Everyone always says "the world is so small", and yes it is.. in some ways; we now decide to travel across the Atlantic for the weekend, we can have a face-to-face conversation with a friend in Liberia and your sister's new boyfriend from Slovakia actually studied in Germany with your best mate from school. People travel a lot and stay in touch more easily.
But people don't seem to be emigrating nearly as much. In 2013, 3.2% of the world's population were international migrants compared to 2.9% in 1990 (source) - a minuscule differences when compared to the 30% growth in international travellers between 2004 and 2011 (source). So clearly migration isn't as easy as travel, an obvious point for those that have experienced it.
I've now done this twice; first from UK to India (and back) for the Indicorps fellowship and more recently from UK to USA for shoto, and would like to share some of the key items that should be on your list of things to pack.
1. All the standard stuff
You got this - this is easy - read the travel guide, ask your friends on Facebook, spend 30 mins on Google.
2. Space in your bags
The natural instinct might be to pack as many of your things as the airlines will allow. You love your things (that's why you have them) and you want to keep it that way. But I urge you reconsider; a full cup cannot accept any more tea, so don't take everything you own and instead take space that will be filled with your new country and it's culture. As Indicorps suggested, I went to India with a small carry-on, and sourced solutions to my needs locally. That way I not only looked and felt more Indian but grew more accustomed to the lives of locals and also better understood more about how and why they are that way - critical in helping me integrate.
3. Open eyes for a fresh perspective
You may be moving somewhere where you've visited multiple times. You may be going back to a country you grew up in during your childhood. Or you may just have read everything under the sun to get to know it better. In all circumstances take these secondary or historic or specific experiences with a pinch of salt. You have the opportunity to create your own, new, first-hand experience and understanding, so don't let that be too coloured by things from before. I used to visit India every year during my school holidays when I was a kid, but living there was a substantially different experience.
4. Determination to exit your comfort zone
Naturally you'll be outside of your comfort zone - you won't know how things work and where to go and who to ask. But embrace that and know that every moment you invest time learning something new is time you're spending expanding your comfort zone. Don't treat the extra time and cost of learning about a new place as an inconvenient irritant in your pursuit of other objectives, but part of the adventure and learning curve. During my first few months in SF I was often frustrated by how it always took longer than I expected to complete the most simple tasks - there were unexpected roadblocks everywhere - and I should have been more patient.
5. Ideas on how to reinvent yourself
Moving to a new place is turning over a new leaf. Even if you're happy with the way you are, you have the opportunity to shed any misguided self-identity and / or break free from labels that others have imposed. Have you always been a geek but now want to be hip? Have you always been wild and irresponsible but now want to be thoughtful and reserved? Within existing climates you may be concerned about the fallout and reactions from friends and family who expect you to be a certain way, but abroad you release that restriction. So take the opportunity to reinvent yourself in a way that moves you closer to who you want to be.
6. Means to stay connected
You'll be making many new friends and will have to find balance between building these new relationships and maintaining old ones. Almost certainly you'll grow distant from those you were close to before, so be decisive about it. Which handful of people will you make extra effort to stay in touch with and how can you systematically make this happen as part of your day. I downloaded an app so that I can call international numbers cheaply from my mobile, which means I am not restricted to only calling over wifi.
7. An ISOH (International Sense of Humour)
Laughing brings people together, so let more things make you laugh. Humour is definitely different between cultures (and I do miss the British version here in SF!) but the more I'm able to share humour (humor?) with people I meet the more I'm able to develop warmth and closeness in relationships. In India I found it difficult at times but I just needed to drop my standards of funny and just enjoy it the way locals do =)
8. An explanation of who you are
A recent realisation has been that my self-image can be very different from the image others have of me. My version contains the reasons I am the way I am; the influences I've had and how they've shaped me. Having this history means I can easily justify my decisions, actions, thoughts. Close friends and family may have this privileged perspective but not new people you meet. It's useful to bear this in mind, and for new close friends, it's important to help them understand who you were and how you got there. The better understanding they have of your past, the more they'll be able to understand your current. And with that, the closer you'll become to them and feel more surrounded by love and comfort.
9. Stories from your previous culture
You'll of course be learning so much about a new culture. But sometimes it's easier if it's a conversation and a trade of knowledge. So be prepared to share your own culture through stories, examples and artefacts. I've seen that people really enjoy seeing everyday topics from a different light and so make use of that in conversation. It'll also help you pick more deeply at the way things are in your new country.
10. Your accent (if you're British)
Need I say more?
