: 00:06:09 So I learnt the German culture. Frances Harder: 00:06:11 You think that the Europeans would be similar, but they're not. Frances Harder: 00:06:13 So living in Germany yeah. Frances Harder: 00:06:16 I loved it dearly. Frances Harder: 00:06:17 And but there were definite cultural differences. Frances Harder: 00:06:20 So what working with the cultural differences is interesting challenging. Frances Harder: 00:06:25 And you hope that. Frances Harder: 00:06:27 What are they like particularly now working with the United nations with Frances Harder: 00:06:31 Egypt, I was hired as a consultant to assist them to understand how Frances Harder: 00:06:35 to enter the American market. Frances Harder: 00:06:37 What do they need to do? Frances Harder: 00:06:38 How do they prepare it? Frances Harder: 00:06:40 Everything from the websites or that, that is, this is who you are at. Frances Harder: 00:06:45 With a website. Frances Harder: 00:06:46 So what is the first person going to do when they're looking at your company, Frances Harder: 00:06:50 they're going to go to your website. Frances Harder: 00:06:51 So when you're dealing with say Egypt, it's very male dominated. Frances Harder: 00:06:55 And so you open up the website, you've got a big, strong building up there, right? Frances Harder: 00:07:00 What can you scroll down? Frances Harder: 00:07:01 That's a row of men in suits and a tie. Frances Harder: 00:07:04 And so you say, what are they selling here? Frances Harder: 00:07:07 They're selling women's clothing. Frances Harder: 00:07:09 Isn't that interesting? Frances Harder: 00:07:10 You know how we said to them, you need to change this website. Frances Harder: 00:07:13 People need to know, identify immediately what it is you're doing, and you Frances Harder: 00:07:18 need to change that out regularly. Frances Harder: 00:07:19 So they want to go back, these are the things and same thing Frances Harder: 00:07:22 in Nepal that was rather a male. Frances Harder: 00:07:24 Working with the Kashmir producers and they have a big issue because Frances Harder: 00:07:28 the west changed pashmina is the highest quality cashmere you can get. Frances Harder: 00:07:34 And so it got he got messed up by the Americans or the west. Frances Harder: 00:07:38 And suddenly I don't years ago, you're probably too young, but it was like 20 Frances Harder: 00:07:42 years ago, there were selling pashmina is on the corner and they were really Rae on, Frances Harder: 00:07:46 for $10 and it's destroyed their brand. Frances Harder: 00:07:49 So they ha we had to rebrand pashmina Kashmir. Frances Harder: 00:07:53 And one of the scientists came up with planting DNA. Frances Harder: 00:07:58 Fibers of the goat. Frances Harder: 00:08:00 And so that when it was spun and then knitted or woven into something that DNA Frances Harder: 00:08:05 was there all the way through the washing. Frances Harder: 00:08:07 So it was an amazing way of this is pure pashmina cashmere, Joshua Maddux: 00:08:12 essentially more or less like a serial number Joshua Maddux: 00:08:15 on a car VIN number on a card. Frances Harder: 00:08:18 Yeah, that was pretty neat. Frances Harder: 00:08:20 And then with the Peru the Peruvians, they were losing a lot of sustainability. Frances Harder: 00:08:24 I was very impressed with that. Frances Harder: 00:08:26 I'm not sure if you've been there, we went to Lima and then Arab speaker, fantastic. Frances Harder: 00:08:30 The people were absolutely beautiful. Frances Harder: 00:08:33 I want to go back and then went up too late to, to khaki, which is like Frances Harder: 00:08:37 14,000 square feet, 20, sorry, 14,000 feet high and giving a lecture. Frances Harder: 00:08:44 To a group of women, men who were doing their alpaca. Frances Harder: 00:08:49 And so they were sitting there with translators on I'm giving us a lecture and Frances Harder: 00:08:54 I'm just looking around, I'm going to me. Frances