RW's perception of entrepreneurs & business men

[DTEJD]

Hello my Russian women!


A question for you all...


How are entrepreneurs and men who own small businesses perceived in Russian society?


I'm not talking about a millionaire, nor a failure.  A man who has a small business, is reasonably successful and has a couple of employees.


Also, how often do Russian women start their own business?  Virtually never, rarely, sometimes?  frequently?


I realize it will vary quite a bit depending on the lady, but just looking for opinions.


Thanks!


DTEJD.

[Anotherkiwi]

...Also, how often do Russian women start their own business?  Virtually never, rarely, sometimes?  frequently?


I realize it will vary quite a bit depending on the lady, but just looking for opinions.


Thanks!


DTEJD.

Can't answer directly for the ladies, of course, but I'll reiterate a post I made not long ago.  The two women I went to meet on my WOVO trips each have their own business - one is a tailor, working alone from home; the other is an optician, with her own small shop and one full-time employee.
 
From this one would infer that ALL FSUW have their own business. 

[Shadow]

Not a RW but here is the general idea.
You can be a successful businessman or an honest businessman.
But not both.

[Aloe]

"Small business" which involves sitting at home and being self-employed going out to do random small jobs doesn't usually get called "business" in Russia. When you say business in Russia, usually you mean a company with an office and such.
I don't know a single woman engaged in running a business. I mean, as the owner. I only know women who work for others. Same goes for men though, i only know one businessman, my dad. So from my personal experience very few people run a business. But then again, from Kiwi's experience everyone in Russia owns one   
And yes, i dont call women sitting at home doing random orders businesswomen, even if they have an official legal company registered.  Just my perception of the word..

[jone]

Shadow,  I am ashamed of you!

I have been in business all of my life.  The only people that would ever say that I was dishonest were those that were dishonest themselves.  Instead, I have prospered and had fun doing it.  If something smelled bad, we always back off.  A reputation is the greatest attribute for business ventures and mine, as of now, is still intact.

As for business, I am a businessman and do business in Russia.  My partners there are wonderful people and we have been very fortunate.  We are looked upon, in the Oblast we are in, with pride - that Russians and Americans can succeed together.  Every RW that I have met has considered not only the business, but that we embrace Russia, as a great positive attribute.

[jone]

You know, maybe if there is collaboration at hand, you might consider a screenplay.  I wrote this theme out a couple of months ago and have been refining the plot.  It is a fun idea and I would not be objectionable to someone else running with it as I have not got the time to pursue it right now.

Movie Name:  'Kova

Theme: 

The theme of this movie is the vision of life across the ocean from two different perspectives.    It is a vision that is carried by both protagonists but seldom realized.  Underlying this theme is the gritty scamming of both women and men that occurs through the Mail Order Bride industry becoming more prevalent and mainstreamed into current society.

The first perspective is that of a young, poor woman, living in a poorer Eastern European country, probably Ukraine.  She has no prospects for a future other than a poor existence, of which she is willing to embrace, but then becomes pregnant and has few alternatives in front of her as most Eastern European men are not willing to raise another man’s child.  She is desperate for help, of any kind, and looks across the ocean for her White Knight.

The second perspective is that of a man, early 40s, who has watched personal relationships fail in pursuit of those goals set forth before him by the world.  Typical failure:  Marriage and family, business ups and downs, friends not supporting him.  Altogether, the man is a stand-up man who has fallen once or twice and is trying to find if there is something still waiting for him in the future, instead of bleak middle age, and passing time with no purpose.

************************************************

Many of you may laugh at the idea of a full length motion picture of this nature, but there is great evidence that it would succeed.  The data carried on this site alone is enough to fill in the plot and give enough interest to those with movie bucks.

[jone]

Sorry.  Meant to post the previous message to Insight from Russian Wife's thread.

[ECOCKS]

Sounds like Larry Crown on an International stage with Mila instead of Julia....

FWIW, I agree 100% with Shadow's assessment of the average FSUW reaction to entrepreneurs and being a "businessman". It matches exactly my experiences and anecdotes.

YMMV.

[JayH]

Not a RW but here is the general idea.
You can be a successful businessman or an honest businessman.
But not both.

