WEBVTT 00:00:08.709 --> 00:00:12.500 It's really great to be in Bergen, this is the second time this week. 00:00:12.501 --> 00:00:15.442 I live in Oslo, I guess I'm living in the wrong place. 00:00:15.443 --> 00:00:16.572 (Laughter) 00:00:17.375 --> 00:00:20.709 As you quite rightly say, my name Pellegrino, which is my first name, 00:00:20.711 --> 00:00:22.288 means 'pilgrim'. 00:00:22.289 --> 00:00:25.449 It was given to me by my Italian parents. 00:00:25.450 --> 00:00:29.456 It is as if they knew what I was going to do for the rest of my life. 00:00:29.457 --> 00:00:32.537 "Let's give him the name 'pilgrim', then he'll travel the world." 00:00:32.539 --> 00:00:34.897 That's basically what I did. This is my workplace. 00:00:34.898 --> 00:00:37.323 I do a lot of travelling. 00:00:37.324 --> 00:00:39.332 I can give you a fancy title of what I do, 00:00:39.333 --> 00:00:43.087 but what I really do is I try to help people communicate better, 00:00:43.088 --> 00:00:46.181 especially in the global business world. 00:00:46.182 --> 00:00:50.303 So I try to help people communicate better with other nationalities. 00:00:51.433 --> 00:00:53.921 You know, the first thing you think of when you work 00:00:53.922 --> 00:00:56.641 with other nationalities and cross-cultural communication, 00:00:56.642 --> 00:00:58.456 is "Let's look at the other cultures." 00:00:58.457 --> 00:01:00.226 I take a slightly different approach, 00:01:00.227 --> 00:01:02.286 I say to people, "Take a look at yourself." 00:01:02.287 --> 00:01:04.257 I am going to talk a lot about perception 00:01:04.257 --> 00:01:07.458 because it's all about perception and understanding what people see. 00:01:07.459 --> 00:01:11.718 As you see, I have Italian in me, I have a lot of British in me. 00:01:11.719 --> 00:01:14.213 Some people are often surprised by my English accent, 00:01:14.214 --> 00:01:15.610 it's quite nice, isn't it? 00:01:15.611 --> 00:01:17.385 Because you weren't expecting this, 00:01:17.386 --> 00:01:19.885 you are expecting me to speak with an Italian accent. 00:01:19.886 --> 00:01:21.611 I don't speak like that. (Laughter) 00:01:21.612 --> 00:01:24.478 And I've been in Norway for over a third of my life actually, 00:01:24.479 --> 00:01:26.931 so I've got a lot of Norwegian in me as well. 00:01:26.932 --> 00:01:28.345 What I like doing to people 00:01:28.346 --> 00:01:32.643 is I have these little social experiments to test their perception of me. 00:01:32.644 --> 00:01:36.842 As I said, I travel a lot, so I like playing with the airlines. 00:01:36.843 --> 00:01:39.280 I like going up to the airlines and talk in English, 00:01:39.281 --> 00:01:41.096 or sometimes with an Italian accent, 00:01:41.097 --> 00:01:44.893 to see what kind of reactions I get, and English is the best one. 00:01:44.894 --> 00:01:47.522 If you want a good service, you speak English like I do. 00:01:47.523 --> 00:01:50.969 It's fantastic. People take you seriously. Well, they do, you know. 00:01:50.970 --> 00:01:53.641 I mean, yesterday, the plane to Bergen was late. 00:01:53.642 --> 00:01:56.119 If I go up and say, "Excuse me, it's 30 minutes late, 00:01:56.119 --> 00:01:58.527 I'm a punctual person, I don't like being late," 00:01:58.528 --> 00:02:00.145 they just take you seriously. 00:02:00.146 --> 00:02:03.411 But yesterday I thought I'd try in an Italian accent. (Laughter) 00:02:03.412 --> 00:02:05.046 So I went up, and I actually said, 00:02:05.047 --> 00:02:07.670 "Excuse me, but the plane is 30 minutes late, 00:02:07.671 --> 00:02:09.765 I'm a punctual person, you know." (Laughter) 00:02:09.767 --> 00:02:12.663 Exactly! I got the same reaction as you did there. 00:02:12.664 --> 00:02:13.874 (Laughter) 00:02:13.875 --> 00:02:16.991 This is one of the problems when working with other nationalities: 00:02:16.992 --> 00:02:20.599 people see what they want to see, they don't always see what you see. 00:02:20.600 --> 00:02:23.776 And this is one of the challenges. 00:02:23.777 --> 00:02:26.712 Just before we get into it, culture, let's look at culture. 