Harder: 00:08:56 It was like I'm on 40,000 feet high and from bloody Frances Harder: 00:09:00 Manchester, how did I get here? Frances Harder: 00:09:02 So that was an out of body experience, but a great experience, all the same. Joshua Maddux: 00:09:07 That's crazy. Joshua Maddux: 00:09:08 I know. Joshua Maddux: 00:09:08 We were discussing the aspect of sort of the American lifestyle, the American work Joshua Maddux: 00:09:14 ethic and looking at, other countries. Joshua Maddux: 00:09:17 I know my brother spent some time in Jordan on a trip there and on the Joshua Maddux: 00:09:22 drive from the airport to where they were staying his friend's girlfriend Joshua Maddux: 00:09:26 or fiance or whoever was He said he felt like he was in terrible. Joshua Maddux: 00:09:30 He's like I've first time I've ever met this person. Joshua Maddux: 00:09:32 And she's oh, so like, you know, your family, blah, blah, blah, Joshua Maddux: 00:09:36 like wanted nothing to do with, oh, what do you do for a job? Joshua Maddux: 00:09:40 Didn't care about that. Joshua Maddux: 00:09:41 But like all these different details, they'd go sit in a coffee shop. Joshua Maddux: 00:09:44 And some guy walks up and sits down at their table and they just start Joshua Maddux: 00:09:48 chatting and an hour and a half goes by and the guy gets up and leaves. Joshua Maddux: 00:09:52 And my brother's oh do you guys know him from here, do you know from Joshua Maddux: 00:09:56 there, do you know him from work? Joshua Maddux: 00:09:58 And they're like, no, we've never met the guy before and it's they Joshua Maddux: 00:10:02 have this in-depth hour and a half long conversation, but that's

how the Joshua Maddux: 00:10:08 culture in Jordan and other countries, that's how the culture is where. Joshua Maddux: 00:10:15 In the U S were, I think part of it is we're short, we're guarded a little bit. Joshua Maddux: 00:10:21 And there's also this status symbol a little bit as well, and Joshua Maddux: 00:10:26 it's hard for businesses who may. Joshua Maddux: 00:10:29 I don't understand that don't experience that to transition, to understanding Joshua Maddux: 00:10:36 what the American culture is when they're entering the market here in the U S I know Joshua Maddux: 00:10:41 I had a professor who in college, he said that he had traveled and he taught at a Joshua Maddux: 00:10:47 few other schools and around the world. Joshua Maddux: 00:10:49 And he said there was one college he showed up to and his class started. Joshua Maddux: 00:10:54 2:00 PM. Joshua Maddux: 00:10:55 So he showed up there at 1 45 to, set up and two o'clock comes around 2 15, Joshua Maddux: 00:11:04 2 30, and the first student walks in the door and he's you are a half-hour. Joshua Maddux: 00:11:10 And they're like, oh yeah, no you have two classes a day here. Joshua Maddux: 00:11:12 You have a morning class and an afternoon class. Joshua Maddux: 00:11:15 And typically the afternoon class starts anywhere from a half hour to an hour. Joshua Maddux: 00:11:19 After what it says on the schedule, where was this? Joshua Maddux: 00:11:23 It was an, I cannot remember what country it was. Joshua Maddux: 00:11:26 But it was another country. Joshua Maddux: 00:11:27 And he was just like, what on earth? Joshua Maddux: 00:11:30 And they're like, that's just how the culture is. Joshua Maddux: 00:11:34 And it's anything is taken with a grain of salt when it comes to timing. Joshua Maddux: 00:11:39 Time is a rough suggestion of it starts at two. Joshua Maddux: 00:11:42 Which is just it's crazy. Frances Harder: 00:11:45 We used to lock the door when I was teaching her OTAs. Frances Harder: 00:11:47 If you were late 10 minutes, we'd lock the door or we feed them as well. Frances Harder: 00:11:52 If you were late, you had three lanes. Frances Harder: 00:11:54 Three tardies is equals actually a fail you years ago when I was teaching that Frances Harder: 00:11:59 you had three lates, you got