POLAND -My travel to Poland began with a marketing experience. I received an email from the executive assistant to the chairman of the largest life insurance company in Poland. They wanted presentation skills training for the chairman and his three top officers - in English. I replied to the email immediately expressing my interest. The following morning (2:00 AM Scottsdale time!) I called Poland. I talked with the executive assistant and briefly with the chairman. I got the job. My assignment was to prepare these persons for increasingly higher level presentations on the world business stage.

About a month later I was working with them in the city of Krakow. At dinner one night I asked the chairman why they decided to hire me. He replied that they had looked at five companies and had chosen me. I then asked him if they were not satisfied with the other companies when he spoke with them. He looked me directly in the eyes, and said, "You're the only one who called." My exterior reaction was a calm nod of my head. Internally I was jumping up and down, giving high fives, and yelling YES! The lesson…a phone call is better than an email, and when possible an in-person contact is the best!

Warsaw was almost totally destroyed by the Nazis at the end of WW II. The Soviets allowed the destruction to continue far too long. See the photo to the left of the rebuilt city.

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