A Croat Can Forgive You Anything But Success

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Croatians have a default negative mindset - at least in my opinion after living here for 20 years. While holidaying in Croatia is idyllic, living here fulltime is tough, as residents have to battle with the corruption, bureaucracy, nepotism, low salaries and other economic challenges. It has fostered a situation where negative stories are pervasive, and where the good news stories are very much under the radar, for Croatians can forgive you anything but success. And while things may seem to be very negative, below the surface, a very exciting - and VERY positive - new Croatia 2.0 is emerging. For more on Injecting Positivity into the Default Negative Croatian Mindset, see my talk at LEAP Summit - • LEAP 2020 | Paul Bradb...
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Video produced by Igor Vuk of Wolf Media.
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[@lottaek1202]

Yes! How you managed to read the people in Croatia so well is completely beyond me. Also what has always bothered me was the victim mentality and the uttermost passivity of so many people. People rarely take responsibility for their own life and bad decisions and just blame it on others. And when someone actually does suceed, they immediatelly assume that it's because they had [insert literally anything that the other person does not have].

[@PaulBradbury]

And yet when they do emigrate, they are often very successful. If fact, I would say that the Croatian diaspora is one of the most successful groups out there - what so many achieved leaving with nothing in the 19th and 20th centuries is incredible

[@kristiandivander9754]

The problem is that many expect the government to fix every problem. Yes, the government should take care of its citizens, but you can't expect the government to fix your house.

[@andrejasironic4561]

Yes, so true!

[@JC-to5by]

I would say that is the consequence of the botched privatization process of the 1990s during which many people managed to attain extraordinary wealth through shady dealings. That's why the first thing Croats think when they meet a "successful" person is "what crime did this person commit ?".

[@PaulBradbury]

And I would agree with you that there has been a strong element of that, but things are changing. Technology and social media are levelling up the playing field of entrepreneurship and opportunity. People now are making it without those 'veze'.

[@5mxg]

oh, similar to Poland

[@ALPHONSO_NANOOK]

Nasljeđe komunističke ideologije tj mentaliteta, a ne toliko zbog privatizacije.

[@kora132]

Sad but true! This happened to some of my family members a long time ago and is happening right now in Rijeka to its most successful national theatre director.

[@PaulBradbury]

Am not aware of the theatre director's case - what's the story?

[@kora132]

@@PaulBradbury He's managed managed to bring to Rijeka some of the best opera singers, conductors, ballet dancers, drama directors, etc, from Croatia and abroad, however, the local theatre "stars" objected and complained. Then the local daily, NL, started writing against him accusing him of being authoritative and a bully, this on the almost daily basis. The city council voted for removing him from the position, mostly due to the different political ambitions, except for the Mayor and the governing party, SDP. They are a minority in the council. The Croatian Minister of Culture has defended him as well and refused to accept this city council's decision. The city council parties, except for the SDP, are taking to court this Minister of culture decision, while, I think, he might take all of them to court accusing them of not having had any arguments in bringing such a decision.

[@denza1589]

As a Croat all of this is sadly true. One of the many reasons why I moved out of the country actually. We Croats are just generally a jealous people and love to criticize people and shoot their ideas down, which stops us from moving forwards economically. Everybody loves to complain about everything. Example being, highway roadworks get criticized because it messes with flow of traffic, when there are no roadworks everybody is mad at the government for not fixing the roads. You cant please Croats.

[@franfinesim]

I agree with you, but the road works are pretty dumb. Here in Zagreb, they make constructions all at once and there is always a traffic jam, because of it

[@denza1589]

@@franfinesim better to handle all of it at first rather than prolong it. I'm also mostly refering to motorway roadworks and construction in general.

[@PaulBradbury]

I decided to surround myself with positive people rather than those who sit around complaining all day. Try it, the results are amazing.

[@andrejasironic4561]

That is a very good idea. However, I often find it soooo hard.