failed. Frances Harder: 00:12:02 Very strict on time in America. Frances Harder: 00:12:04 I agree. Frances Harder: 00:12:04 And I think England is the same or Europe as well. Joshua Maddux: 00:12:07 And I look at that from an employer's perspective. Joshua Maddux: 00:12:09 Employers in the U S if you had an employee show, Anywhere from 15 minutes Joshua Maddux: 00:12:13 to an hour, late on a regular basis. Joshua Maddux: 00:12:18 And so someone who maybe is coming from a different culture, like Joshua Maddux: 00:12:22 understanding that is a huge element, understanding how important it is Joshua Maddux: 00:12:29 to be on time to be, a part of that. Frances Harder: 00:12:35 Yeah. Frances Harder: 00:12:35 I think one of the, another example is say working with Italy, right? Frances Harder: 00:12:40 Love, Italy, love the food, love the people love going there. Frances Harder: 00:12:43 But they never ship on time. Frances Harder: 00:12:45 So we always say, if you're buying from Italy, allow yourself a window of Frances Harder: 00:12:52 time because they're always shipping. Frances Harder: 00:12:54 And so which in this industry it's really frustrating. Frances Harder: 00:12:57 And I remember talking to an Italian friend of mine, I was saying, the Frances Harder: 00:13:00 Americans, as I said to you earlier on, what you do in the American Frances Harder: 00:13:04 businesses, you do what you say, you're going to do one sentence. Frances Harder: 00:13:08 That's all it is. Frances Harder: 00:13:09 And if you don't, you need to be transparent and let people, Frances Harder: 00:13:12 some of obviously things happen. Frances Harder: 00:13:14 So maybe the silt from Italy couldn't get through to you in Frances Harder: 00:13:17 time because they had an issue. Frances Harder: 00:13:19 You got to let them know. Frances Harder: 00:13:20 And I was talking to the Solando and he said, yeah, but when will, we always Frances Harder: 00:13:24 ship late and it's okay, we do know you should late, but then they're Frances Harder: 00:13:30 losing huge amounts of business by just constantly not performing on time. Frances Harder: 00:13:37 Because as in America, if you're going to ship in this Frances Harder: 00:13:39 window, you have to get it in. Frances Harder: 00:13:41 Then otherwise you're going to cancel orders. Joshua Maddux: 00:13:43 One, especially with the. Joshua Maddux: 00:13:46 The element and the rise of just in time delivery. Joshua Maddux: 00:13:49 I look at how many right now is a great example. Joshua Maddux: 00:13:53 We're where the end of 2020 and our port in Los Angeles has 50 plus ships Joshua Maddux: 00:14:00 sitting, waiting we're backed up and stores are late on deliveries. Joshua Maddux: 00:14:06 And so just in time delivery is a great concept when every piece of the Joshua Maddux: 00:14:12 puzzle works flawlessly, but heaven forbid you get a backup of a port. Joshua Maddux: 00:14:19 You get, whether that causes issues, you get a shipping delay Joshua Maddux: 00:14:23 for whatever reason that is. Joshua Maddux: 00:14:25 And sometimes that doesn't need to be some catastrophic 30 day delay. Joshua Maddux: 00:14:30 Sometimes that can be 72 hours that, 72 hour delay can be a huge difference in Joshua Maddux: 00:14:38 whether a product is going to get sold. Joshua Maddux: 00:14:40 At the right time or not, you drop a Christmas decor on December 30th. Joshua Maddux: 00:14:48 Now it's on the clearance. Joshua Maddux: 00:14:50 Yeah, I

