false http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1179423878m/914768.jpg 914768 1 It's hard not to feel pessimistic about Canada's chances of transcending perennial bridesmaid status on the world's business stage after reading <i>Why Mexicans Don't Drink Molson</i>. If author Andrea Mandel-Campbell is to be believed--and given her experience as a foreign correspondent for London's <i>Financial Times</i>, Argentina's <i>Business Week</i>, the <i>Miami Herald</i>, and the <i>Globe & Mail</i>--and she is--the current (soon-to-be-ex?) G8 nation is less investment powerhouse than provincial backwater. <p>Using illustrative examples too numerous to list (but including the titular Molson company whose colossal failure in Brazil is emblematic of Canada's larger foreign expansion problem), Mandel-Campbell describes a nation hobbled by arrogance, diffidence, xenophobia, short-sightedness, excessive government intervention, and a general lack of moxie, as well as some really appalling manners. <p><blockquote>"In 1997, the Mexican president returned to Vancouver to attend an APEC leaders' summit, which included a dinner held in his honour with the CEOs from eighteen Asia-Pacific countries. During the dinner's opening speeches, the Canadian hosts stumbled while trying to pronounce Zedillo's name. The most embarrassing point, however, came when the head of the Vancouver Port Authority attempted to engage Mexico's minister of commerce in conversation. 'Do you own a car?' she asked, followed by: 'Do you live in an apartment?' The Westcoast Energy people were already squirming in their chairs when the head of the Port Authority managed to outdo herself. As the waiter came over to fill the water glasses, she leaned over to the Mexican minister, lightly touching his elbow, and confided, 'In our country, it's safe to drink the water.'"</blockquote> <p> Mandel-Campbell argues that the real action is unfolding in China; if Canada hopes to soar in areas of manufacturing, trade, R& D and finance, it must step outside its comfort zone, adjust its worldview and take a damn chance already or the missed opportunities will continue to mount. The author closes with examples of entrepreneurs and companies that have done just that with bona fide success while suggesting tenable ways of reversing this downward trend. <i>Why Mexicans Don't Drink Molson</i> isn't easy reading, but it is essential for anyone--business or lay person--unwilling to be left behind in our ever-changing world. --<i> Kim Hughes</i> 899851 4 1 2007 Why Mexicans Don't Drink Molson total:3|4:1|3:1|2:1| 3 9 6 0 914768 1553652258 9781553652250 3 0 3.00 http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1179423878m/914768.jpg http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/914768.Why_Mexicans_Don_t_Drink_Molson 4 0 false Thu Mar 26 11:40:53 -0700 2009 Mon Mar 16 19:53:21 -0700 2009 Thu Mar 26 11:40:53 -0700 2009 914768 1553652258 9781553652250 3 0 3.00 http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1179423878m/914768.jpg http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/914768.Why_Mexicans_Don_t_Drink_Molson 0 0 false Mon Feb 16 10:13:10 -0800 2009 Mon Feb 16 10:13:10 -0800 2009 914768 1553652258 9781553652250 3 0 3.00 http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1179423878m/914768.jpg http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/914768.Why_Mexicans_Don_t_Drink_Molson 3 0 false Tue Jan 20 00:00:00 -0800 2009 Sun Jan 25 19:21:36 -0800 2009 Sun Jan 25 19:22:01 -0800 2009 914768 1553652258 9781553652250 3 0 3.00 http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1179423878m/914768.jpg http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/914768.Why_Mexicans_Don_t_Drink_Molson 0 0 false Thu Jan 29 09:37:13 -0800 2009 Wed Nov 26 07:27:51 -0800 2008 Thu Jan 29 09:37:13 -0800 2009 914768 1553652258 9781553652250 3 0 3.00 http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1179423878m/914768.jpg http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/914768.Why_Mexicans_Don_t_Drink_Molson 2 0 false Mon Oct 06 00:00:00 -0700 2008 Thu Sep 04 18:37:45 -0700 2008 Sat Oct 11 09:53:10 -0700 2008 914768 1553652258 9781553652250 3 0 3.00 http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1179423878m/914768.jpg http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/914768.Why_Mexicans_Don_t_Drink_Molson 0 0 false Thu Aug 21 07:17:27 -0700 2008 Thu Aug 21 07:17:27 -0700 2008 http://www.goodreads.com/book_link/follow/8?book_id=914768