Many of my friends have emigrated and to countries where the language (and so culture) is starkly different. I would love to read and hear about your experiences, your challenges and your recommendations. And please disagree with me if I've missed an obvious item to take or have over-valued anything on this list.
PS the statistically astute amongst you will notice I’ve swayed the stats in my favour slightly ;-)
Each time I move between San Francisco and London I notice the differences between the two cities and cultures. Of course they have similarities: both English-speaking; both flourishing; both attracting immigrants; both expensive; both with inspiring monuments and both proud.
But more noticeable and interesting are their differences, and the causes behind their distinct identities and cultures...
Escaping the rat-race vs. working on my passion
A large proportion of Londoners are employed in established companies and corporations. Large workforces and networks of international offices often leads to people feeling like small cogs in large machines; less empowered and focussed on their immediate surroundings. People resign to being part of the 'rat-race' and so focus their energies on trying to further their own prospects.
San Francisco contains a large number of start-ups with small teams where employees feel like they can have greater impact. Many people found their own businesses to pursue their passions or are part of larger teams working on causes they relate to. This leads to a culture of creating impact on others and of doing something that's has wider benefit than to just oneself.
Slim-fit shirts and pin-stripe suits vs. faded hoodies and worn-out jeans
Maybe more so in recent times but London is a Financial Services hub of the world. Many Londoners work in Professional Services (banking, investment, consulting, law, accounting etc.) and are undoubtedly influenced by the formal, stiff and money-centric atmosphere of their offices, for example in career aspirations, or personal style and expectations.
San Francisco is a Tech hub of the world; almost every other person I meet either works at Google or a startup. The culture in these offices is much more relaxed, flexible and people-centric but equally driven and intense. This flows in to people's personal lives as they are more casual about their dress, their plans, their haves and have-nots.
Investing in myself vs. empowering others
People in London expect to get rich via banking / finance and maybe property. Large salaries and bonuses are the norm for those well-off. Investment culture seems to be focussed on capital markets and complex instruments that require in-depth understanding of finance. This all requires developing individual expertise and acquiring information that gets you ahead of others at an individual level - direct competition dominates.
In San Francisco the predominant ways people make money is through selling or floating their startup - it's about working hard and living frugally whilst working with your team, before success results in a pay-off. Investment is focussed on helping these small teams succeed and so cultivates a culture of mentoring, collaboration and support. There is a lot of content authored on what breeds success and many events that share learning - everyone is trying to help each other in achieving success - collaboration dominates.
Stickiness of wealth
Social mobility in London is fairly low; if you had rich parents then in all likelihood you'll remain rich. Much of the wealth is from property, established business interests and investments. This I feel creates aloofness and snobbery and more (very obvious) distinction between those well-off and those not.
Many of the wealthy in San Francisco are newly rich, directly from their own work in building a business. Many of these businesses are public or run professionally and so there is less space for heirs and, with the continuing fast pace of technological change, plenty of space for new entrants - meritocracy, not connections are key. In addition people have experienced living poorly and this shared understanding enables greater empathy towards those still struggling.
Knowing is power vs. hacking is power
I've noticed a culture in London where knowledge is power; not knowing something is embarrassing and a sign of weakness. People don't like to admit to not knowing, and clearly value knowledge and information. People keep up to date with the news, and providing new information at a social gathering earns respect.
In SF people seem to be very comfortable highlighting their lack of understanding or knowledge on a topic, with the caveat that they can / will / will try to figure it out. And people are willing to accept that and provide people that chance - it means that you can be very comfortable being ignorant as long as you're willing not to remain so.
New, innovative, cool vs. old, traditional, sophisticated
San Francisco is all about innovation and looking ahead. Less emphasis on the past combined with a younger history means the city doesn't display much grandeur or elicit much awe. Having accomplished something isn't as important as accomplishing something now, and a failure in the past is something to learn from and move on quickly.
London's history stretches from Roman times and is visible in the city - in the architecture, in the stories and in the mindset. People value tradition and enjoy the past. Maybe this makes people slightly more resistant to change or less inclined to innovation? I believe it definitely means that previous accomplishments or association with prestige is far more valued when compared to San Francisco.
Far from everything vs. global centre
San Francisco is 6 hours away from the US East Coast and even further from Europe and Asia. This leaves it a little isolated and less connected to other parts of the world. A noticeable consequence of this is that people seem to be less aware of, interested in and knowledgeable about world affairs. There seems to be a little bubble where San Franciscans are mainly interested in brunch plans, their fitbit and the newest photo-sharing app (shout-out to shoto!) A liberal mentality means people are of course interested in environmental affairs (e.g. composting bins are normal in households and public places) but less so about developing-world concerns. And of course SF is still part of the USA, which often means that people are far more concerned with of all things American than anything non-American!
