Last March, I commented on several chapters from a book titled the Culture Code. [Interestingly enough, last May I met the author’s (Clotaire Rapaille) former Polo coach when he approached me because he had read my post]. Today, in an article –that collaborates Rapaille’s premise too well to ignore– titled “New Leaders Say Pensive French Think Too Much”, the New York Times quotes Finance Minister Christine Lagarde who “bluntly” advised “the French people to abandon their ‘old national habit.’ That old habit is a kind of “national laziness” and Lagarde hopes to push the French to work harder, earn more and maybe even get rich.

In a country where the rich are heavily taxed (and thus flee to greener pastures), the people expect a welfare state to take care of them, and the law mandates a 35 hour work week, it seems that the French want to eat their cake and have it too.

The article reports that some of the french elite can’t believe their ears. After all, France is the homeland of the Enlightenment, the land of Descartes dictum: I think therefore I am. Rappaille (who is also French) tells us in the Culture Code that the the single-word code that exegetes French culture is IDEA.

Maybe Lagarde brings an idea to the French whose time has come.

See the article here: “French think too much”
See my post on The Culture Code and the French

Enjoy. See you in the mystic…

Alex McManus

————————————————-

Mystic Updates:

NEW ARTICLE The Inside Scoop: What is M? –a new medium and language for mission

Makers of Fire Tour: Chattanooga, Boston, Providence, Montreal
Register NOW

7-Day Mentoring Immersion: Apply Now for the 2008 cohort (Orlando, February 1-7 or Los Angeles, May 15-21)

Join the IMN. Now you can be a part of the International M Network.