00:02:26.713 --> 00:02:28.064 My definition of culture 00:02:28.065 --> 00:02:31.566 - I know this doesn't cover everything, but let's keep it simple, 00:02:31.567 --> 00:02:34.776 I usually do two day workshops on this, I've got 18 minutes - 00:02:34.777 --> 00:02:39.121 "a system of behaviour that helps us act in an accepted or familiar way". 00:02:39.122 --> 00:02:41.097 Key word there: accepted or familiar. 00:02:41.098 --> 00:02:42.457 We're basically doing things 00:02:42.458 --> 00:02:45.391 which are accepted in our social group and which are familiar. 00:02:45.392 --> 00:02:49.422 So a lot of my work is actually explaining Norwegian behaviour 00:02:49.423 --> 00:02:51.251 to other nationalities. 00:02:51.252 --> 00:02:53.464 I'm constantly looking for this sort of, 00:02:53.465 --> 00:02:55.801 "Can we describe a Norwegian in a nutshell?" 00:02:55.802 --> 00:02:58.929 I think I found it - I found this fantastic text on the Internet, 00:02:58.930 --> 00:03:01.469 I want you to read it, it's really worth reading. 00:03:01.470 --> 00:03:05.046 "If you were to use a colour to describe this person, he'd have to be green. 00:03:05.047 --> 00:03:08.918 He lives in isolation in his home, a place he best describes as 'his' and 'cosy'. 00:03:08.919 --> 00:03:12.815 However, he is not the most receptive of people when it comes to visitors." 00:03:12.816 --> 00:03:14.121 The typical Norwegian. 00:03:14.122 --> 00:03:16.986 "He is somewhat primitive, but he is honest, straightforward, 00:03:16.987 --> 00:03:20.850 all he really wants in life are the simple little pleasures like peace and quiet." 00:03:20.851 --> 00:03:22.489 Do you recognize any of this? 00:03:22.490 --> 00:03:24.805 There are some key words - can you see that? 00:03:24.806 --> 00:03:26.738 They jump out at you. 00:03:26.739 --> 00:03:30.754 And OK, it's a stereotype, but a lot of this is a bit true. 00:03:30.755 --> 00:03:33.252 I show this to Norwegians, and they kind of nod, 00:03:33.253 --> 00:03:35.057 "Yeah, OK. I'll give you that one." 00:03:35.058 --> 00:03:36.141 Then I surprise them: 00:03:36.142 --> 00:03:39.636 this is a description not of a Norwegian, but of a Hollywood film star. 00:03:39.637 --> 00:03:41.537 Yeah! Would you like to know who it is? 00:03:41.538 --> 00:03:44.067 There it is. Is that person there. (Laughter) 00:03:44.068 --> 00:03:47.664 The point about this is you often believe what people tell you as well. 00:03:47.665 --> 00:03:51.007 I could sit there and tell you this is a Norwegian, and you believe it. 00:03:51.008 --> 00:03:52.374 It's not a Norwegian at all; 00:03:52.375 --> 00:03:55.834 although maybe this could be a Norwegian that is going off to this house, 00:03:55.835 --> 00:03:59.154 but there are many words in there which are accepted and familiar. 00:03:59.155 --> 00:04:01.782 Another accepted and familiar thing about Norwegian life 00:04:01.783 --> 00:04:05.997 is the Norwegian forest; I live in the Oslo area, it's all forest. 00:04:05.998 --> 00:04:12.725 Working across borders is basically not accepting completely 00:04:12.726 --> 00:04:15.391 that your assumptions are the assumptions of others. 00:04:15.392 --> 00:04:18.058 I mean that's logic; you know, common sense. 00:04:18.059 --> 00:04:21.401 The Norwegian forest is a good thing, isn't it, Norwegians in the room? 00:04:21.402 --> 00:04:25.770 It's all good, it's fresh air, nature, elks, skiing, it's fantastic. 00:04:25.772 --> 00:04:30.070 That's what my wife thought the first time my father visited us in Norway 00:04:30.071 --> 00:04:32.299 because she thought we would do something nice. 00:04:32.300 --> 00:04:34.068 So my wife asked my Italian father, 00:04:34.069 --> 00:04:37.238 "Would you like to go for a walk in the forest?" 00:04:37.239 --> 00:04:39.651 And my father looked at her and said, "Why?" 00:04:39.652 --> 00:04:42.067 (Laughter) 00:04:42.068 --> 00:04:45.421 I had to explain to my wife that if you say to another Italian, 00:04:45.422 --> 00:04:47.952 "Hey, you and me, we go for a walk in the forest," 00:04:47.953 --> 00:04:51.315 that means something else, you don't do that. (Laughter) 00:04:51.316 --> 00:04:54.764 But how can you know that? How could you know that? 00:04:54.765 --> 00:04:56.333 Accepted and familiar. 