London was the capital of the vast British empire and has always held an important role on the international stage. The Raj led Londoners to have strong links to countries all over the world and English led London and Britain to have substantial lasting impact globally. There is a fantastic diversity of international immigrants in London that is probably unparalleled anywhere else in the world (bar NYC) that adds new ideas, tastes and colours to the London mix. Great British media houses such as the BBC and publications such as The Economist help keep Britain relevant to the world and the world relevant to Britain. The result is I find people reading about world affairs, donating to far-reaching causes and discussing developments happening elsewhere.
Small and square vs. big and radial
San Francisco is 7x7 miles and oriented such that the central business district is in one corner, startup-central along one side, and many corporate tech jobs south of the city (in Silicon Valley). This leaves a lot of prime space for living, with people living close to each other. Commuting times are short for those working in the city and people congregate in neighbourhoods that appeal to their personality type.
London is over 600 square miles large and very radial; the most central parts are occupied by businesses with people living in concentric rings around, with higher property prices towards the middle. This means that almost everyone spends a significant amount of time commuting (an hour on average) and also that it's more difficult to socialise at home. People tend to meet after work at bars and restaurants and plan ahead rather than ad-hoc and at-home.
Sunny and warm vs. overcast and cold
The climate naturally plays a big part in a city's culture and the warmer, brighter weather in SF (compared to London at least!) means people are able to enjoy more outdoor activities. Weekend hikes and other trips are common and cycling is less dangerous due to drier roads. People wake earlier and there is less nightlife.
London has adapted well to dark days and cold nights - there is a rich nightlife and a wealth of indoor venues; bars and restaurants aside. Galleries and theatres entertain both on weekday evenings and people party late at weekends. Hitting the gym is more common than riding a bike although now it's becoming more fashionable to brave the conditions and exercise in freezing parks with British Military Fitness.
Community of implants vs. existing social networks
I've not met many people that grew up in SF - almost everyone has migrated there from elsewhere in the US or outside. All these people have been attracted to what SF has to offer and made a significant commitment to relocate; they really want to be there and associate strongly with what San Francisco / the Bay Area has to offer. They've had to discover new friends and create their lifestyles from scratch. Consequently (a) they are very open to meeting new people and are welcoming to fellow immigrants and (b) have had the opportunity to make friends as per their personalities and interests when they moved.
In contrast, London is the hub of the UK. It retains almost everyone that has grown up in London and attracts many others from all around the world. From what I have experienced this means that locals always have brimming social networks from high school, university, workplaces. It leaves less time for discovering and making new friends as people often struggle to balance existing ones. It also means that friendships are often a continuation of those founded whilst younger and not always based on recent interests or commonalities (but rather on old experiences,) leading to stronger, less diverse cliques.
And many more..?
Other differences and reasons may include the types of people the city attracts (e.g. SF attracts many computer scientists and not many in the fashion or media industry, unlike London) and the role models it displays. The risk appetite and what's considered "cool" also influences how people think and behave of course (e.g. it's cool not to have a job and be working on your own thing in SF, which is less so the case in London.) Even the engagement with the political scene is different - San Franciscans seem more apathetic and less connected to their governance than Londoners.
Update: dominated by startups vs. diversity of influences
After publishing the first version of this I received some great feedback about one major difference: San Francisco is heavily influenced by the cultural themes related to startups - risk appetite, learning, innovation, collaboration etc. etc. London, however, has a multitude of cultures; there is of course the large component of professional services and finance that I have discussed in detail, but there are side-cultures from fashion, media, politics / non-profit etc. There is a thriving creative industry (advertising, design, art etc.) and a growing startup scene. However maybe it is the distinct segregation of these side-cultures that makes it more difficult for them to exert influence among the London population in general?
It seems to me that there are many more differences and underlying causes than one would first expect amongst two well-known cities. It demonstrates the subtleties involved in the evolution of culture and I've been fortunate to have the opportunity to experience those of San Francisco and London side-by-side. I definitely love both places; the former more so for the city culture, but the latter for friends, family and familiarity.
Of course my whole opinion is from my very individual perspective (I worked in London as a management consultant whereas in SF I worked with a startup), which may not paint an accurate picture - so I would definitely welcome specific observations on SF vs. London but also thoughts on differences between other cities and cultures you've experienced.