[@lignumchannel]

Nail head that stands taller than the rest, tends to attract the hammer. Saying from the oposite side of the world but I guess it works here as well.. I just discovered you yesterday, lovely videos!

[@PaulBradbury]

That is a great way of saying it - thanks!

[@e.b.4379]

The nail that sticks out gets hammered is more about conformity and being eccentric, not so much about success. It's a Japanese proverb used to describe conformity in Japanese culture because Japan is such a group-oriented nation.

[@draganavolaric1152]

So true, just like Aussie, Kivi, British, just they call that toll poppy syndrome.

[@hstanekovic]

Your insights about us are very interesting to hear

[@PaulBradbury]

Thank you! Lots more coming if you want to subscribe

[@mariozaccaria1078]

I like the say "no good deed can go unpunished"

[@korculaamv9820]

This reminded of Wednesday Addams 💀

[@JakovRudi]

You are right, but perhaps it would have been interesting to dig a bit deeper as to reasons why is it like that. My explanation is that most of the "so called success" stories of 90s and 2000s that were used to promote the new system of democracy and "capitalism" in the end got ruined and were in fact ran by government connected cronies siphoning government funds who got away free with their pockets full (you probably know the most famous stories, but every city/town has at least one). So for the average Croatian, every entrepreneur success story is a thing to be looked at with skepticism with sort of "guilty until proven innocent" mindset, as entrepreneurship will be for a long time associated with government crony capitalism. Based on the past, there is some correlation between a company being mentioned in the media and probability of it being a siphon for public funds (or doing something illegal). Also Croatia, unlike Britain, doesn't have unbroken history of entrepreneurship based capitalism with general consensus that the thing that drives the economy is individual agency. Here, the perception is that the collective is somehow the thing that creates prosperity, which from what I know wasn't true even in Yugoslavia during "worked owned companies" (all of succesful ones had strong individuals with vision and ideas who "worked" the system) Side note, my father has been running one of the most successful small hi-tech manufacturing companies in Croatia for the past 30 years and anyone who has done anything similar in this country in a legal and moral way, that wasn't based on working with the state or exploiting "the sun and the sea", deserves only the highest admiration.

[@PaulBradbury]

Yes I understand that, but the new generation of successful entrepreneurs that you see at the Poduzetnik Mindset conference have little to nothing to do with the old ways. Infobip, Mrvos, Bagatin etc. Or am I wrong?

[@JakovRudi]

​@@PaulBradbury You are right, but on every true success story there are still too many bad ones to make a statistically significant change in mindset. The European trust map published by bigthink kind of shows what I'm talking about as well as the latest corruption perception index where Croatia is 57th on the list. I won't post links as my original comment got deleted, I suspect because of the URL's leading to external websites.

[@chicagojoe935]

Sir thank you very much for speaking unbelievably freely and openly about the REAL problem in Croatia. I´ve been following you and your videos for few weeks now and I have to say am astonished how well you read into the everyday life problems of us Croats. As a Croat myself with a soft spot and love for England since I was a kid, I enjoy watching this twist where a British person lives and reports on stuff in Croatia. Are there any similarities between us Croats and English? What can we learn from you? Amazing work, keep it up! Croatia is not only sea and beaches. It has beautiful continental part which just craves to be explored... And you reported on these places too... Thumbs up, looking forward to new stuff from Mr. Bradbury. Svako dobro Vam zelim! Ivan

[@PaulBradbury]

haha thanks. Not sure than you have anything to learn from the English, especially after our Brexit autogol

[@denisdralec1993]

You nailed it ! It's the mindset of most people in the Balkans. It's also important that we have a substantial number of people who never wanted independent Croatia. They still suffer for the loss of their beloved socialist Yugoslavia. They use corruption and economy problems to justify their crophobia. They keep spreading negativity and in my opinion, these people are Croatian biggest problem.