00:04:56.334 --> 00:04:59.608 At the time, we went for a drive, we went for a drive with my father, 00:04:59.609 --> 00:05:01.568 and we are all looking at the same thing. 00:05:01.569 --> 00:05:03.584 A beautiful Norwegian landscape. 00:05:03.585 --> 00:05:07.047 And my father is taking photographs that he wants to show his friends. 00:05:07.048 --> 00:05:10.583 The road is kind of bumpy, so he says to my wife, 00:05:10.584 --> 00:05:14.164 "Could you slow the car down? Stop it, I want to take a proper photograph." 00:05:14.167 --> 00:05:16.793 My wife says, "But Mr. Riccardi, there is nothing here." 00:05:16.804 --> 00:05:20.696 He looks at her and says to her, "I know. I've never seen nothing before." 00:05:20.697 --> 00:05:22.447 (Laughter) 00:05:22.448 --> 00:05:25.477 What was amazing with this is we're looking at the same pictures 00:05:25.478 --> 00:05:28.062 and using completely different words to describe it; 00:05:28.063 --> 00:05:30.316 this is the challenge of working across borders. 00:05:30.317 --> 00:05:32.808 We've got different ideas of accepted and familiar. 00:05:32.809 --> 00:05:36.191 Here is what is accepted and familiar to me when I queue. 00:05:36.192 --> 00:05:37.386 I was raised in the UK, 00:05:37.387 --> 00:05:40.095 we're the world champions of queueing, waiting in line. 00:05:40.096 --> 00:05:43.286 And you know? We're fantastic. 00:05:43.287 --> 00:05:46.345 If you're waiting in line in a supermarket in the UK 00:05:46.346 --> 00:05:49.386 - let's say there are 10 people waiting in line, 00:05:49.387 --> 00:05:52.673 we all are getting a bit impatient because we're all waiting in line - 00:05:52.673 --> 00:05:56.870 and then they open a new cash register, do you know what will happen in the UK? 00:05:56.871 --> 00:05:59.775 The first four people won't move, they'll stay in the queue. 00:05:59.776 --> 00:06:02.656 The next six people will move to the next cash register 00:06:02.657 --> 00:06:06.470 in more or less the same order, and they kind of check with each other. 00:06:06.471 --> 00:06:09.151 If they open another cash register, the same will happen. 00:06:09.152 --> 00:06:12.142 It's like a formation dance, it's fantastic. 00:06:12.143 --> 00:06:14.458 Would the same happen in Norway? 00:06:14.459 --> 00:06:17.501 No. What would happen if they shout in Norwegian "Ledig kasse", 00:06:17.506 --> 00:06:19.423 which is "Available cash register"? 00:06:19.424 --> 00:06:21.671 What happens? Everybody goes for it. 00:06:21.672 --> 00:06:26.311 It's first come, first served, isn't it? Isn't that what is accepted and familiar? 00:06:26.312 --> 00:06:28.235 The first time that happened to me, 00:06:28.236 --> 00:06:32.082 I was shocked, and I said some not very nice things about Norwegians. 00:06:32.083 --> 00:06:33.379 (Laughter) 00:06:33.380 --> 00:06:38.058 But, you know, you got to dig a bit deeper to find out why Norwegians do that. 00:06:38.059 --> 00:06:40.288 Why are they running for that cash register? 00:06:40.289 --> 00:06:42.834 Why is it a free for all and first come, first served? 00:06:42.835 --> 00:06:45.762 I think it has got to do with this. "What?" they say. 00:06:45.763 --> 00:06:49.056 This is the King of Norway on a train in 1973, 00:06:49.057 --> 00:06:51.085 that guy in a cap on the right. 00:06:51.086 --> 00:06:52.398 This is equality, 00:06:52.399 --> 00:06:55.403 and I think the queueing system in Norway is all about equality. 00:06:55.404 --> 00:06:57.975 First come, first served is about equality, 00:06:57.976 --> 00:07:00.949 and it's the ability to dig under the surface 00:07:00.950 --> 00:07:03.221 and find out what the underlying values are. 00:07:03.222 --> 00:07:05.647 That's how you know how to communicate with people, 00:07:05.648 --> 00:07:07.696 this equality is really important in Norway. 