Frances Harder: 00:14:50 know with I lived near the port and I saw it yesterday. Frances Harder: 00:14:52 There were 1880 container boats outside, out waiting to get in and Frances Harder: 00:14:57 the traffic just getting in and out, it was just, and there were trucks Frances Harder: 00:15:01 from Maine trucks, from Tennessee trucks when you see them on the road, Frances Harder: 00:15:04 trying to get on the road and get out. Frances Harder: 00:15:06 And this is a, this is an interesting topic because. Frances Harder: 00:15:09 What everybody in our industry and probably other industries too, is the Frances Harder: 00:15:12 we're looking for domestic manufacturing. Frances Harder: 00:15:15 We're trying to bring it back, not only for the sustainable access, Frances Harder: 00:15:19 because it's going to be sustainable. Frances Harder: 00:15:21 You're saving all that fuel. Frances Harder: 00:15:22 But you're also, as you say, on demand, we're looking for on demand fast or Frances Harder: 00:15:26 whether you go near shoring, which is Mexico and south of the border, where. Frances Harder: 00:15:30 Chuck the goods in. Frances Harder: 00:15:31 So there is a huge change, but unfortunately, and this is something that Frances Harder: 00:15:36 the U S needs to address which Biden is where the infrastructure money is that Frances Harder: 00:15:41 we've not invested in our infrastructure. Frances Harder: 00:15:44 So you got your one time, the fashion industry in LA was the largest industry. Frances Harder: 00:15:50 Within with the clothing industry within America, very vibrant, huge, Frances Harder: 00:15:55 you've got old buildings downtown, Joshua, you can't even get a truck Frances Harder: 00:15:58 down the alley in the back old elevators, wouldn't floss, a Creek. Frances Harder: 00:16:03 You could see the floors below. Frances Harder: 00:16:04 We have to, if we want to bring domestic manufacturing back in all fields, we Frances Harder: 00:16:09 have to invest in, in our own infrastru. Frances Harder: 00:16:12 Think about you can't even get a train to, from here to Vegas, you could Frances Harder: 00:16:15 get fast trains from London to Paris, why can't we get more efficient? Frances Harder: 00:16:20 I know we're criticizing our foreign partners, but in, in a way, a lot of our Frances Harder: 00:16:26 issues need to be addressed domestically. Frances Harder: 00:16:29 We need to start investing in our own infrastructure. Joshua Maddux: 00:16:33 One. Joshua Maddux: 00:16:33 It's funny to me, how we talk about. Joshua Maddux: 00:16:35 Oh, XYZ culture is a little bit more laxed and they're a little bit more flexible Joshua Maddux: 00:16:41 on timeframes, but that's the culture that figured out public transportation. Joshua Maddux: 00:16:46 They figured out, infrastructure, they figured out all this stuff. Joshua Maddux: 00:16:50 And then we're over here saying deadlines, but we can't figure it out. Joshua Maddux: 00:16:55 I live. Joshua Maddux: 00:16:55 In an area where every time the wind blows the wrong direction, more than 30 Joshua Maddux: 00:17:00 miles an hour, they shut my power off. Joshua Maddux: 00:17:01 I got a notice last night from Edison saying, happy Thanksgiving, we might Joshua Maddux: 00:17:07 shut your power off type thing. Joshua Maddux: 00:17:08 It's crazy. Joshua Maddux: 00:17:09 And Frances Harder: 00:17:10 so this is the over, these are the Overland power lines. Frances Harder: 00:17:14 Nobody in Europe has Overland power lines. Frances Harder: 00:17:17 They're all under. Frances Harder: 00:17:19 Yeah we haven't got to that. Frances Harder: 00:17:20 So where you're, threatened by fires constantly. Frances Harder: 00:17:23 Yeah, Joshua Maddux: 00:17:24 it's crazy. Joshua Maddux: 00:17:25 Yeah, it is. Joshua Maddux: 00:17:26 And it's one of those elements where we'll figure it out eventually, we'll get there. Joshua Maddux: 00:17:30 And I think the element that you're talking about the shore or about, bringing Joshua Maddux: 00:17:36 manufacturing back to the U S I think that's very interesting and I think. Joshua Maddux: 00:17:40 I also look at it from there's a company that's developing what Joshua Maddux: 00:17:44 they're calling micro farms. Joshua Maddux: 00:17:46 And so they're using shipping containers. Joshua Maddux: 00:17:48 They're using a 40 foot shipping container and they're putting grow lights in