Business Meeting Jokes
business meeting jokes
Doing Business in Bulgaria
business etiquette
Arranging a meeting
It is essential that you make an appointment prior to your meeting to ensure that it would take place. Your Bulgarian colleagues might not be in their office if you pay them a visit without a notification. Try to be on time, but do not be surprised if your business partners turn up late. Bulgarians have a rather relaxed pace of life.
Greetings
The common greeting is handshaking, but in some occasions you can also expect to be kissed on both cheeks. Handshaking takes place both in the beginning and the end of the meeting. You should address your Bulgarian business partners with their title and family name, but you can expect to be asked to call them by their first name fairly soon. Exchanging business cards is the norm amongst businessmen in Bulgaria. This takes place immediately after the handshaking in the beginning of the meeting.
Appearance and dress
The accepted dress code for business discussions is a suit for men and fashionable clothes for women.
Communications
Even though most members of the Bulgarian business community have a good command of English and sometimes French and German, you will find that the presence of a professional translator will help advance the meeting. Bulgarians are very direct and open, so you can expect to hear their candid opinions from the very start of the business meeting. You will be also expected to express your views without unnecessary circumlocutions.
Body Language
Bulgaria is a country where people shake their heads to indicate consent/agreement and nod to express negation. For example, if you are asked whether you would like some wine and you want to say “yes”, you shake your head horizontally, while if you want to refuse the wine you signal this by moving your head vertically. If you cannot get into the habit of using the correct Bulgarian gesture, you can remember the words for “yes” – “da”, and “no” – “ne.”
Unlike in many Asian countries, kisses are not considered an intimate act in Bulgaria. Business partners, regardless of their gender, can extend lips as if to kiss their partner, or just touch the other’s cheek with their own as a symbol of mutual understanding and friendship. This is normally done twice or thrice.
Bulgarians do not always say explicitly what they mean. You can guess, however, your Bulgarian partner’s thoughts and emotions by observing their posture, facial expressions, gestures, manners or even appearance. Equally important, when you are not comfortable conveying your thoughts verbally you can use subtle nonverbal messages instead.
Gifts
Expensive gifts could be taken the wrong way, especially when they are intended for young women in private. Flowers, however, are given on a regular basis to women and do not necessarily imply hidden feelings when they are given in public. If you are thinking of making a present to your Bulgarian business partner, the best choice would be a pen with your company’s logo or a bottle of good wine.
Socialising in business
Bulgarian people have a great sense of humor and they do not hesitate to use it whenever they see fit. Jokes and laughter can not only help you break the ice, but also make your business negotiations in Bulgaria smooth and efficient. Perhaps it is safer to direct laughter towards yourself or to make institutions, rather than your business partner, the object of fun.
Bulgarians openly criticize everything and everyone, intentionally and unintentionally, so you should not be shocked at their comments.
Relationships are often based on sense of reciprocity. If you have been made a favor by a Bulgarian you might be expected to return the favor in the future, but this is not necessarily the case. It might prove beneficial to you and your business if you can make friends with influential businessman, politicians, and bureaucrats. Establishing connections with influential individuals as well as individuals with extensive personal networks might prove advantageous in times of trouble.
Bulgarian people are ready to work during the weekends and holidays as well (including Christmas and Easter holidays), if they see this as profitable. However, you should avoid making business contacts during July and August, as these are the months when Bulgarians take extensive holidays.
Cultural awareness
Social rules
In Bulgaria you will be expected to express respect for elderly people, and if you omit to do so, the people around you will not hesitate to embarrass you. To avoid becoming the object of criticism, you should avoid occupying seats in public transport, especially if elderly Bulgarians are present. In the capital city – Sofia, it is your own responsibility to make sure you have a ticket for the public transport you are using. If you fail to produce a ticket you risk to be scorned by the people around and/or be fined by the authorities.
Beliefs and Superstitions
If you start eating a second slice of bread before finishing your first one, you will be asked by Bulgarians to give half of the forgotten slice to another person. This is one of the numerous Bulgarian superstitions, and it signifies that somebody must have remained hungry.
Bread cutting: Bulgarians say for women who can cut bread well that they are ready for marriage.
If you leave a piece of the bread you have started eating, you will be told that you are deserting your luck. You can expect to be told the same if you do not pick coins you have found on the street.
Eating customs
You would be served your food in a separate plate, but there will often be some nibbles called meze on the table to which everyone helps themselves. It is common in Bulgaria to spend an hour or two eating meze and drinking alcohol before the main meal.
Bulgarians like toasts as well as hearing foreigners saying “Na zdrave!”, which means “Cheers!”. Heavy drinking is common among men, who consume strong alcoholic drinks, such as rakia or vodka.
Eating all the food that is served to you indicates that you would like some more, while leaving too much demonstrates that you did not like it. The best policy is to leave just a bite or two in your plate. At many public places, such as restaurants and tourist sights, you will be charged a small fee of 0.50lv. or 1lv to use the rest-room.
Having been in the translation and interpreting business for over twenty years, we know a lot about working within different cultures. For more information, please see our website, or email us.
About the Author
TJC Global is a translation and interpreting company based in Oxford. For over twenty years we have been providing specialist and technical translation and interpreting to a diverse range of clients.
Why does the Department of Education FAFSA laws dictate a family’s choice to raise independent children?
FAFSA app has 7 criterions one must meet in order to claim independent status. Most students parents raise them to be independent to handle their own college costs so the parent(s) can save for their retirement. It is so easy for the government to say its the parent’s responsibility to pay their child’s education; but the schools & the govt have a business relationship with each other in order to stick parents with even more debt for the sake of educating their children. As a parent, I taught my child to be financially responsible and independent because I have to also save for my retirement. At 18 years old, a child can apply for credit, rent apartments and apply for car loans. Why can’t the same child apply for school loans under FAFSA? Esp. under the circumstances the parent(s)saving for their retirement& not be dependent on their kids in their elder years. The DOE is such a joke because it appears to give grants to schools to help students only to issue $$$ loans and a $50 grant!