00:07:07.697 --> 00:07:10.078 It's the reason we're so laid back with each other, 00:07:10.078 --> 00:07:13.317 we don't bother with titles, we dress casually, 00:07:13.318 --> 00:07:17.761 it makes a fantastic business environment actually, doesn't it? 00:07:17.762 --> 00:07:20.135 But sometimes, it can take you a bit by surprise, 00:07:20.136 --> 00:07:23.893 and in those situations where you feel uncomfortable or irritated, 00:07:23.894 --> 00:07:26.523 we have a tendency to jump to the negative conclusions 00:07:26.524 --> 00:07:28.908 rather than the positive conclusions. 00:07:28.909 --> 00:07:31.230 I travel all over the world 00:07:31.231 --> 00:07:34.236 - and this is not an advertisement for the airlines - 00:07:34.237 --> 00:07:37.921 but it is Scandinavian Airlines, and Lufthansa, and Singapore Airlines, 00:07:37.922 --> 00:07:41.686 and everybody knows Singapore Airlines has the best service - why? 00:07:41.687 --> 00:07:45.475 Because they have a whole lot more hierarchy in their societies. 00:07:45.476 --> 00:07:48.137 Therefore, when they serve you, they serve you, 00:07:48.138 --> 00:07:51.621 and the Singapore Airlines staff - if you ever been on their flight - 00:07:51.622 --> 00:07:56.135 but from the moment they welcome you, they look like they're going to serve you. 00:07:56.136 --> 00:08:01.246 I mean, it's just the body language, it's like, "Anything for you, sir." 00:08:01.247 --> 00:08:05.198 Now, if a Scandinavian Airlines person did this when you came on, 00:08:05.199 --> 00:08:07.763 yeah, exactly, you would get suspicious, wouldn't you? 00:08:07.764 --> 00:08:09.802 What is going on? (Laughter) 00:08:09.803 --> 00:08:12.888 Because it is not accepted or familiar, that's it, you know. 00:08:12.889 --> 00:08:14.591 This is what it's all about. 00:08:14.592 --> 00:08:17.091 So this is how we do it. And look at the space. 00:08:17.092 --> 00:08:19.414 Space is important, nobody is touching. 00:08:19.415 --> 00:08:23.208 If you go to somewhere like Finland, that space becomes even more, can you see? 00:08:23.209 --> 00:08:24.797 (Laughter) 00:08:24.798 --> 00:08:27.316 It's fantastic. (Laughter) 00:08:27.317 --> 00:08:30.207 Look at the way they queue in France. 00:08:30.219 --> 00:08:32.428 It's nothing like the way I'm used to queueing, 00:08:32.429 --> 00:08:35.626 and it's different every day, it's never the same. 00:08:35.628 --> 00:08:39.488 And in some cultures, you need a bit more motivation to stand in line. 00:08:39.489 --> 00:08:42.250 This is my favourite one, this is fantastic, look at this. 00:08:42.251 --> 00:08:43.907 (Laughter) 00:08:43.908 --> 00:08:46.060 Isn't that great? 00:08:46.061 --> 00:08:47.653 They're all different. 00:08:47.654 --> 00:08:50.664 We are all doing the same thing in slightly different ways. 00:08:50.665 --> 00:08:54.960 Now, how do you get across borders? How do you navigate through this? 00:08:54.961 --> 00:08:57.867 Because you can't learn all the codes, it's impossible. 00:08:57.868 --> 00:09:01.650 Here is a tip. This is what I'm really passionate about - curiosity. 00:09:01.651 --> 00:09:05.615 I am, have been, always will be a curious person. 00:09:05.616 --> 00:09:08.102 Curiosity gets you through a lot of things. 00:09:08.103 --> 00:09:12.620 I believe you can ask any question to anybody just about anything, 00:09:12.621 --> 00:09:15.427 provided you do it with curiosity. 00:09:15.428 --> 00:09:17.750 That's it. Curiosity is a great thing. 00:09:17.751 --> 00:09:19.729 Now, I've got three kids. 00:09:19.730 --> 00:09:22.334 Kids are the most curious creatures on the planet. 00:09:22.335 --> 00:09:25.365 A recent survey - I can't believe this, but I have to quote it - 00:09:25.375 --> 00:09:30.189 apparently, 4-year-olds will ask up to 390 questions per day. 00:09:30.190 --> 00:09:34.933 82% of those questions will be to mothers rather than fathers. 00:09:34.934 --> 00:09:35.948 You know why? 00:09:35.949 --> 00:09:38.289 When the kid goes to the father, what does he say? 00:09:38.290 --> 00:09:40.919 Go and ask your mother. (Laughter) 00:09:40.920 --> 00:09:43.206 Curiosity is so important. 