I cannot describe how grateful I am for the opportunity I had to spend two weeks in Portugal and experience their way of life. There are so many nuances you would never even consider when traveling abroad that surprise you every day you’re there. It’s the little things like what temperature they drink their water at, their modes of transportation, how they serve meals, and so much more.
Following my last post, we moved from the capital city of Lisbon to the northern port city of Porto. I enjoyed the sights of Porto more than those of Lisbon as they were less tourist-populated and near the water! We had the chance to take a visit to a ceramic company, tour both a winery and the valley in which the wine is harvested, and see firsthand the ins and outs of a large local textile company.
In looking at the differences between doing business in Portugal and doing business in the United States, the key difference is where the companies’ efforts are focused. In America, we are extremely profit-driven in which we focus on the bottom line and sprinkle public and environmental health on top to look like we care about the future. In Portugal, it is the reverse. At every company visit we attended, they stressed the importance of sustainability. Each step of the business structure is centered around ensuring the planet will continue to thrive for years to come and thus the company will continue to thrive for generations to come. This also ties into their strong family-focused culture as they want to create a place and a company that their great-great-grandchildren can one day take over.
Portuguese companies also have a focus on profit, otherwise, they would not continue to be leading producers of ceramics, cork, olive oil, etc., but that is not their driving factor. They know how to successfully sell their products and have been doing so for years. Their focus lies in how to allow the earth to continue to thrive and give back by not taking too much too quickly.