I’ve been working in sales for the America’s (north, central and south America) region for a while now with over 20 meetings with clients per week. Here’s what I’ve learned about making business in key markets like the US, Mexico, Brazil, Colombia, Peru, Chile and Argentina:

1. Brazil: Smart and talented people, but they are extremely closed up. Better if you are local and most people I’ve met don’t even try to speak English. Best if the company selling the product has operations in Brazil. Feels like if they want to prove something.

2. Peru: great people, open to new products, they are humble but smart at the same time. Great market

3. Argentina: Smartest people in Latam but extremely difficult to make business with. For some reason they are always trying to se the down side.

4. Chile: Great people, open to innovation, great early adopters and are willing to invest and learn. Great market.

5. Colombia: Hard workers, extremely apologetic, open to adopt new things, better if the product is from the US. They don’t value local stuff. Great first market.

Mexico: Relations are extremely political, it takes a ton to close a deal. You don’t really know what they are really thinking. They take their time. Big market, talented people. Once you establish a relationship it is long term.

USA: Huge market, extremely cluttered, companies have a hard time trusting newcomers, people are extremely political. They have a hard time looking into the eyes and saying things bluntly. In the US if you say x you are harassing and get sued, if you say y you are a racist, etc.