The floor of the jail cell is the kindest thing waiting for Rubén. -Real Story-
Why competent expat founders stay stuck while locals thrive. Learn the invisible cultural codes that separate success from failure in foreign markets.
The Rebelliam
2/6/20263 min read
He counts 19 pairs of guilty eyes staring at him in this 20-square-meter room.
It smells of sweat, crime, and fear. He is innocent.
His crime: recovering his BetaMax.
His sentence: Accused of leading a criminal organization.
Santiago de Cali, spring of 1985.
Rubén just realized his new car isn't new, and it's stolen.
He's still too young to know that deals with pawn shops rarely end well. He loses the car. As we all would, he tries to recover something from what he lost.
At least the BetaMax he'd given as partial payment.
He goes to Uriel, a neighbor and childhood friend. Uriel is a cop. Uriel says he'll help.
12 hours later, Uriel calls him.
"Come to the pawn shop immediately. Your BetaMax is waiting."
When Rubén arrives, there's a raid underway. Uriel and other cops are searching the place.
Uriel's order is direct:
—Grab your BetaMax and get out of here.
Rubén doesn't hesitate. Doesn't ask questions. Grabs his machine under the furious and powerless owner’s gaze.
—Now get lost —Uriel orders.
Rubén leaves as fast as he can. But as he crosses the door, he sees it:
The gold chains, watches, rings, and everything that shines disappear into the police's pockets.
The next morning
Rubén opens the door of his mini-apartment confused.
His landlord shoves the day's newspaper in his face. A photo of him on the front page.
"LEADER OF CRIMINAL ORGANIZATION IN CAHOOTS WITH POLICE DISCOVERED"
The pawn shop owner didn't know the cops.
But he did know Rubén.
He's arrested in front of his wife and infant son.
Two of the same cops who had "helped him" were the ones who threw him into that criminal hole.
And not just because of the other inmates.
Minutes later, Rubén's mother finds out what happened.
And this is where the importance of cultural code comes in.
While Roberto waits in that police hole, his mother confronts Uriel's parents, lifelong neighbors, to put moral pressure on their son and fix this mess.
Did she succeed? Yes.
Would she succeed today? No.
Could you succeed today? Neither.
It was Colombia, and it was the 80s.
The cultural code has changed.
Back then, the moral weight of "doing the right thing" exerted by Uriel's parents was stronger than his desire to make easy money.
Rubén walked free a couple of days later.
Uriel faced serious problems within the police force. - He's still a cop.-
But the damage to Rubén's reputation was already done.
As an expat and business founder, your reputation is everything.
You might not know the ins and outs of the administrative and fiscal system. Sooner or later, you might screw up.
And who will you ask for help?
Three quick lessons for you today:
Before asking for help, recognize the private interests of whoever could help you. Does a cop have any interest in helping you? Is it his private interest? Are you sure?
Know the cultural code before you screw up. That way, you can get ahead and avoid future problems.
Recognize when it's better to lose a little to gain later. Or to not lose even more.
It's a lot - I know
That's why I'm making it easy for you. And for now, free.
Subscribe if you want more real stories and cultural codes that help you move, be seen, and grow where you are.
Write me 'Rubén' if you need:
Business communication audit based on cultural codes
Ghostwriting/Storytelling for your brand
Don't repeat Rubén's mistakes.
Don't fall into the traps of the Urieles.
PD: Rubén is my Uncle.