CULTURAL DIFFERENCES AND COMMONALITIES By Mark W. Daigle

In order to appreciate our customer, I feel as though it would be good to identify a few different characteristic differences and commonalities.

DIFFERENCES;

1. Medium age for a Filipino is 22.5- Medium age for an American as of last month by CNN is 45 y.o.
2. Average mortality age for a Filipino is 44. The Average mortality age of an American, according to CNN is just over 80 y.o.
3. The cost of a Big Mac, Fries and Coke here is about 100p. The same meal in the States is over $5.00usd
4. Filipinos are used to depending on public transportation-Americans are used to traveling by their own transportation. So what I get from this is Filipinos are more used to waiting where as Americans aren’t. This creates a lack of patience in our customer. My point where it affects us is we need to be aware that Americans aren’t as patient as Filipinos. When we “beat around the bush” rather than getting to the point as to the offer and why we called we are upsetting the customer-GET TO THE POINT!
5. Americans are used to using credit cards for everything. It’s easier for Americans to itemize where they spend their money and allows them to not need to carry much cash. When I make a reservation for travel or entertainment over here I need to go to the travel agency or ticket office where as in the States I simply pick up the phone, make the reservation and give my credit card.
6. Filipinos are more family people and often have multiple generations living together-Americans leave home at 18 y.o.
7. Most Filipinos, at least in urban areas speak two languages-Americans only speak one language.
8. In the Philippines the sun normally goes down between 5:30p-6:30p all year round. In the States, since we are much further from the equator, in the winter the sun goes down as early as 4:30p (December) and in summer as late 8:30p (July and August).
9. In the Philippines we really only have two seasons-rainy and really rainy. The temperature varies only slightly all year-24 hours a day. In the States they have four distinct seasons and the temperature changes drastically depending on the season as well as in a day. In a 24 hour period, particularly in winter, the temperature can change 50 degrees in one twenty four hour period.
10. The estimated yearly average household income here is $8,500+ usd. In the States the average income is somewhere between $50k-$60k. That’s over 6.5 times as much.
    
    "Shyness"
    
    Shyness is the biggest challenge we have here in regards to be competitive in our industry. Americans expect an Agent, Team Leader/Closer to be “pushy”-it’s their job. Success is when you take a leap of faith in oneself-you have nothing to loose but time and opportunity if you don’t give it a shot.
    
    Cheers!

M.W.D.