[@PaulBradbury]

I agree that the default negative mindset is one of the biggest problems in Croatia.

[@denisdralec1993]

@@PaulBradbury Yeah...but for some people it's the actual condition whilst many are just trying to conceal their political agenda behind it

[@ALPHONSO_NANOOK]

Komunistički nasljednici pokušavaju na svaki mogući način da ocrne samostalnu Hrvatsku, a nažalost izgleda da su trenutno dobro raspoređeni na utjecajnim pozicijama, pogotovo u medijima.

[@ivepesusic8792]

Nope. Biggest treath are "true" and big Croats that shaped this new country in a way that serves them and their corruption

[@blackguy3201]

We need you for prime minister for sure!

[@PaulBradbury]

Haha, I can guarantee that would be a disaster for Croatia

[@lp0pic]

Spot on!!!

[@PaulBradbury]

Thank you!

[@franfinesim]

Well, it's the truth. Like it or not. I wish it weren't that.... My mom was a professor in physics and maths, could have made her dream of becoming an engineer true, but Germany sent us back to Croatia... She works for a private company now and works her ass off, because there are no good jobs that pay you a lot and give you good working conditions. Her current company forces her to stay longer at her work to make everything complete or she can pack her stuff. I got my masters and cannot find a decent job with a decent salary. They just have to large expectations of young people. I understand that people are very unsatisfied with the conditions in our country. Of course not everything is bad 😊

[@PaulBradbury]

I agree with you that life is not easy here, but the positives do outweigh the negatives overall, at least in my opinion.

[@franfinesim]

@@PaulBradbury indeed ☺️

[@tossacointoyourwitcherOriginal]

This is true across the X Yugoslavia except for Slovenia. You should hear what people say especially older folks. "They have bad Internet in Germany?!?!", "WHAT DO YOU MEAN THE ROADS ARE WORSE THERE!?!?" "This doesn't happen in the west." etc. I have travelled through so many countries and met a bunch of people from literally all walks of life, and this utopia they speak of is no where to be seen. I make it a habit of telling them Serbian and Bosnain views of their country and they laugh their buts off. So many leave with this mindset and end up miserable, and feel trapped because they are not allowed to complain. Especially when some perants spend so much money getting them out of the country.

[@PaulBradbury]

Yes I am sure it is not exclusively a Croatian thing, but I am covering my experiences in Croatia.

[@tossacointoyourwitcherOriginal]

@@PaulBradbury look at the coruption perception. Croatian people think its just as corupt as Cuba. You wore spot on in the video!

[@zagrepcanin82]

true. and it is because wast majority of such examples are not done by how smart individual is to be successful or how resourceful person is but how many connection person has with politicians and how much person can pay to them. since you mentioned Mate Rimac......Do you know at what price he got the area in which he is building his camp? and how his father threatened people so that land would be given to him? Mate Rimac is not a smart guy at all! he has good connections. Infobip guys are smart and successful and can be set as example. But who ever tries to produce something,it is not possible without politicians. So that is why we are skeptical about somebody`s success. Politicians sold everything that is worth in Croatia. And we are strangers in our own country now. every industrial production is destroyed. Factories closed,sold. just two examples....Pliva and Ina. there is a far broader picture in these companies than just pharmaceutical company and oil company. Pliva had factories in Poland and USA and could produce top end medicine that was developed in Immunology Institute,but Teva also produce such medicine but artificial way and it has billions of income out of it,or Ina which had 2 refineries and production of chemicals....Oki and Doki....one in Zagreb and other in Omišalj,Krk. Refinery in Rijeka is one of the oldest on the planet. I can name few more...Ris,Riz,Digitron,Jugoturbina,Dalmatinska,Vuteks,Borovo,Orljava,DTR,Heruc,Varteks,Steel plants in Sisak and Split,all our shipyards...Torpedo,Đuro Đakoviž,Tempo,Hidroelektra,Viadukt,Tehnika,Gredelj....the list goes on and on and on....huge companies that produces from needle to locomotive....all destroyed by traitors in politics. and yes,when somebody is successful we are thinking it has something to do with politicians. cause there is no other way