it and Joshua Maddux: 00:17:53 they can grow a rugala and lettuce and spinach and radishes and all this stuff. Joshua Maddux: 00:17:58 Radishes need eight inches to grow. Joshua Maddux: 00:18:01 That's it. Joshua Maddux: 00:18:03 And then they can have a grow light. Joshua Maddux: 00:18:04 If you put them out in the middle of a farm, All they're Joshua Maddux: 00:18:06 using is eight inches of space. Joshua Maddux: 00:18:08 But if you stack them vertically inside of a shipping container, a 40 Joshua Maddux: 00:18:12 foot shipping container, it can be the equivalent of a one acre farm. Joshua Maddux: 00:18:16 And so how can they, yup. Joshua Maddux: 00:18:19 So they put grow lights and stuff in 'em and stuff. Joshua Maddux: 00:18:22 Basically the same with the, marijuana farms that are using indoors. Joshua Maddux: 00:18:25 And so there's restaurants now that have realized that it's actually Joshua Maddux: 00:18:30 not asleep cheaper, but more. Joshua Maddux: 00:18:33 Economical from an aspect of not having to go figure out where they're getting Joshua Maddux: 00:18:37 the widest from today, they can actually drop a 40 foot shipping container in Joshua Maddux: 00:18:42 their parking lot and then grow all their own, produce out their back door. Joshua Maddux: 00:18:47 And so they need you. Joshua Maddux: 00:18:48 So literally they'll the salad that's

sitting on your plate at dinner was picked Joshua Maddux: 00:18:54 two hours ago, which is so much fresher. Joshua Maddux: 00:18:59 It's not having to travel. Joshua Maddux: 00:19:02 Daisy trucks raid all that mess. Joshua Maddux: 00:19:06 And there's elements like that with, not only consumable products in, in food Joshua Maddux: 00:19:10 industry, but there's also, fashion. Joshua Maddux: 00:19:12 There's so much elements with that. Joshua Maddux: 00:19:13 If you're not trucking it halfway across the world, like you said, it's Joshua Maddux: 00:19:17 a lot less fuel and stuff that's using. Joshua Maddux: 00:19:19 I know there's a lot of ground that we've covered with today's conversation. Joshua Maddux: 00:19:23 And what would be your advice to someone who is facing a similar Joshua Maddux: 00:19:28 challenge of really working with different cultures and business? Frances Harder: 00:19:35 I'd say, do a little research and also do test orders Frances Harder: 00:19:39 with people and see how it works. Frances Harder: 00:19:41 But there again, if you're trying to come to some agreement with an offshore Frances Harder: 00:19:45 company I, of course the Americans are very, we're all, we have pieces of people Frances Harder: 00:19:49 with contracts and you have to sign this. Frances Harder: 00:19:51 And I was working actually years ago. Frances Harder: 00:19:53 What was it? Frances Harder: 00:19:54 I had a Japanese company contact me when I was teaching to ask if I do a line Frances Harder: 00:19:59 of clothing for their Japanese brand. Frances Harder: 00:20:02 So I was designing under my name for them. Frances Harder: 00:20:04 Living here, I thought we need a contract. Frances Harder: 00:20:07 So I get my contract together and I gave it to the Japanese contacts I was working Frances Harder: 00:20:11 with and he read through it and looked at it and nodded, and he just shook my hand. Frances Harder: 00:20:16 He never signed. Frances Harder: 00:20:18 But honestly, Joshua, I never had a problem. Frances Harder: 00:20:20 They paid me every month on a retainer, never any issue. Frances Harder: 00:20:24 And but when the yen went down the toilet, things crumbled a little bit, Frances Harder: 00:20:27 but working with them was just such smooth sailing, no issues at all now. Frances Harder: 00:20:34 Which, Talking about working with say China. Frances Harder: 00:20:37 They I've been talking to university over there for the last two years. Frances Harder: 00:20:40 They want to use my book and me to teach it in modules Frances Harder: 00:20:44 