A significant difference between working at small startup and in a large corporation is the breadth within each role:
At shoto I do analytics, business development and operations, with the latter being a catch-all for many administrative, support, planning and management activities. I have to keep on top of many many diverse tasks and switch my frame of mind constantly. Back at Booz I had a much more clearly defined role on a single project with clear (if sometimes loose) scope and timeframe. I would work on a set of related activities; my list of to-do's was small and each took a substantial amount of time.
Obviously the former is typical at a startup - there just aren't the resources to have a large specialised team, and the tasks to start a business are quite varied. It also provides me with an invaluable insight in to all aspects of managing a company and the steep learning curve (head-banging and Google) is considered a lure. However the focus on getting lots of different things done has a distinct disadvantage: reduction in quality. There is less time to delve deep and / or to ponder and investigate. "Interruptions" sometimes become higher priority than "Important goals":
These distractions are also sometimes more stressful - they require constantly switching mindsets, increase the chances of missing something, consume more management energy and reduce efficiency.
I'm trying to get better at managing these; ensuring quality remains high and prioritising the appropriate things. Some ways in which I've tried this include:
Writing down all the tasks I need to get done under clear buckets, so that they're off my mind and stored safely (so I feel comfortable forgetting about them rather than them weighing me down). Trello is a great tool for this
Spending time in buckets and being disciplined about only working on that bucket for that period
Knowing beforehand what the output / outcome of any piece of work will be and moving on to the next thing as soon as that is completed
Using an iterative approach to completing work - completing a first draft and reviewing / seeking feedback before updating and improving. Sometimes the 80/20 rule has been useful in this
I'm still looking to improve, both in terms of output and in terms of mental balance, so any tips or suggestions would be appreciated!
maintain a better on-off balance to counter stress and increase productivity
One of the best things about moving from a corporate job in consulting to a startup is that my work hours and location are flexible. My work schedule integrates with my life rather than the other way around. However one of the challenges that this has brought is always having work (and related stresses) close at hand. The lack of separation between my work space and time and my personal space and time can mean that entrepreneurs (and professionals) are always "on" and susceptible to constant stress, anxiety, busyness that can lead to burn out or poor mental and physical health.
A recent NYTimes article discusses research that claims 4.5 hour days with plentiful sleep and regular holidays actually increases performance over the medium / long-term. That might be a pretty dramatic shift from your current working patterns but at the very least I believe that we should be better about separating when we are "on" and when we are "off" work. This being in-the-moment lifestyle not only increases productivity and efficiency but also happiness and wellbeing.
Some of my ideas and practices to help do this are below and I'd love this to start a dialogue on how we can maintain a better on-off dynamic.
Use this great procrastination blocker whilst working. It has actually changed my psychology so that I'm now automatically aware when I'm procrastinating and minimise my time doing so
Keep a notebook wherever you go. In here write down things you suddenly remember and need to follow-up on. This will free up valuable headspace and allow you not to be derailed from your present activity. Generally creating lists helps (and you can use Trello!)
Turn the cellular data on your phone off when you're traveling or working. This will limit most mobile distractions while still allowing you to be contactable if important.
You can work odd hours where others will not disturb.. I'm currently (also) working between midnight and 3-4am, when I have a lot of peace from social noise.
Commit to non-work activities with other people in advance to reduce the chances that you'll just bail to carry on working.
We are far better at selecting what we really want when we can postpone those things to the future.
More about this in Nudge -- my review here
Try to practice mindfulness or meditation. There are lots of easy introductory books (try this one) to read and even an app! (iOS and Android).. If you're interested in meditation then I HIGHLY recommend Vipassana - ask me more.
Most importantly do not fall in to the productivity trap; if you're struggling to stay or become productive the answer is not to work longer but to work better. Please let me know if you have other good ways of doing this!
There are 4 people on our team and I do a combination of operations, business development / user acquisition, data analytics and finance work. This may seem quite varied but it's actually much more so as 'operations' groups together anything and everything required to get us off the ground.
Trying to keep on top of all my tasks, alongside managing my life and continuing my personal development as I relocate is a challenge. Trello has been my saviour and I've become an evangelist, and so am outlining some of the great ways to use this awesome online tool.
