An Englishman in Poland

“Where is Warsaw?” “What is it like?” and “Will we really be away from home for just a year?” asked my two children as I explained that we were moving to Poland so that I could develop my business.

The first answer was easy; with the second I surprised them (in a good way), but the third I got completely wrong. I said that, yes, the plan was that we would live in Poland for one year - but I am still here and soon it will be not 12 months but 12 years!

Much has happened in that time and both my children and my business have grown.

In 1996 I was working as a consultant for PepsiCo in the UK. Based on our co-operation in England, I was invited here to do an audit of what was then the combined Wedel/FritoLay sales structure. My recommendations resulted in a contract for my company to set up an extended sales force of 150 people – and that was the beginning of the company now called IQFM Ackermann.

In the past 12 years I have begun to understand and appreciate:

• the opportunities of a fast developing economy, Polish negotiation techniques, the importance of a contract, Polish time-keeping habits, Polish business in general and Polish bureaucracy
• the natural beauty of Poland, Polish history, Polish patriotism, Polish cuisine, Polish weddings, Polish air pressure, Polish parties, Polish vodka, the concept of names days and Polish greetings
• that with Poland being at the geographical centre of Europe, exploratory trips to (the many) neighbouring countries are easy to do

Plus, I have developed a company and a brand name that is now universally recognised as a leading provider of Business Process Out-Sourcing services (sales services) in Poland.

All of this I plan to write about in the forthcoming weeks/months/years – and I hope you will join me.

My Polish adventure has been, and continues to be, great fun. It has been far more exciting and personally more fulfilling than I could ever have imagined. And Alan, the man who first invited me over here to do some work for him in 1996, if you are reading this - thank you. I owe you a lot.

Paul Bailey is President of IQFM Sp z o.o. (www.iqfm.pl)