It all started rather simple when I look back on things. The year was 1997 and I'd been working for a $1.1B software company [name intentionally withheld] for just over 2 yrs. The company, while privately held, maintained offices around the world with a European headquarters in Germany. I was working out of the Chicago sales office.
I'd had an easy and successful career in sales and enjoyed the company culture and management style. I had enjoyed my commute to downtown Chicago, selling data mining software to the dozen major banks and credit card firms. I was making a name for myself by sales and securing customer references. Staff from overseas offices were asking me about how I was selling to my accounts, if their subsid banking operations would buy software, and so forth. It never really seemed difficult considering the banks were always looking for an edge over the competition.
In March 1998, I had brought home a copy the annual report and left it on the kitchen table. My wife looked at it and marveled at all the international offices maintained by my employer. She had the impression we were just a simple US software operation, without much success overseas. In actuality, the company had 30 offices in Europe.
She triggered the conversation with the innocent statement, " It would be neat to live overseas for a year or two, huh?!" That was start of bigger things to come. I spent next 3 weeks writing a new business proposal for our European managers and pitching them my skills. In Dec 1998, they were finally ready and able to bring me over to the German office for a meet & greet. I had 2-3 days of interviews planned, my wife had 2-3 days of shopping and excursions. We arrived during the famous Heidelberg Weinachtsmarkt. If you ever want to win over the spouse, visit Germany during Christmas Market. We had the 'rose-colored classes' firmly affixed to our faces.
As I recall the events of that 'meet & greet' expedition, on the flight home we made the decision to take the job and relocate. My wife had a distinctly different view of events. There were dozens of questions that needed answers.
In my view, it was now a matter of a currency converter (salary negotiations) and resolving cost-of-living adjustments. Oh...there was that small matter of my wife having to quit her job, sell our home, dispose of two cars, and transition with a 5 month old son.
Rule 1. Get someone/something to win-over the spouse.
Rule 2. Don't bother with email, contact Europeans by phone.
Rule 3. Prepare the spouse early/often on planning.
Rule 4. Nothing happens fast in Europe.
In March 1998, I had brought home a copy the annual report and left it on the kitchen table. My wife looked at it and marveled at all the international offices maintained by my employer. She had the impression we were just a simple US software operation, without much success overseas. In actuality, the company had 30 offices in Europe.
She triggered the conversation with the innocent statement, " It would be neat to live overseas for a year or two, huh?!" That was start of bigger things to come. I spent next 3 weeks writing a new business proposal for our European managers and pitching them my skills. In Dec 1998, they were finally ready and able to bring me over to the German office for a meet & greet. I had 2-3 days of interviews planned, my wife had 2-3 days of shopping and excursions. We arrived during the famous Heidelberg Weinachtsmarkt. If you ever want to win over the spouse, visit Germany during Christmas Market. We had the 'rose-colored classes' firmly affixed to our faces.
As I recall the events of that 'meet & greet' expedition, on the flight home we made the decision to take the job and relocate. My wife had a distinctly different view of events. There were dozens of questions that needed answers.
In my view, it was now a matter of a currency converter (salary negotiations) and resolving cost-of-living adjustments. Oh...there was that small matter of my wife having to quit her job, sell our home, dispose of two cars, and transition with a 5 month old son.
Rule 1. Get someone/something to win-over the spouse.
Rule 2. Don't bother with email, contact Europeans by phone.
Rule 3. Prepare the spouse early/often on planning.
Rule 4. Nothing happens fast in Europe.
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