Sometimes, ADAPTATION is the key
When our guest for our podcast Jesse first landed in Kenya, she stepped straight into a world that didn’t work like North America at all. Meetings started an hour late. Conversations lasted forever before the real business even began. Trust wasn’t given through slides or credentials, it was earned through time, presence, and human connection.
For someone used to the fast rhythm of engineering school and Canadian culture, it was frustrating. But slowly, she understood something essential: In some places, the relationship is the work. That shift, from efficiency to trust, forced her to slow down, listen, and let go of control.
Universal Story: Tim Cook learning to operate in China
When Apple expanded production in China, Tim Cook had to adapt to a business environment completely different from Silicon Valley.
He learned that:
Deals happen over dinners, not meetings.
Trust is built over months, not slides.
Rushing decisions destroys opportunities.
Instead of forcing his way of working, he embraced the local rhythm. It’s one of the reasons Apple scaled globally with mind-blowing efficiency.
Jesse’s cultural adjustment in Kenya and Tim’s adaptation in China both point to the same truth: You can’t lead somewhere if you refuse to understand how the place works. And this is not only about 2 different cultures.
Not everything in life responds to speed, some opportunities require patience and presence.
Sometimes, you need trust to move on, because building trust can matter more than looking competent, depending on your environment. And, people help you grow when they feel safe around you, so it’s a win-win.
The practical takeaway
So, when the world doesn’t follow your tempo, don’t panic, adapting is harder than controlling, but it’s also more powerful. Because your biggest growth happens outside your algorithm. New work environments, people, countries, new communities and cultures force you to expand who you are.
If you ever dream of working abroad, building something meaningful, or leading a project:
Learn to match the rhythm of the room. That’s where real influence starts.
🎧 Watch the full conversation with Jesse here:
👉 Inside Jesse’s Journey of Founding a Startup – Episode 2