00:09:45.369 --> 00:09:47.501 One of the most difficult situations I had-- 00:09:47.501 --> 00:09:50.707 I was having a meal in Helsinki, in Finland, 00:09:50.708 --> 00:09:52.613 and I was sitting there, 00:09:52.614 --> 00:09:57.566 and the thing is when we, Italians, eat, we talk, we have to talk actually. 00:09:57.567 --> 00:09:59.691 We eat and we talk, we eat and we talk. 00:09:59.692 --> 00:10:02.340 We're not alone on that actually, many cultures do that. 00:10:02.341 --> 00:10:05.535 Finns, on the other hand, don't have to talk. 00:10:05.536 --> 00:10:08.720 They can talk, but they don't have to. 00:10:08.721 --> 00:10:11.024 So, I'm sitting next to this Finn, 00:10:11.025 --> 00:10:13.697 and I'm trying to be curious and create a conversation, 00:10:13.698 --> 00:10:15.237 and I thought, "OK, small talk." 00:10:15.238 --> 00:10:17.109 The rules of engagement of small talk. 00:10:17.110 --> 00:10:21.066 Rule number 1: ask a simple question. Curious, simple question. 00:10:21.083 --> 00:10:25.542 Rule number 2: listen to the answer, pick out a word, follow up that word. 00:10:25.545 --> 00:10:27.062 It's really simple actually. 00:10:27.063 --> 00:10:29.783 So, I was there, this quiet Finn was sitting next to me. 00:10:29.784 --> 00:10:32.284 I turned to him, and I said, 00:10:32.285 --> 00:10:34.499 "So, have you lived in Helsinki all your life?" 00:10:34.500 --> 00:10:37.508 He looked at me a little strange, and he said, "Not yet." 00:10:37.509 --> 00:10:40.309 (Laughter) 00:10:41.739 --> 00:10:44.499 Moments like this 00:10:44.500 --> 00:10:47.130 - you know, which word do I follow up: 'not' or 'yet'? - 00:10:47.131 --> 00:10:48.672 (Laughter) 00:10:48.673 --> 00:10:51.548 challenge your curiosity, but you've got to be curious, 00:10:51.549 --> 00:10:52.568 it's really simple. 00:10:52.569 --> 00:10:54.868 Do you know what it is about the Nordic cultures? 00:10:54.869 --> 00:10:56.647 It's all about economy of language. 00:10:56.648 --> 00:11:01.538 Italians use loads and loads of words to say very, very little actually. 00:11:01.539 --> 00:11:02.682 In the Nordic countries, 00:11:02.683 --> 00:11:05.858 it's different, it's the opposite; minimum words, maximum message. 00:11:05.859 --> 00:11:09.371 So, where I was raised, in the UK - it is also lots of words, by the way - 00:11:09.372 --> 00:11:12.448 look at this, "Excuse me, may I just interrupt you for a second?" 00:11:12.449 --> 00:11:15.595 That is 10 words. That is way too many words. 00:11:15.596 --> 00:11:19.645 The Norwegians manage to do this in one word, 00:11:19.646 --> 00:11:21.546 that's what I call economy of language. 00:11:21.547 --> 00:11:23.229 What is the word? 00:11:23.230 --> 00:11:24.405 Look at this. (Laughter) 00:11:24.406 --> 00:11:27.395 Yeah. (Norwegian) "You?" That's it. 00:11:27.396 --> 00:11:30.564 "Sorry for bumping into you like that, terribly clumsy of me." 00:11:30.565 --> 00:11:33.425 That is way too many words. The Norwegians do it in one word. 00:11:33.426 --> 00:11:37.376 Ready? There it goes: [Oi!] Fantastic. (Laughter) 00:11:37.391 --> 00:11:39.271 My favourite - and you know the answer - 00:11:39.272 --> 00:11:41.573 "Sorry, I didn't quite catch what you just said." 00:11:41.584 --> 00:11:42.613 (Audience) Hæ? 00:11:42.614 --> 00:11:44.033 Well-done. "Hæ?" One word. 00:11:44.034 --> 00:11:47.715 The first time I heard that, I just heard this, "Hæ?" (Laughter) 00:11:47.716 --> 00:11:50.987 I've got three kids now going, "Hæ?" "Hæ?" "Hæ?" 00:11:50.988 --> 00:11:52.837 (Laughter) 00:11:54.227 --> 00:11:58.537 But look beyond the negative side, and look to the curiosity. 00:11:58.538 --> 00:12:00.596 And this is it, we are often misperceived 00:12:00.597 --> 00:12:04.816 because, on a serious note, this "Hæ?", which I've heard many times, 00:12:04.817 --> 00:12:09.458 doesn't often get perceived very positively by other nationalities. 00:12:09.459 --> 00:12:10.945 You get it, yeah? 00:12:10.946 --> 00:12:14.529 Everyone has been misperceived in their life. 00:12:14.530 --> 00:12:17.313 The Dutch are often misperceived, 00:12:17.314 --> 00:12:21.325 they complain a lot, they are the world champions of complaining. 