Nonsense

[Noch1]

I am in business and also quite honest in my dealing with clients.

As for the movie! should be in different thread or its own thread.

[Manny]

In Russia, 'businessman' is often a synonym with 'criminal'.

[Eduard]

Unbelievable none sense. Still living in the 90s? I personally know several businessmen and businesswomen in Russia. In fact we just had a house guest, my wife's friend who is a co-owner of a successful business in Moscow and makes more then an average doctor in the USA. And by the way she is a beautiful 29 yo single woman. Do they have to work with the system? Sure, but this doesn't make them criminals. The real criminals are the "system" - the ones running the country: the government, police, Duma reps, etc. And off course let's not forget the people who own big banks, insurance companies, real estate developers, etc. who went legit after they had acquired their wealth by being involved in criminal activities. But frankly they are not that different form some American elite families who also made their fortune on illegal activities, and later went legit. I guess it's the way of the world and not specific to Russia.

[Shadow]

Question to all 'honest' business men.
Have you ever done anything to pay less taxes ?

 

[Belvis]

How are entrepreneurs and men who own small businesses perceived in Russian society?

I don't think russians have any special perception for small business owners. But they do not call them  businessmen. Russian 'бизнесмен' is reserved for large sharks in commercial world. Classical image of businessman created by media is far from positive. My close friend who costs 4-6 millions $ (7-10 employees in his company) never calls himself  as businessman.

And, well, tax evasion is not a crime in russian perception

[Noch1]

Question to all 'honest' business men.
Have you ever done anything to pay less taxes ?

 

Yes and was all quite legal!
If you have good accounts, all sorts of loop holes in the system.
If you research, most politician's  come form business backgrounds, either owning or owned family business's
If you made the rules, you would do what?
Design it so it helps you!
So any good business owner, would either learn this or hire accountant who knows, it!

[Shadow]

Yes and was all quite legal!
If you have good accounts, all sorts of loop holes in the system.
If you research, most politician's  come form business backgrounds, either owning or owned family business's
If you made the rules, you would do what?
Design it so it helps you!
So any good business owner, would either learn this or hire accountant who knows, it!

You can always hire me 
Which is why the 'all quite legal' sounds a bit funny.

[CDW]

Not a RW but here is the general idea.
You can be a successful businessman or an honest businessman.
But not both.

Honest businessman can be very successful.    I am a businessman but I don't remember being dishonesty!!

[CDW]

As a businessman myself, I value honesty. 

Dishonesty businessmen will not get repeat customers.  Try to run business without customers!!

[Shadow]

As a businessman myself, I value honesty. 

Dishonesty businessmen will not get repeat customers.  Try to run business without customers!!

Honesty would be to admit that crossing the edge slightly every now and then comes with the profession. Unless honesty is another word for self-deluded.

[Noch1]

Honesty would be to admit that crossing the edge slightly every now and then comes with the profession. Unless honesty is another word for self-deluded.

Each can speak for themselves. It seems you have different ideas.
I also believe, each to their own

[Shadow]

Each can speak for themselves. It seems you have different ideas.
I also believe, each to their own

So do I. Just honesty is honesty, not honesty as far as nobody catches you.

[DTEJD]

It is an INSULT to say that successful businessmen (or women) can't be successful AND honest.


I have known several EXTREMELY successful businessmen and they have been clear examples of how to run a good, honest, efficient, beneficial business.  They have enriched themselves, their partners, their workers, and their communities.


The world is a better place for their labors.

[ECOCKS]

It is an INSULT to say that successful businessmen (or women) can't be successful AND honest.


I have known several EXTREMELY successful businessmen and they have been clear examples of how to run a good, honest, efficient, beneficial business.  They have enriched themselves, their partners, their workers, and their communities.


The world is a better place for their labors.

That isn't what he said.

Everyone needs to go back and read after pulling their head out.

[Chicagoguy]

I don't understand. One man asks a question to women in Russian Ladies section and gets 1 reply from a woman yet 22 men feel compelled to answer.

[SANDRO43]

I don't understand. One man asks a question to women in Russian Ladies section and gets 1 reply from a woman yet 22 men feel compelled to answer.

An insuppressible outing urge ?