We're a relatively new business, having been in business for about a year.  During this time I've learned some very valuable lessons that hopefully will sustain me through the coming years.  Probably our most difficult task here at CLS, (my own personal task) is trying to show clients the value of having business partners in other cultures and who speak other languages.  For some reason the notion that anyone who wants to do serious business in the world will speak English.  Well, I can say for certain that this just isn't true.  The serious Chinese restaurant owner who is trying to run her business but lacks the ability to use Business English will run into extreme hardship in trying to deal with the American whole foods distributors.  Thus, she will turn to members of her own community, centralizing profits and closing a border between the two worlds.  The Mexican immigrant with the desire to start a PressCorps for Latinos in his innercity neighborhood will run into walls that seem impassible when trying to establish news sources, connections and even equipment rentals.  So, in turn, he will seek out help from his Spanish speaking community.  There is nothing inherently wrong with these practices, however it does promote segregation in many ways, and cuts the flow of capital off between cultural and ethnic groups.  That's where we come in.  We open borders, provide businesses new opportunities, and create lasting bonds across cultures.  ...read more