00:12:21.326 --> 00:12:23.152 But why do they do it? 00:12:23.153 --> 00:12:25.471 Because they are looking for something better. 00:12:25.472 --> 00:12:30.348 One way to do it is to complain and seek a better result, that's often difficult. 00:12:30.349 --> 00:12:33.067 I used to work with a guy who was French - he is French - 00:12:33.068 --> 00:12:36.102 I used to work with him, his name was Yves. 00:12:36.103 --> 00:12:38.475 Yves. Yves complained a lot as well. 00:12:38.476 --> 00:12:41.349 He complained about everything, and he questioned everything. 00:12:41.350 --> 00:12:42.590 He had a fantastic mind. 00:12:42.591 --> 00:12:44.561 I would come into work-- 00:12:44.562 --> 00:12:47.541 and once I came into work, and I said to Yves, "Good morning!" 00:12:47.542 --> 00:12:49.412 He looked at me and said, "Is it?" 00:12:49.413 --> 00:12:50.953 (Laughter) 00:12:50.954 --> 00:12:53.503 He was on that level, you know. 00:12:53.504 --> 00:12:56.466 I've had my challenges too. 00:12:56.467 --> 00:12:58.705 The biggest challenge I've had 00:12:58.706 --> 00:13:01.971 living in Norway and trying to communicate with my fellow Norwegians, 00:13:01.972 --> 00:13:04.228 is, of course, feelings and expressing feelings. 00:13:04.229 --> 00:13:07.178 Where I come from, we express. 00:13:08.278 --> 00:13:10.635 What I've learnt to do - I've had to learn to do - 00:13:10.636 --> 00:13:14.626 is kind of tone myself down actually living in the Nordic countries, in Norway, 00:13:14.627 --> 00:13:19.183 to tone myself down, keep it low, keep it calm, because that works better, 00:13:19.184 --> 00:13:21.764 which is often very, very difficult. 00:13:23.204 --> 00:13:28.511 Another thing is rules, I still find rules a little tricky. 00:13:28.512 --> 00:13:31.264 I must admit that is where I'm quite Italian. 00:13:32.274 --> 00:13:37.247 These are people driving into work in a town, in Norway; 00:13:37.248 --> 00:13:39.119 they are following rules, can you see? 00:13:39.120 --> 00:13:42.606 They are simple rules, the rules are: keep between the lines 00:13:42.607 --> 00:13:45.619 and don't use the lane over there, - the public transport lane - 00:13:45.620 --> 00:13:48.691 unless you're a bus, a taxi, or an electric car; simple rules. 00:13:48.692 --> 00:13:49.900 And look at this: 00:13:49.901 --> 00:13:54.428 every single car manages to drive between the lines, it's fantastic. 00:13:54.429 --> 00:13:59.107 Now, this is a little clip that I took this summer driving down to Italy. 00:13:59.108 --> 00:14:02.995 This is a police car; that car has nothing to do with the police car. 00:14:02.996 --> 00:14:05.597 It's just a little, short clip, but look at it. 00:14:05.598 --> 00:14:10.206 I mean, would you do that in Norway? You know you wouldn't. 00:14:10.207 --> 00:14:11.695 This is another clip in France. 00:14:11.696 --> 00:14:17.345 What they do - yeah, yeah, look - what happens is that, you see, they drift. 00:14:17.346 --> 00:14:20.166 I love that guy in the BMW, the French guy is going, 00:14:20.167 --> 00:14:23.397 "Left or right? I do not know yet. I have not decided." (Laughter) 00:14:23.398 --> 00:14:24.765 It's fantastic. 00:14:24.766 --> 00:14:28.276 In some countries, you can't even see the lines. 00:14:28.277 --> 00:14:31.712 Where are the lines? Where are they? 00:14:31.713 --> 00:14:33.965 I suggested once to an Indian colleague of mine, 00:14:33.966 --> 00:14:36.305 "Perhaps, if you painted the lines more regularly, 00:14:36.306 --> 00:14:37.787 people would follow the rules." 00:14:37.788 --> 00:14:40.490 He said, "No, that would be a waste of paint." 00:14:40.491 --> 00:14:42.569 (Laughter) 00:14:42.570 --> 00:14:46.578 That is why we have traffic wardens in Norway. 00:14:46.579 --> 00:14:50.051 This is a traffic warden in Norway giving a ticket, a fine to this car. 00:14:50.052 --> 00:14:51.566 Now, I'm just going to check. 