Business As Usual - In Buenos Aires

September 21st, Sunday

Someone once told me that a property owner here would rather let a space sit empty for years rather than sell it or rent it for less than they believe it is worth. And that what they believe it is worth is often based on some very subjective variables. At the time I heard that I didn’t really quite believe it was true. Now I do. Sometimes. Sort of.

Jimmy, Don and I found a space for our business, made a good offer on it, made a good showing as potential renters and waited patiently to hear back. The answer we received back was significantly inflated. We passed. We haven’t completely given up on that space, but we are actively seeking another. If they call before we sign on something else, we’ll talk to them. We aren’t waiting. We found another space and will begin negotiating with them on Monday. So here’s the trick: I want to carry forward the learning from the last negotiation without assuming that the new owner we are dealing with will do the same thing.

I suppose the trick is to remember that no one deserves to pigeon-holed. I can definitely see how people might say what was said to me about Argentine property owners. I hate being pigeon-holed though, so I will avoid doing to others. I want to step into our negotiations on Monday with an open mind. I want to assume that the people we will be dealing with want a win for both us and themselves and that they will be ready to work with us to create a great business that everyone involved can be proud of. We are going to be great tenants. We know there is a great owner out there with a great space that will be a match for us.

I was talking a few days ago with my friend Gabriel about some of the differences I notice about doing business here. He asked me if I didn’t think people are the same everywhere. I answered that, no, I don't think they are. Oh sure, I get that there are things about all people that are the same. We all love and laugh and cry and hope and want things for ourselves and our loved ones. But if I believed that people everywhere were the same, why would I have moved to another country to experience another culture? I came for the differences. I came to learn what things are the same and what things are different. And to adjust. There are some very significant differences. Some of them are not easy to get used to, or accept, but in all I am happy to be here and I am relishing the opportunity to be shaken out of my comfort zone. I am having to learn on the fly and to lean in to my partner in life and my partners in business, as well as the people we rely on for advice and help. I am also learning to trust myself, my gut instinct, and Jimmy’s and Don’s as well. We are smart, intuitive people and we are doing well managing the differences and figuring out what is next. When we don’t know, we figure out quickly who to ask.

As we move into this week I am excited about the conversation we are opening up on Monday. I’ll keep you posted. It should be interesting. It should be fun.