I chose Warsaw - says Eileen Gricuk, Canadian of Chinese origin

When it comes to challenges, most of us lack self-confidence - says Eileen Gricuk, Canadian of Chinese origin, who lives in Poland and works as a coach.

Nina Hałabuz: You were born in Canada, but your family comes from China. How did it happen that you came to Poland?
Eileen Gricuk, Coach: I came to Warsaw in 1990. At that time I was working at Arthur Andersen, an international consultancy, which had dozens of offices around the world. I wanted to travel and decided to give myself a chance to work abroad. I could pick one out of three offices: in Bermuda, Hungary and Poland. I chose Warsaw - it was just after the fall of communism and I heard a lot about Lech Walesa, the Solidarity movement and Polish transformation. I thought it would be an interesting place to see.

NH: What was your impression when you arrived in Warsaw?
EG: It was a completely different city than it is now – very grey, blocks of flats, socialist architecture and empty-ish stores. I remember a real estate agent who helped us to rent an apartment. At the first meeting, he said that in two months he’s to go to the United States, because in Poland there is no future. And I just came here! But I never regretted this decision – not for a single moment.

NH: So you’ve been living in Poland for over 20 years so far?
EG: In 1993, my husband and I got married and went to London. Our children were born there. After 8 years in the UK we decided to come back to Warsaw - we wanted the children to grow up in Polish culture, close to their grandparents.

NH: You work as a coach. What is exactly your job about?
EG: One of the main things I do is to help people who are stuck.  I help them to answer the question “what next?” in their professional and personal lives.  I help them make decisions and turn them in action.  As a result of our work together, my clients gain self-awareness and the confidence to deal with dilemmas as they arise, all in good style.  Another benefit that clients gain from coaching is that they show up more alive and authentic throughout their whole life.  For example, at work, my clients will be more at ease with public speaking, while at home, more in tune and connected with family.

NH: You're like a psychologist, then?
EG: There are some similarities but the focus is different. A psychologist looks at the past, analyzes it, finds out the causes of problems; usually included is an assessment and plan for treatment.  A coach is focused on today and the future.  A coach will work with the client to set the best plan of action. My clients typically are at some kind of crossroads, they feel not quite fulfilled, want to develop or change something in their lives. We talk about their needs, values, consider different scenarios, we find a solution. Of course, past experience is important, but we look at it only in the context of a better future.

NH: And how does your work look like in practice?
EG: I’ll give you some examples. I used to work with a management consultant. She was at a crossroads and considered starting her own business doing what she loved and was good at- drawing and graphic designing. She quit her position in the company and started her own graphic and brand design business.  I also had a top executive who was made redundant after successfully restructuring and downsizing a public media company.  He considered different options and had talked seriously of opening a restaurant.  Through our work together developing a business and marketing plan, he discovered the restaurant was not truly the right choice for him.  He created instead a different business combining his strongest skills with a structure that satisfied his values and lifestyle.

NH: Is it hard for a foreigner to run business in Poland?
EG: For me it’s quite easy, but I have a very simple form of business. I know people here are not satisfied with the administration. It’s not the most efficient indeed, though I appreciate the fact, that I have managed to deal with the formalities so far. Even though my Polish is not the most fluent,     I do as much as I can on my own and then ask for help.  I can always find someone eager to help. In running my business, I just need accounting support. But I can imagine that when dealing with more complex operations, especially when you’re in business where licenses, permits or concessions are required, relations with the authorities may be much more burdensome.

NH: What advice would you give to a foreign friend who is considering coming to Poland and working here?
EG: I would advise him to be open to new people and experiences. Anyone who is here can easily see that Poles are very hospitable and friendly. I would advise to invest in networking, as relations with people is the key to success in Poland. And, last but not least, I would advise him not to be terrified with the language barrier. Polish is not an easy language to learn but also not impossible- just jump in and use it!  You'll find many young people speak English, particularly in Warsaw.  Even if there is a problem with communicating with a specific person, there is always someone around who can help.