Actually, it’s not the Department of Education. Congress determines what calculations are used for an EFC and whether a student is Independent or Dependent. It’s part of the Higher Education Act of 1965. It is subject to “reauthorization” where Congress has to review the Act. This link provides some of the bills and legislation: http://www.nchelp.org/elibrary/index.cfm?parent=1791
Schools use the EFC (Expected Family Contribution) in conjunction with the school’s COA (Cost of Attendance) to determine what types of aid a student is eligible for. So it’s not the DOE per se that determines what financial aid a student will receive.
I know it’s very frustrating! All I can suggest is to contact your congressional representatives and express your concerns to them regarding the FAFSA. Good luck!
|
|
The Big Book of Presentation Games: Wake-Em-Up Tricks, Icebreakers, and Other Fun Stuff $5.00 Don’t let the audience snooze through any of your presentations! How do you keep an audience from becoming bored or restless during a presentation? Find out with The Big Book of Presentation Games. Each game in The Big Book of Presentation Games is fast, fun, creative, and easy-to-read, and easy-to-lead, and costs little or nothing. Categories also include: great session-openers; icebreakers; cli… |
|
|
Why Work Sucks and How to Fix It: No Schedules, No Meetings, No Joke–the Simple Change That Can Make Your Job Terrific $3.67 Do you hate cramming all of your errands into the weekend? Do you resent having to beg permission to watch your kid’s weekday soccer game? Are you tired of seeing people who aren’t very good at their jobs get promoted because they arrive early and stay late? There’s got to be a better wayâand there is! Cali Ressler and Jody Thompson show that everyone benefits when … |
|
|
The Boss’s Jokes are Always Funny: Over 200 More Indispensable Rules to Live by in Business $29.95 Management guru Mark McCormack, author of the business bible What They Dont Teach You at Harvard Business School, has gathered together his essential business rules in a comprehensive trade paperback edition. His more than 200 rules to live by cover every facet of business, including communication, management, negotiation and sales. Highlights include: How to relate your ideas so th… |
|
|
Business Meeting $49.99 Business Meeting – Giclee Print |
|
|
Notes from Business Meeting, Glass on Paper $129.99 Panoramic Images Notes from Business Meeting, Glass on Paper – Wall Decal |
|
|
Business Man and Woman Have a Meeting Using a Laptop $39.99 Eightfish Business Man and Woman Have a Meeting Using a Laptop – Photographic Print |
|
|
An Overhead Look at a Meeting Between Three Business People $19.99 An Overhead Look at a Meeting Between Three Business People – Premium Poster |
|
|
Two Men One Woman Business Office Meeting $24.99 H. Armstrong Roberts Two Men One Woman Business Office Meeting – Photographic Print |
|
|
Business Executive with Harnischfeger, During the National Manufacturing Meeting $79.99 Rex Hardy Jr. Business Executive with Harnischfeger, During the National Manufacturing Meeting – Premium Photographic Print |
|
|
Jokes Over $21.99 Jokes Over – T-Shirt |
|
|
Hotel Meeting $136.59 Hotel Meeting is located in Rome, close to Ippodromo Capannelle, Anagnina Mall, and Villa dei Quintili. Nearby points of interest also include Universit? degli Studi di Roma Tor Vergata and Cinecitt? 2. Hotel Features. Hotel Meeting features a coffee shop/caf? and a bar/lounge. A complimentary continental breakfast is served each morning. This 3 star property offers small meeting rooms, audio visual equipment, and business services. Wireless and wired high speed Internet access is available in public areas (surcharges apply) and the hotel has an Internet point. The property has a complimentary airport shuttle at scheduled times. Concierge services and tour assistance are available. Guest parking is complimentary. Additional property amenities include multilingual staff and coffee in the lobby. Guestrooms. 44 air conditioned guestrooms at Hotel Meeting feature minibars and laptop compatible safes. Bathrooms feature shower/tub combinations, bidets, and hair dryers. Wired high speed Internet access is available for a surcharge. In addition to desks and safes, guestrooms offer direct dial phones. Televisions have satellite channels. Housekeeping is offered daily and guests may request wake up calls. Notifications and Fees:Some properties have extra fees for amenities or services that may apply even if you do not use them. Government fees or taxes also may be charged to you when you check in or check out. This property told us they will charge you for the following: A tax is imposed by the city: EUR 2 per person, per night We have included all charges provided to us by the property. However, charges can vary, for example, based on length of stay or the room you book.Additional fees and deposits may be charged by the property at time of service, check in, or check out. Notifications and Fees:Some properties have extra fees for amenities or services that may apply even if you do not use them. Government fees or taxes also may be charged to you when you check in or check out. This property told us they will charge you for the following: A tax is imposed by the city: EUR 2 per person, per night We have included all charges provided to us by the property. However, charges can vary, for example, based on length of stay or the room you book.Additional fees and deposits may be charged by the property at time of service, check in, or check out. |
|
|
Business Executive Nelson with Pickering, During the National Manufacturers Meeting $79.99 Rex Hardy Jr. Business Executive Nelson with Pickering, During the National Manufacturers Meeting – Premium Photographic Print |
|
|
Business Men Discussing Plans While Meeting at the Hilton Hotel $79.99 Business Men Discussing Plans While Meeting at the Hilton Hotel – Premium Photographic Print |
|
|
Jokes $5.21 This book is in New – Excellent condition |
|
|
Jokes? $16.53 No Synopsis Available |
|
|
The Meeting $74.99 The Meeting – Framed Giclee Print |
