The culture of business is a function of geography and ethnicity, isn’t it?

I remember situations like this in Saudi.

Because, while it’s direct and to the point here in the West, I have vivid memories of negotiating the price of a rug.

I mean, you don’t just buy a rug.

You have to sit.

You have to visit and have some tea. At least a cup. Or maybe four. Tell everyone about yourself. Maybe have a smoke. Take a tour of the store. Get a bottle of water. Visit some more.

And then – then – talk about the rug.

But by then you will have a new friend.

For more on Russia, see Nothing Is True And Everything Is Possible, By: Peter Pomerantsev.

The Russians, who often skip breakfast, would ask to meet around 11 A.M. at their offices for an early lunch. Then there would be small talk for an hour or more as the meeting attendees picked over a spread of sandwiches, sausages, and, of course, vodka. At some point during this process, Griffin usually started to lose his patience. “He suffers fools very poorly,” Cantrell said. “He’s looking around and wondering when we’re going to get down to fucking business.” The answer was not soon. After lunch came a lengthy smoking and coffee-drinking period. Once all of the tables were cleared, the Russian in charge would turn to Musk and ask, “What is it you’re interested in buying?”

-Ashley Vance, Elon Musk: Tesla, SpaceX, and the Quest for a Fantastic Future (Amazon)