Two weeks in Portugal have come to an end. It was two weeks of new friends, new experiences, and record espresso consumption. The Portuguese have an appreciation for others embedded in their culture. Coffee breaks are a normal portion of the day, meals are long with several courses, and the nights are late with the mornings early. There’s an importance placed on shaping lives around the people in it. Spending mass amounts of time alone is almost odd behavior. Coming back to College Station, it’s an ideal I’ve found myself incorporating in my own life.
In America, we find ourselves focusing on how fast we can complete tasks. Hitting peak efficiency, constantly moving from one thing to the next. Coming to Portugal, it was almost a culture shock as to how differently the Portuguese prioritize their values. As we visited businesses, I kept spotting ways these companies could decrease costs and increase outputs. After conversating with the company representatives, it was shocking to me that these firms were aware of how their profits could maximize. It was their choice to arrange their business model this way. In American business, there’s an emphasis on the product; selling the good or service faster and better than any other on the market. In Portugal and many other European countries, there’s an emphasis on the people. At the end of the day, a business is it’s people. It was apparent that above all, these Portuguese companies wanted their employees to enjoy the job and feel valued for their contributions. I’ve always analyzed firms through a profit-centered lens; how companies are keeping costs low and income high. Leaving Portugal, that lens has changed. A profit is the wheel behind a business, but the people are the engine. Keeping that engine fired up and running keeps the wheel turning.
I loved my experience in Portugal. I learned a lot about business and I learned even more about myself. I look forward to where CIBS will take me next!