and I've come up with a plan. Frances Harder: 00:20:46 I've shown the plan. Frances Harder: 00:20:47 I was wherever he goes, oh, you got to protect your business. Frances Harder: 00:20:51 And so your IP. Frances Harder: 00:20:53 So I spent nearly $10,000 on registering it in China and getting it. Frances Harder: 00:20:58 Legal, so nobody can knock it off. Frances Harder: 00:21:00 And this conversations will come, every three months I get another Frances Harder: 00:21:04 email and I've just come to the point where I just can't do anymore. Frances Harder: 00:21:08 This, I've lost interest because it seems to be I'm spinning Frances Harder: 00:21:11 wheels and it's not going anyway. Frances Harder: 00:21:13 So whether anything will come of it, I don't know. Frances Harder: 00:21:17 But Joshua you've had some experiences too, right. Joshua Maddux: 00:21:20 Yeah, we have, we had our talking, you and I were talking about Joshua Maddux: 00:21:23 before, there was a company who approached us for a fairly high end product in Joshua Maddux: 00:21:27 China and it was a similar element. Joshua Maddux: 00:21:29 It was handfuls of conversations. Joshua Maddux: 00:21:32 And I think sometimes, and this isn't necessarily even a culture thing. Joshua Maddux: 00:21:36 I think there's some times where businesses come up with amazing Joshua Maddux: 00:21:39 ideas and they can see that. Joshua Maddux: 00:21:42 The end outcome. Joshua Maddux: 00:21:44 They can see that this product makes them $20 million a year, but they realize Joshua Maddux: 00:21:50 that getting from point a to point Z is going to take a lot of work and they are Joshua Maddux: 00:21:56 almost looking for someone to come in and take on a little bit more of that. Joshua Maddux: 00:22:01 And that's fine if they're providing. Joshua Maddux: 00:22:03 Maybe a revenue share but sometimes just relying on a contractor to, to come in and Joshua Maddux: 00:22:09 just take over everything is a little hard Frances Harder: 00:22:11 since she didn't have any money coming in Joshua Maddux: 00:22:13 from it. Joshua Maddux: 00:22:14 No. Joshua Maddux: 00:22:14 Yeah, exactly. Joshua Maddux: 00:22:15 And the other thing you mentioned with contracts, across different countries, Joshua Maddux: 00:22:19 contracts, But the biggest thing you want to think about is what is Joshua Maddux: 00:22:23 the cost to enforce said, contract. Joshua Maddux: 00:22:26 If you have a contract with a company overseas in another country, you Joshua Maddux: 00:22:31 need an attorney who understands that country's laws and who can navigate Joshua Maddux: 00:22:37 the legal system, both here and there. Joshua Maddux: 00:22:39 And. Joshua Maddux: 00:22:40 If your contract value is less than what it's going to cost to have your attorney Joshua Maddux: 00:22:45 fly there and spend a week or so then you there's no real, almost, not even Joshua Maddux: 00:22:53 a reason to have a contract other than just a here's the understanding sort Joshua Maddux: 00:22:58 of a letter of understanding more just. Joshua Maddux: 00:23:01 And make sure everybody's on the same page of this is the expectations. Joshua Maddux: 00:23:04 And that's really where

I would say, one of you want to think of. Frances Harder: 00:23:08 Yeah. Frances Harder: 00:23:08 One, one thing I have found though, that is within American system Frances Harder: 00:23:11 is the U S trade and commerce. Frances Harder: 00:23:13 They have some really great services to help any American company who's Frances Harder: 00:23:18 thinking of going internationally. Frances Harder: 00:23:20 I, I. Frances Harder: 00:23:22 Part of the international group from the U S trade and commerce, Frances Harder: 00:23:26 and now I'm connected to them. Frances Harder: 00:23:29 I know that they have some really good anybody thinking about going abroad either Frances Harder: 00:23:34 to manufacture or to sell, definitely get in touch with the U S