For those unfamiliar with it, this is what it looks like:
It is a board with lists which contain cards. These cards can contain more detail (comments, checklists, due dates, labels, attachments etc.) and can be dragged between the lists or within the list (e.g. to signify priority)
There are so many great ways to use this product; shoto and I both use it a lot and below are some of the ways we do:
Planning our weekly agenda
Everyone can see what tasks other team members have on their plate and how these are progressing. If I discover a link that is going to help someone with one of their tasks I can add it as a comment, or if someone needs me to do something they just add a card to my list. We just labels to highlight progress and use this board as the basis of our daily huddles and our weekly action review ("WAR")
Collaborating with our partners
This concept extends to beyond just us; we're working with a great creative team at Spring and also using patent lawyers and using Trello we are able to track and manage actions assigned to each party. We use a separate list in the board to list the agenda items of the next meeting
Product development
To support product development we have the different features of our app listed by version on the Product Agile Board. This board (Kanban) allows everyone to know what's up next and to contribute to the ideas list which is parsed weekly. All the user stories in here are moved to Pivotal Tracker when they're ready to be built but this is the best interface for the whole team.
Brainstorming
Brainstorming sessions are best when ideas are flowing freely but are also being grouped in some way. Trello provides both the structure to do that but also the flexibility to alter and edit this in a very convenient way. For example, we organised our early thoughts on our new website in this way.
Tracking our assumptions
In accordance with Lean methodology we have outlined our assumptions and move these across the lists periodically. For those that aren't familiar with this and are interested, read the book or check out my review for an overview.
We have a bunch of other boards too for longer term planning (by quarter), for actions around specific topics (e.g. raising capital), event planning etc.
I use the board for my personal task-management, which helps me during update meetings but also in my personal life, but there are also other, more interesting ways to use Trello:
Weekly calendar - each day is a list with cards for events / appointments / things to remember etc.
Housemate coordination - for updates on chores, shopping lists, house guests, dinner plans etc.
Booklists - long list of books to read as described in this post about how to read lots of books
Job-hunting - to list all opportunities as they progress in the pipeline along with contact information, expectations, feedback etc.
Comparing items - if you want to buy a car or a TV and want to compare a bunch of models with different specs
Blogging - can plan and schedule posts!
If you know of any cool uses then please share for everyone in the comments below.
Other great things about this product is that it has a simple, clean, useful mobile app (and great iPad app), uses great keyboard shortcuts (read more in this post by the Trello team) and of course that it's FREE to use!
MEETINGS are the most unproductive form of engagement I've encountered. That's because they are essentially composed of a series of mini-debates, most of which are not valuable; they are off-topic or don't lead to any actionable outcomes.
Meanwhile CONFERENCES are inefficient because the interaction is mainly one-directional and so I have very little control over the content I'm consuming - the proportion of useful info may only be 10%
So here are a few tips on how to make the most out of meetings and conferences:
Be super clear on your hard and soft objectives of a meeting
What information transaction do I want to take place? Are there key things I want to learn or key points I want to get across?
Is the meeting to gain consensus or to build rapport or or to impress or to allow venting / bitching or to generate enthusiasm etc.
Predetermine the key sessions at a conference
As a rule of thumb you probably want to attend a maximum of half the sessions at any conference.. decide which ones (based on topic and speaker) from the agenda beforehand
Decide how you will fill the rest of the time; making calls / answering emails / networking / etc. Getting to lunch early is a great way to meet small groups of people, and finding a standing table to work from after lunch will stave away the food coma.
Take regular breaks that work your brain in a different way
Just because we're not staring at a screen doesn't mean we can go on sitting for extended periods of time. Taking a break after every hour which includes admiring some art / sharing a joke / playing Angry Birds will invigorate your brain
It also helps to physically change the atmosphere if possible - open some doors, walk to a different part of the building, go outside etc. It's especially great if you can search for and discover a new location in that break (try it)
Summaries and re-caps will make the content stick
At meetings try to summarise an agreed course of action or point of view or key takeaway verbally or in writing (or both)
At conferences try to re-cap the session in a couple sentences to someone sitting beside you or someone you meet in the break
Read over your notes during downtimes (when the speaker isn't interesting or a mute point is being debated)
Following-up is almost more important than attending
People attend conferences to network, but that requires some serious follow-up to work! During the event talk enough so you find out some interest or hobby of the person and then send a follow-up with something related (could be a news story, blog post, reflection etc.) to create a bond
If there was any tension or disagreement or outstanding question in a meeting then catching the concerned person immediately afterwards in a one-on-one situation will make it a lot easier to resolve
Meetings and conferences are a necessary part of working life, but avoid these turning out to be the frustrating bookends of productive periods and instead extract more value from them than you expected.. it can be done!
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