How to Live, Work, Play in the USA: the US explained in 8 maps

- 50 states, 4 regions
- 7 tips to living/working in the US

Occasionally, I’m called upon to coach people who are moving to the US for business.  They want to know at to expect, what to do and not do.

Here’s how I explain the USA using maps.

Each of the 50 states is different.  Each state differs in origin, history, culture, economic drivers, size, and population composition.  Some are rural and agrarian, some are urban and industrial; some are cosmopolitan, some are parochial.  Then there's California, which is the most different of all.  This map shows the original 13 states (upper right) are small and packed tightly on the coast.  As migration occurred westward states got bigger but had fewer people.

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Governing 300 million people across 50 states is difficult so the country tends to operate regionally.  This too reflects economic and political history.

The Northeast (green) is the oldest, most urban and industrialised region and has greater population density.  The South (blue) is also old but historically agrarian and has had some strong views about the proper role of the federal government (see:  War, Civil). 

The Midwest (red) was settled later and assumed both an industrial eg, Chicago, Detroit) and a farming identity (“America’s breadbasket”) because of their wheat and corn production and the subsequent agri-businesses they spawned.

The West (yellow) was settled last, has the largest states and the sparsest population.  Except, of course, for California.

For most Americans, the USA is the centre of the world (and I speak as a US citizen). 

This leads to a parochial view of the world and they sometimes (frequently?) forget that other countries exist.  A third of the members of the US Congress (and their staffs) do not have passports.  Thus their views tend to be US-centric because, evidently, they don't get out of the house often.

The US media confirms this;  their “world” news is often reportage on US interests elsewhere in the world.  Perhaps it’s understandable given that the US is the world’s sole superpower.

No one escapes the changing world, however, and each US state trades with foreign countries.  Again, foreign trading partners differ per state. 

Technically the US’s main trading partner is the European Union but that’s an amalgamation of countries.  Canada is the main recipient of US trade but China and Mexico are close behind (in that order).

Again California differs.  A former Lt. Governor of California told me that most of California’s business (and California is the 8th biggest economy in world) is with Asia/Pacific, not the other 49 states.

The US economy is big.
Very, very big. 

This map shows how the economies of each state compares in size to those of entire countries.

The US is by far the world's largest economy with a GDP of $17.4 trillion (2014).

It’s not the world leader in all economic sectors.  The US is a service-based economy, with smaller agriculture and industrial sectors than other countries (though its industrial and agricultural sectors are still the second- and third-largest in the world due to the sheer size of the US economy).

This Voronoi diagram shows the relative size of each country’s economy in terms of GDP: the larger the area, the larger the economy.

 Areas are sub-divided into 3 sectors: services, industrial, and agricultural. 

Again, the US economy is big.

How to Live, Work, Play in the USA:

So if you're transferred to work in the USA, here are 7 keys to your success:

1. Understand that the culture is different.  Just because you watched the Brady Bunch doesn’t mean you understand how to be American. They see the world very differently than you.  They experience the world differently than you.
2. The level of choice is far greater in the USA than in most countries. This is true both personally and commercially. You may have a good product but chances are that there are dozens of other competitors with the same – or better – product.  Get ready to compete.
3. Service is and always will be the key to success in the US.  They expect to receive a high level and they expect you to deliver it.
4. Look local even if you’re not. Keep your identity but don’t keep referring to the multinational HQ or ‘home’.  Local staff want you to be one of them culturally or at least seem to be.  Assimilating is a virtue.  Being perceived as a tourist by your business peers is self-nullifying.  Don't be a tourist, be a transplant.
5. Find a local Chamber of Commerce, service group, or association to join. You need a new network in a new country and joining local groups is the fastest way to plug into the local scene.  Any problem you face will have been solved by someone preceding you, so use your new group resources.
6. Find a local listener, ie, a trustworthy person, with whom you can talk things through. Dependent upon your position, you cannot confide with your subordinates and may not be able to confide with your superiors.
7. Keep your existing network fresh. Don’t lose contact with your network in your home country for, as surely as night follows day, you’ll need them again in the future.

All we need now is your comment.

join me on Twitter: @DrDuffWatkins

Duff Watkins hosts the AmCham Business Podcast and is Director of ExecSearch International- Australia.  

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