00:14:51.567 --> 00:14:54.909 You see, Norwegians know these rules instinctively, 00:14:54.910 --> 00:14:56.909 it's your duty to learn the rules, 00:14:56.910 --> 00:15:00.398 but can I ask you why that car is going to get a fine? 00:15:00.399 --> 00:15:03.198 Too close to the zebra crossing there, pedestrian crossing. 00:15:03.199 --> 00:15:05.734 What is the minimum distance? 00:15:05.735 --> 00:15:08.247 People mumbling '25'. 00:15:08.248 --> 00:15:10.555 You know this stuff, it's like a stupid question. 00:15:10.556 --> 00:15:15.676 So the day I parked my car in Oslo... let me just explain you what is going on. 00:15:15.677 --> 00:15:18.271 The line goes under here and then underneath the wheel, 00:15:18.272 --> 00:15:22.409 this is no parking, I was a little bit in a hurry. 00:15:22.410 --> 00:15:26.993 My wife said to me, "I think you should move your car forward a little bit." 00:15:26.994 --> 00:15:28.495 I said, "Why?" 00:15:28.496 --> 00:15:31.971 "Just move your car. It's... you'll get a fine." 00:15:31.972 --> 00:15:32.977 "Why?" 00:15:32.978 --> 00:15:35.347 "Just... just, please, move your car." (Laughter) 00:15:35.348 --> 00:15:37.859 You could see she was really uncomfortable, 00:15:37.860 --> 00:15:39.487 and this irritated me, I thought, 00:15:39.488 --> 00:15:41.939 "You know, I don't have time for this. Let's go." 00:15:41.940 --> 00:15:43.400 So I left. 00:15:43.401 --> 00:15:46.227 OK - and this is especially for the Norwegians in the room - 00:15:46.228 --> 00:15:47.335 did I get a fine? 00:15:47.336 --> 00:15:48.362 (Audience) Yes. 00:15:48.363 --> 00:15:51.355 Do you feel sorry for me? No. You get no sympathy. (Laughter) 00:15:51.356 --> 00:15:53.716 No sympathy whatsoever. 00:15:53.717 --> 00:15:56.068 It's a simple bloody rule, follow the rules. 00:15:58.288 --> 00:16:03.182 Italians believe that the power of speech, the power of persuasion 00:16:03.183 --> 00:16:05.742 is you most important tool in life. 00:16:05.743 --> 00:16:07.768 We believe that you can appeal to people; 00:16:07.769 --> 00:16:10.741 if you're good enough at appealing, they might listen to you, 00:16:10.742 --> 00:16:12.792 and they might find an alternative solution. 00:16:12.793 --> 00:16:17.938 So I believed that I could call the Oslo Traffic Police 00:16:17.939 --> 00:16:21.332 and talk my way out of the problem, and I can see Norwegians doing this, 00:16:21.333 --> 00:16:25.727 "Oh, no! You're wasting your time. Don't bother." 00:16:25.728 --> 00:16:27.794 No! I thought I would try. 00:16:27.795 --> 00:16:31.280 I called the guy down at the Oslo Traffic, "Hello, this is Pellegrino ..." 00:16:31.281 --> 00:16:34.608 - by the way, I spoke English, of course, not Norwegian, 00:16:34.609 --> 00:16:36.797 because they take you more seriously - 00:16:36.798 --> 00:16:41.526 "Hello, this is Pellegrino... I'm referring to the case 78206." 00:16:41.527 --> 00:16:43.497 "Yes, I have it in front of me here." 00:16:43.498 --> 00:16:46.315 "I was just wondering if we could be a bit flexible on this, 00:16:46.334 --> 00:16:48.244 we're only talking about 20 centimetres, 00:16:48.245 --> 00:16:52.218 I'm really sorry, I've learned my lesson, I won't ever do it again." 00:16:52.219 --> 00:16:53.515 Did it help? 00:16:53.516 --> 00:16:55.183 Not at all. 00:16:55.184 --> 00:16:58.249 To his credit, he was good, he was really good. 00:16:58.250 --> 00:17:00.765 I could hear him clicking, he had all the rules, 00:17:00.766 --> 00:17:04.517 he was saying, "I'm very sorry, but the wheel must be inside the box. 00:17:04.518 --> 00:17:05.818 (Laughter) 00:17:05.834 --> 00:17:08.031 It says so here in the rule 5, paragraph D." 00:17:08.032 --> 00:17:10.165 He had all the answers in front of him. 00:17:10.165 --> 00:17:12.493 Then he said something I'll never forget, 00:17:12.494 --> 00:17:15.958 "Riccardi is your name, you may be Italian. 00:17:15.959 --> 00:17:18.755 You probably like football." I said, "I do like football." 00:17:18.756 --> 00:17:20.477 "Well, it's like football, you know. 00:17:20.478 --> 00:17:23.377 The ball must be over the line, the wheel must..." (Laughter) 00:17:23.378 --> 00:17:25.410 But it's fantastic. 