Do you want to succeed in the United States? Turn your dream into a project

By Antonio Britto, 67 years old, journalist, with a long career in the Brazilian public and business sector.  He is a permanent resident of the United States.
 
 In three years in the United States and with the experience of listening to the stories of dozens of Brazilian families and companies here, I have one conviction: respecting the usual exceptions, those who had a concrete, very concrete idea about why to come and how coming to the United States and knowledge, at least basic, of the differences between life here and in Brazil.  On the contrary, and again with a few respected exceptions, those who came just moved by the dream, did not have great conviction about change or, worse, did not have a minimally organized plan about what and how to do in the United States, failed.
 
 The phase of dreaming about a change, obviously, is the first and basic one.  Without it, nothing will move.  Unfortunately, more and more Brazilian families want to offer their children another cultural experience, to live in a country that offers better education, more security or opportunities for personal, professional or business growth.  Or, even while remaining resident in Brazil, they will have exchange opportunities, temporary stays or extensions of their personal or corporate business in the United States.
 
 Whatever the dream, it has a great chance of becoming a reality, respecting existing legislation and regulations.  But, and this but decides the future of dreams, it is necessary to turn it into a project.  From what can be seen here, a project that at least.
 
 1.Don’t just be a member of the family or one of the company’s partners.  In dozens of known cases, the family/company had no consensus on the change.  And it, when it occurs, becomes a reason for a permanent conflict.  The son who didn’t want to come because of his friends.  The partner who disagreed about the advantage of investing in another market and so on.  In countless situations in which the execution of the plan, which already entails many difficulties, does not have the support, the conviction of those who should be fully involved in it.
 
 2. Be willing to live in a new culture.  This is perhaps one of the most common problems.  Families or companies that consider taking advantage of the new country’s opportunities, but at the same time refuse to understand or accept cultural differences and, without giving up their origins, adapt to the new reality.  The famous Brazilians who don’t leave Brazil even though they live outside of it.  Want to live in another country?  Excellent.  But assume that from cuisine to customs, from culture to legislation, you will experience differences.  And you have to adapt.
 
 3.In the business field, also think about the North American market.  There are thousands of Brazilians in the United States who do business just for… Brazilians.  From restaurants with typical food to those that sell cheese bread, I imagine that the absolute majority of professional/business activities have only the Brazilian market in the United States as their horizon.  This, although large, is not enough for so much competition between the same services or products.  Again, with few exceptions, trying to work, sell or produce for Americans has to be on the horizon of any project.
 
 In summary: unfortunately, dreams alone do not guarantee opportunities.  Come.  But first, build within yourself and with your loved ones the conviction about why it is coming.  What are you coming for?  How is it coming.  And good luck!