Post: #1

My primary interest is in Eastern Europe and I have 4-5 years of on-the-ground experience in this region. On the other hand, there are still places I have yet to explore and I always enjoy talking with guys who have lived or visited various countries from the Baltics on down to the Balkans.

I'm trying to get together a Mastermind group of web entrepreneurs to collaborate on new ventures, as well as share resources, tips, and advice on international lifestyle design.

If this seems interesting to any of you -- either lifestyle entrepreneurship OR Eastern European mini-retirements/ex-pat life, feel free to post in here or send me a PM.

Post: #2

For Eastern Europe I have connections and knowledge only about Slovakia...that little gem I'm keeping holy, hope it doesn't become too toursity. But its a good place to be and business could do very well there.

Post: #3

(11-05-2010 10:31 AM)Rocco81 Wrote:  For Eastern Europe I have connections and knowledge only about Slovakia...that little gem I'm keeping holy, hope it doesn't become too toursity. But its a good place to be and business could do very well there.

http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2010-08-27...-fico.html

http://www.businessweek.com/news/2010-08...attle.html

I hope they can do it. That sort of environment is certainly needed in Europe, especially a place that isn't insanely expensive like the typical low tax hubs (Suisse, Liechtenstien, etc).

Post: #4

The Austria - Slovakia pair reminds me a lot of the Finland - Estonia connection. Each "western" country offering some of the things that the other, more developing nation does not -- and visa versa. On the other hand, coming from the U.S., even Finland and Austria is going to be a dramatic improvement in terms of beautiful women.

Speaking of Finland, my mother who was passing through remarked to me, "Finnish women are so gorgeous, especially their eyes. They're like blue stars that suck you inside." Needless to say, my immigrant mother never once spoke of American women as being "beautiful"....ever.

Post: #5

Just a background for those not familiar with Mastermind groups:

"Napoleon Hill coined the concept of the mastermind alliance in his classic book Think and Grow Rich. He believed that a group of like-minded, achievement-oriented individuals could dramatically leverage each other's success."

"Identify speakers with complementary businesses, similar career levels and shared values. The diversity of the group is a strength, and everyone should have something they can bring to the party in the way of expertise. Be careful that there is not too much disparity between experience levels, or the sharing of ideas may not be as relevant. Shared values underpin everything you do as a group.

Determine a purpose. There are many different reasons why your mastermind might meet, ranging from lead sharing to being a support group or some mix of different elements. Be very clear on what you're trying to accomplish. The more specific you are, the more productive you'll be.

Establish guidelines. Talk about meeting time, length and attendance, and address the soft issues around how you treat each other. Melanie Mills puts it well when she says, "Establish guidelines for how you operate with each other like not putting down other speakers, a solutions-orientation versus a problem-orientation, sharing time so nobody dominates, confidentiality, and mutual respect. This is probably the most important step as it creates the atmosphere for you to operate in. I would keep them simple but clear."

Pick a leader. Whether this person holds the position forever or temporarily is less important than the need for someone who will coordinate schedules and meeting locations. Scott Friedman served unselfishly in this capacity for our group.

If it stops working, try something different. Recently our group had to deal with some difficult issues around members moving out of state, time commitments and revised goals. After several years, the nature of the group has changed because what once worked was no longer effective. Don't be afraid to revisit your purposes and goals frequently to address if adjustments should be made."

Post: #6

Well, none all of my travelling and living abroad has been in Western Europe, North America and Africa so can't help you out with EE right now. But after reading YMG's links re taxes and the regulatory environment in Slovakia am interested in finding out more.

Subutai, do you have any experience of the working and business environmemt in Slovakia? 15 to 19% flat tax is extremely low for Europe. How do they manage to be a mini-tax haven and still be a part of the EU? Anyway, it sounds interesting. What are the girls like compared to say British or French chicks? Hotter, I'm guessing. But is langusge or anything else a major issue as far as gaming them is concerned?

Post: #7

(11-05-2010 12:52 PM)Bad Hussar Wrote:  Well, none all of my travelling and living abroad has been in Western Europe, North America and Africa so can't help you out with EE right now.

I've been to far northern Russia ( By The White Sea), Moscow,
and the farthest part of FSU South ( Sevastopol and Yalta) .

Planning on doing a mini-returement there to find a wife and start a family before moving to Italy.
I have significant programming experience ( all in obsolete languages) and a doctorate which
unbelievably is more respected in EE than being young and cool.

Post: #8

(11-06-2010 02:02 AM)iknowexactly Wrote:  

(11-05-2010 12:52 PM)Bad Hussar Wrote:  Well, none all of my travelling and living abroad has been in Western Europe, North America and Africa so can't help you out with EE right now.

I've been to far northern Russia ( By The White Sea), Moscow,
and the farthest part of FSU South ( Sevastopol and Yalta) .

Planning on doing a mini-returement there to find a wife and start a family before moving to Italy.
I have significant programming experience ( all in obsolete languages) and a doctorate which
unbelievably is more respected in EE than being young and cool.

Yeah? Could a young buck with a couple masters degrees flaunt his stuff there then?

I imagine that the areas outside of Moscow/St. Petersberg are significantly different, for better or for worse. I've always been interested in Russia's far east from an economic standpoint, they've got a shitload of oil and gas there.

Anyway, subutai you know my deal already but if you are looking to expand your Asia-based network, get into the Beijing/Shanghai/Seoul web startup crowd, or anything else related to cleantech/energy you've got me. I'll be in Bangkok starting March, with a stop in Berlin beforehand.

Post: #9

Subutai,
this sounds like a good idea. My experience has so far with travels to Brasil and now I'm on a mini retirement in Thailand and SEA. I'm seriously considering making it to Russia/Ukraine or EE by next spring as I have always wanted to go there but haven't had the chance yet. Also, after the insanely hot Russian chicks I saw last night in Pattaya, I'm totally sold on Russia/Ukraine and EE. Also biz wise, my next step is to get my current biz to the Euro market so going on a mini retirement there for a few months would be something I could easily see myself doing sometime next year after I return from Asia and Brasil after Carnaval.

Post: #10

Hey VP,

Great to hear you're interested.

As for the Russian combo you witnessed in SE Asia (hot young Russian girl with old fat Russian guy), it's pretty common all over Eastern Europe. Typically, the old fat guys will have money, and in Eastern Europe, that's more often than not enough to get yourself a trophy girlfriend or wife.

From the woman's perspective, it's not always a pure money-grubbing move either, as they literally have very little choice of quality men to choose from. When your choices are: 1. Skinhead who likes to bash Central Asians from the Caucasus 2. Drunk young guy who is unemployed and killing himself with vodka 3. Drunk old guy who is unemployed and killing himself with vodka or 4. Wealthy old guy who has money and willing to provide for you -- many will opt for #4.

In my personal opinion though, the more compatible women in the long-run for Western men lie in the FSRs and not the motherland of Russia itself. I usually treat Russian girls as window dressing at parties, good for drawing the attention of other men, which allows me to focus my efforts on the value targets of FSR women.

Post: #11

Finnish Girls are pretty, very nice eyes. Probably 1 in 4 is on the larger size though. Of course I do not mean fat ass chicken nugget eating American, but I mean like tall, sturdy bone structure, with big tatas and ass...simply put, good breading genes if you wanted a foot ball player for a son maybe.