Kitchen Table Diplomacy is Universal

It’s funny the things you learn growing up from your elders if you pay attention. I have my Grandma to thank for a number of the things I learned over the years; her passive teachings have paid off a number of times. Mentors at work, gents who took me under their wing to teach me what I was willing to learn, and quite honestly, many friends and neighbors who invited me into their house to the kitchen table for a coffee.

Kitchen table talks are real

It sounds simple, right? Too easy, take the time to sit down and talk to someone about what is going on in their world, get an idea who they are, where they are coming from, and take the time to let them get a read on you as well. Then, maybe, going forward, when something doesn’t quite go as planned, or in case they hear from someone else something about you or what they said you said, it may be taken with a sober second thought. If you have built up a personal connection, they may just give you a shout on the phone or invite you to pop on over or to meet up to discuss “Something I heard, and I want to hear it from you directly”. If you have taken the time and the risk of sharing something genuine about yourself with that other person, it goes a long way in making sure you get a friendly wave and not the Trudeau salute when you are passing each other on the road. Moreover, that person, in all likelihood, will come to your defense and your character in their circles, or it will help influence their decision-making process on how things may impact you.

Good friends, neighbors, and business partners may be hard to come by, and if you are lucky enough to have them, you had better make sure you put in the time to keep them. Relationships are a 2-way street; it’s about give-and-take, and also knowing that anyone can have a “Bad Hair Day”, and knowing when the other party is potentially taking advantage of your good nature and needs to be checked here and there as well. That’s a healthy, respectful relationship, and when you have a few thoroughbreds in the relationship, a few stall doors can get kicked as well. However, when those friends, partners, and thoroughbreds are pulling together as a team, well, that is a thing of beauty.

In USA with a mission

I have been on the road lots over the last few months leading up to and after President Trump’s inauguration. I was honored to have been invited personally by Senator Roger Victory from Michigan.  The Senator only had a couple of passes he could give out; an MLA (MPP) from Ontario and I got the calls.  He called in his Canadian friends to participate in a very important American event.  As it turned out, the weather went sour, and as fate would have it, the Canadian Embassy opened its doors to welcome our American friends in out of the cold, so we in turn got to play host to the Senator that invited us and so many others. 

I had many “Kitchen Table” conversations that day and over several days. I met with folks from around the world, and our discussions had a strong focus on our American friends, for obvious reasons.  The best part about that type of conversation is that it’s real.  I had a chance to be at the table with our Premier for a few round tables, and I can tell you full well, it was because of her grounded style of diplomacy that she was received so well and that the communication lines were kept open. 

I had some subsequent conversations, text messages, and impromptu meetings when the tariff concerns were looming that I can’t give details on. However, it was because of the last several years of developing these relationships that we are still working without a big tariff war. The ask was simple: fix your border issues and spend what you said you were going to on your military. Show us, don’t just say you are going to do it…because that tune does not play any longer.

The ”Other” political leaders were talking about our friends, rather than to them. And, quite honestly, they were putting us on a path we could not afford to travel.  Funny how a number of the “Talk Tough” crowd would also use us as their negotiating stick, throw us under the bus to save the team while kicking our friend, rather than addressing the concern of borders and military.  Thank goodness they changed their tune and went down to DC as a group, with our Premier, to share a few cups of coffee.

Last, but not in the least

I have so many updates to share with you. I’m terribly sorry I have not been able to get out an article in a while. I can honestly say this is about the tenth one I have started to write, but this is the first one I’ve been able to complete. 

Things on the USA / Alberta file have been moving fast, and our other international files are also picking up steam due to the “Awakening” of a need to build infrastructure in Canada again and get our products to alternate markets.  Coincidentally, this is the model I’ve been pitching for several years, and now, we are starting to gain traction.  I’ll tell you about India, the Arctic, Northern Europe and the Balkans in future articles. 

Further, I’ll bring it back into perspective on how that is a benefit to all of us back here in God’s Country.  I look forward to having a town hall, or heck, just even a coffee with you at one of our local coffee shops, or who knows, perhaps at a kitchen table, to find out what matters to you.

Stay strong, Stay Free, Stay Safe. And I’ll continue to care about “what matters to you”!

Sincerely,

Shane Getson

digital art Powered by DALL·E 3