Last Tuesday, I returned to the states from Eastern China, where I was continuing my work teaching management communication.

It's been a long time since I've posted in this blog, and part of the reason is that I've been following the high learning curve of living and working in translation. As global as the world's businesses are, the truth is that the most global businesses are rooted deeply in the local -- in their languages, in their cultures, and in their business assumptions.

I have three pieces of advice for business travelers, who want to cross cultures:

1. Be patient and humble. The things you think are "right" and "normal" may or may not be in the culture where you're working.

2. Listen. And listen more. Ask questions tactfully and persistently, but mostly listen. It's your job to learn their culture, not vice versa.

3. Don't trust people based on your cultural expectations of behavior; rather, pay attention to their actions. Get to know them, develop friendships over time, and learn about the historical, cultural and business forces that have shaped their lives and work. There will be many people who will become your friends, but allow your friendships to develop over time so you can navigate the cultural differences.

If you follow these guidelines, you'll discover that living in translation is full of miracles, discoveries and life-changing challenges.

Global profits depend on local knowledge. As an anthropologist and teacher, I've learned the power of balancing participation and observation. It's the core of effective communication, which is the core of long-term profit and planning, especially at the translation point, where global meets local.