trade and commerce. Frances Harder: 00:23:38 They have some really good help. Frances Harder: 00:23:40 And they, of course they know who to contact in these particular countries Frances Harder: 00:23:43 who can help you in each country. Frances Harder: 00:23:45 The American embassy is there and they can certainly give you some least Frances Harder: 00:23:50 some advice as to how to handle it. Joshua Maddux: 00:23:52 Yeah. Joshua Maddux: 00:23:52 There's a lot of different resources out there. Joshua Maddux: 00:23:55 Whether it's something like us trade and commerce or, the Joshua Maddux: 00:23:58 SBA has some great resources. Joshua Maddux: 00:24:00 Know, there's maybe it's there may be a paid resource through Joshua Maddux: 00:24:03 the SBA, but they may be able to point you in the right direction. Joshua Maddux: 00:24:05 And in reality, paying someone who has gone through this a hundred Joshua Maddux: 00:24:09 times before, for an hour of their time, just Hey, what are the big Joshua Maddux: 00:24:13 hiccups and issues that I can expect? Joshua Maddux: 00:24:15 Elements like you just talked about with, oh, if you deal with. Joshua Maddux: 00:24:17 This culture or this country, they typically are always late on shipping. Joshua Maddux: 00:24:21 And so great. Joshua Maddux: 00:24:22 If we're expecting it to be here on February 1st, then maybe we Joshua Maddux: 00:24:26 should make sure we tell them two weeks earlier, extending and Joshua Maddux: 00:24:31 just pad the time accordingly. Joshua Maddux: 00:24:33 And always build in those little, extra margins as needed. Joshua Maddux: 00:24:35 And I know so many businesses saw that there's a company that I've been Joshua Maddux: 00:24:39 following that makes up, makes a product. Joshua Maddux: 00:24:41 And they had finally gotten all their manufacturing stuff lined up right Joshua Maddux: 00:24:45 before COVID hit and then COVID hit. Joshua Maddux: 00:24:47 And now they've gone back to the manufacturer and the manufacturers Joshua Maddux: 00:24:50 said, there's no way we can make your product for what we quoted you before. Joshua Maddux: 00:24:54 It's

going to be. Joshua Maddux: 00:24:55 30% more. Joshua Maddux: 00:24:57 And so they have all these pre-orders for product that now Joshua Maddux: 00:25:00 they're going to be losing money on. Joshua Maddux: 00:25:01 And so they're like, we either need to cancel the pre-orders or sorry, Joshua Maddux: 00:25:05 guys, we gotta charge you extra. Joshua Maddux: 00:25:07 And so they're like, that's your option and it's hard, there's Joshua Maddux: 00:25:09 always unexpected elements. Joshua Maddux: 00:25:11 And, as business owners, the biggest thing that you can do is connect with Joshua Maddux: 00:25:15 other business owners and strategize, seek counseling, or seek someone who Joshua Maddux: 00:25:20 maybe has been there before or been a step ahead of you and learn from. Frances Harder: 00:25:23 That's what you've said about with the SBA. Frances Harder: 00:25:26 I know when I was teaching when we had the fashion business incorporated, we Frances Harder: 00:25:30 had lots of classes and we did a lot of shelf short-term certified training. Frances Harder: 00:25:34 And we had consultants who were also consultants for the SBA. Frances Harder: 00:25:37 So as you say, you can get a lot of free information from SBA and you can hire a Frances Harder: 00:25:41 consultant who, you know, not for a lot, who's from the industry to help you. Frances Harder: 00:25:46 So even if. Frances Harder: 00:25:47 Assisting you with your business plan and things like that, so that you can get a Frances Harder: 00:25:50 lot of good help from them, kudos to them. Frances Harder: 00:25:53 There really are good. Joshua Maddux: 00:25:54 Yeah. Joshua Maddux: 00:25:54 There's a lot of good stuff there. Joshua Maddux: 00:25:56 Awesome. Joshua Maddux: 00:25:57 Is there any sort of nuggets of advice to leave us with as