Before you read the list below, think about a time in your personal or professional life when you felt stretched and challenged. Ask yourself the following ten questions:

• Do you have a real sense of adventure? Do you enjoy the unknown, the different, and the unexpected?

• Do you operate well outside your comfort zone, even if you are feeling alone and isolated from all things normal for you?

• Do you thrive on diversity—language, ethnicity, religion, currency, culture, social norms, foods, politics—lots of it and all at the same time?

• Do you like being in charge, even in constantly changing tides? Can you survive—even lead—among chaos and confusion?

• Are you curious—deep-down interested—in what makes the world go round? • Would you consider yourself extremely flexible?

• Can you build relationships, even if you have to communicate in your or someone else’s second language?

• Are you willing to go the extra mile and follow through by using the right mix of diplomacy and persistence?

• Do you know how to really listen? Can you read between the lines and understand what is being said even if the faces you’re reading look like blank pages—and vice versa, i.e., when the facial expressions are clear but the words are confusing?

• Can you handle failure and learn from it? Can you keep it in perspective? Do you have a sense of humor about it?

If you answered “yes” or even “somewhat” to the majority ofthese questions, working internationally could be a viable option for you.

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