00:17:27.670 --> 00:17:31.696 It was great. He had all the answers, black and white, he had everything. 00:17:31.697 --> 00:17:33.586 Fine. 00:17:33.587 --> 00:17:36.925 I told my friend Yves this, my friend Yves, the French guy, 00:17:36.926 --> 00:17:40.165 who got really irritated. - Remember Yves? "Is it?" - 00:17:40.166 --> 00:17:41.938 He is really good at asking questions 00:17:41.939 --> 00:17:44.183 and said, "OK, the wheel must be inside the box. 00:17:44.167 --> 00:17:47.126 What if I take the wheel off the car? What would happen then?" 00:17:47.146 --> 00:17:49.915 I thought that was really interesting actually. (Laughter) 00:17:49.916 --> 00:17:53.556 I called back and asked, "What would happen if I took the wheel off the car?" 00:17:53.557 --> 00:17:57.826 He didn't have an answer for me. He couldn't answer that question. 00:17:57.827 --> 00:17:58.888 Why not? 00:17:58.889 --> 00:18:00.895 It's not an accepted and familiar question, 00:18:00.896 --> 00:18:02.607 and he doesn't have that approach. 00:18:02.608 --> 00:18:04.376 Then you need the help of an Italian 00:18:04.377 --> 00:18:06.575 because the time I parked my car in Italy... 00:18:06.576 --> 00:18:09.855 You see, I was looking for a parking place on a holiday, impossible. 00:18:09.856 --> 00:18:12.082 I see a traffic warden, and I go up to her. 00:18:12.083 --> 00:18:15.416 I start talking in Italian, "Listen, I'm looking for a parking place." 00:18:15.417 --> 00:18:19.376 She says, "There is a parking house nearby but don't park your car there." 00:18:19.377 --> 00:18:20.551 "Why not?" 00:18:20.552 --> 00:18:23.288 She says, "It's too expensive. 40 Euro!" (Laughter) 00:18:23.289 --> 00:18:24.607 "Really? What should I do?" 00:18:24.608 --> 00:18:27.010 She says, "I like you. You seem like a nice fellow. 00:18:27.011 --> 00:18:29.912 I like the way you talk Italian, I'm going to help you today. 00:18:29.913 --> 00:18:31.387 Park your car over there." 00:18:31.388 --> 00:18:34.918 And she points over to this sign and says, "Go and park car over there." 00:18:34.919 --> 00:18:36.441 (Laughter) 00:18:36.442 --> 00:18:37.691 "Come on, I can't..." 00:18:37.692 --> 00:18:40.030 "It's OK, it's not dangerous. Park your car there. 00:18:40.031 --> 00:18:43.092 Don't pay 40 Euro in the parking house. Park your car over there. 00:18:43.093 --> 00:18:45.819 I give you a fine for 30 Euro, you save yourself 10 Euro." 00:18:45.820 --> 00:18:47.608 (Laughter) 00:18:50.358 --> 00:18:54.347 I'm not here to discuss whether it's right or wrong, 00:18:54.348 --> 00:18:56.767 but what I can tell you is that I get it. 00:18:56.768 --> 00:18:59.128 I get it because I've got it inside me. 00:18:59.129 --> 00:19:03.266 I've seen this before, and I accept it, and I can see the positive elements. 00:19:03.267 --> 00:19:06.624 You see, these three cultures I have inside me. 00:19:06.625 --> 00:19:09.455 Just to finish off, this is what I'm passionate about: 00:19:09.456 --> 00:19:12.189 I've got three cultures inside me, 00:19:12.190 --> 00:19:14.668 they're all very different, they are planets apart, 00:19:14.669 --> 00:19:17.016 they really are, in certain aspects. 00:19:17.017 --> 00:19:20.068 But you know what I try to do daily, especially with my kids? 00:19:20.069 --> 00:19:23.796 I try to take the best of all three 00:19:23.797 --> 00:19:29.599 and try to merge them into one new culture where you take the best of all three. 00:19:29.600 --> 00:19:32.604 Across borders isn't about going to cross borders in my mind, 00:19:32.605 --> 00:19:35.783 it's about extending your borders and creating new ones around us. 00:19:35.784 --> 00:19:39.582 And if you can create a new culture where you take the best of all three, 00:19:39.583 --> 00:19:43.409 like I try to do, and it's not easy, guess what? 00:19:43.410 --> 00:19:46.756 That is when you create what we call a global mindset. 00:19:46.757 --> 00:19:49.987 And I believe this is what makes the world go around. 00:19:49.988 --> 00:19:51.194 Thank you very much. 00:19:51.195 --> 00:19:53.047 (Applause)