we wrap up our time, Frances Harder: 00:26:02 I only bought, I always say to students is Frances Harder: 00:26:04 It's all about networking. Frances Harder: 00:26:06 Really, my journey has been about how I got here, going Frances Harder: 00:26:09 to Germany, how I got here. Frances Harder: 00:26:11 And what I've done here is been about just different doors opening. Frances Harder: 00:26:15 And get out there, work hard and doors will open for you. Frances Harder: 00:26:18 If you're starting your own business, particularly in the apparel Frances Harder: 00:26:20 industry, it's a good time to start. Frances Harder: 00:26:22 It's surprising. Frances Harder: 00:26:23 And it early enough, because as you talked about on demand, Frances Harder: 00:26:26 you can do smaller quantities. Frances Harder: 00:26:27 The big companies are looking for thousands of orders, thousands of units. Frances Harder: 00:26:31 The other sad issue is I know a factory downtown who can't find Frances Harder: 00:26:35 SOAs and it's the same, knowing if find workers in the restaurant. Frances Harder: 00:26:38 So he can't find chef SOAs and. Frances Harder: 00:26:41 talking quite a lot of talk about retraining, certifying even if it's Frances Harder: 00:26:45 refugees coming in, give them short-term training and get them to sell a bit, SOAs Frances Harder: 00:26:50 and then give them an upward mobility. Frances Harder: 00:26:52 I don't think you need to go to a two year four year college. Frances Harder: 00:26:55 You can learn on the job a little bit like apprenticeship. Frances Harder: 00:26:58 So there's a lot of good changes and I think it's it's a good Frances Harder: 00:27:02 time to start a business. Joshua Maddux: 00:27:03 I like the aspect of, networking role, open doors. Joshua Maddux: 00:27:05 I totally agree. Joshua Maddux: 00:27:06 Networking is always a great way to connect with businesses and business Joshua Maddux: 00:27:10 owners and other people in your industry. Joshua Maddux: 00:27:12 Yeah, and being creative while hiring that's a whole nother topic in itself. Joshua Maddux: 00:27:16 But creativity right now is a huge thing. Joshua Maddux: 00:27:19 Creativity business is always a huge thing. Joshua Maddux: 00:27:21 I appreciate you coming on and your time today we will have in the show Joshua Maddux: 00:27:26 notes we'll have your LinkedIn, your Twitter, your Amazon author page Joshua Maddux: 00:27:32 your website, fashion for profit.com and then the business information, Joshua Maddux: 00:27:38 Instagram, Facebook, LinkedIn, all that stuff along with your bio that's like. Joshua Maddux: 00:27:43 Eight or nine links in total. Joshua Maddux: 00:27:44 But where is the number one spot? Joshua Maddux: 00:27:46 If someone wants to reach out and connect with you, what's the number Joshua Maddux: 00:27:49 one spot for them to do that? Frances Harder: 00:27:50 LinkedIn's pretty good. Frances Harder: 00:27:51 I have a good connection on LinkedIn. Frances Harder: 00:27:53 So if anybody wants to connect with me, they can go to LinkedIn. Frances Harder: 00:27:57 That's probably the best or through my website either way. Joshua Maddux: 00:28:00 Awesome. Frances Harder: 00:28:02 Thank you, Joshua for giving me the opportunity. Joshua Maddux: 00:28:04 Appreciate you having you on the show today. Joshua Maddux: 00:28:06 Thank you. Frances Harder: 00:28:07 Okay. Frances Harder: 00:28:08 See you again. Joshua Maddux: 00:28:08 Thanks for listening to this episode of, in the bunker. Joshua Maddux: 00:28:12 As always we can be found on Instagram, Facebook, and Twitter Joshua Maddux: 00:28:16 at, in the bunker podcast. Joshua Maddux: 00:28:18 Be sure to share this episode and what you're going to apply from it. Joshua Maddux: 00:28:23 And how that can affect your business, make sure to tag us in that post so Joshua Maddux: 00:28:28 we can highlight your journey as well. Joshua Maddux: 00:28:31 But before you go.