Here is our future.  I had the pleasure of teaching these international students a week-long course on Strategic Planning at University of California, Irvine. Bright, energetic, and eager to learn these students represent the globe. They came from countries like Brazil, Russia, Japan, Spain, China, Bolivia, Korea, Kuwait, and Belgium.\n\n\n\nWe accomplished the learning objectives which were to teach them about the necessity of a competitive strategy to drive organizational performance; the way in which strategy influences the structure of an organization; the process of strategic planning; the importance of effective leadership to create strategy; and the role of teams in implementing strategy.\n\n\n\nAlong the way the teacher became a student of the world as well.  Here is what I learned:\n\nSpeak simply.  In the business place we have a tendency to use jargon, acronyms and four-syllable words instead of being clear and concise in our communication.\n\nMake new friends. Friendship transcends age and cultures.  Shared experiences can build bonds that will last a life-time.\n\nExpress your individuality.  Be who you are.  Be proud of where you come from. Show and tell people what’s important to you and why.\n\nTry new things.  The energy they emitted from telling stories about new foods they’d tried or new places they’d been reminded me to seek opportunities to see and do things for the first time.\n\nBe passionate.  In many of the students I saw a light burning brightly.  They see their future ahead of them and they are passionate about their beliefs and their ability to change the world.\n\nThis group inspired me to do more international travel.  I am in the process of selecting a destination for 2013.  I am planning on Vietnam in 2014 and Brazil in 2016.  Where would you suggest I go?\n\n