[@franfinesim]

Unfortunately, foreigners are not interested in these stuff... They care that they have a villa in our coast. I fear that we croats won't ever come near to our sea, because some idiots will make the beaches private

[@MarioPetrinovich]

You are right that those people are no good, but you are wrong that somebody deliberately destroyed all those companies, those companies were destroyed by communism, and they had to vanish. But Croats mustn't know that communism is a bad thing, so they found one guy, Kutle, and accused him, not communism. All those companies had to fail. In the case of Pliva, the licence for Sumamed, their main product, expired, and they didn't have another good product. In the case of INA, Sanader gave the control of it to Mol, which was under Russian control (just like Serbs gave control of their NIS also to Russians, and now they have problems because of this). Shipyards were not competitive, with big depths, and the only purpose of their existence is to sell Serbian steel, because we were building our ships from Serbian steel. In the same time we closed our steelworks in Sisak. Tudjman, Mesic and Manolic were stalinists. Everything that is of strategic interest in Croatia we gave to Russians.

[@franfinesim]

@@MarioPetrinovich yeah blame it on communism, instead if irresponsible and dumb people.

[@MarioPetrinovich]

@@franfinesim But that's true. I worked at "Ranzirni Kolodvor" in Zagreb. In the 80s we had 7 restaurants there, serving workers. But, only one was needed. And every company was like that, this is why communism failed. But communists remained at power, so they didn't want people to know that communism is a bad thing. So they found a way to twist the truth, the Kutle. For example, they were talking all over the media how those big companies in Zagreb were destroyed because of their locations. Well those people accused for doing that are already dead, but those locations are still empty. No, those companies weren't destroyed because of locations, they had to fail. This is all lie, don't buy it, communism has to fail, there is no other way, communism always fails.

[@franfinesim]

@@MarioPetrinovich I disagree. Technology, bad management and privatization and other stuff had a negative impact on some companies. Also a war happened. How do you expect to work if your country is falling apart?? Also the restaurant thing. I agree it's stupid, but that's not communism responsible, but bad management. most Croats are pretty dumb and naive, when it comes to business. I also didn't believe the location thing as well, but I saw "investors" actually buying those places and building something else or "luxury" flats who nobody normal cannot afford

[@RPlavo]

Is this the reason the Frankopan castle in Bosiljevo is in ruins for decades instead of becoming a B & B?

[@silviah2302]

the problem is that in Croatia everyone knows everyone, it is a very small country.....many well off in the UK are keeping themselves to themselves and the general public are too busy to get involved .....

[@MarioPetrinovich]

Just like everywhere else, in Croatia people appreciate successful people, they adore their athletes, footballers, the Kostelic family (skiers), they adore Ciro Blazevic, Zlatko Dalic (football selectors). Those people are successful internationally. But, success in business is strictly controlled by politics, everybody knows that. People who are successful in Croatia aren't actually capable people, those people cannot make it in fair conditions, they are only successful because politics is working for them. Every Croat knows that, every Croat knows that people who are successful in Croatia aren't the best ones, actually, they are probably the worst ones.

[@kristiandivander9754]

Blazevic, Dalic and the Kostelic family all have ties to political parties. Folks who are successful in Croatia have one thing in common - they don't have this default negative mindset.

[@MarioPetrinovich]

@@kristiandivander9754 You missed the point, those people do have ties to politics indeed, but they succeeded in fair international competition. Tie to political party isn't the problem, problem is in unfairness. Trust me, if I have uncle in politics, I also wouldn't have negative mindset. I don't understand? Am I the only sane person in Croatia?

[@nickbiljan7299]

You’re right

[@Bendi_Tosnigas]

Based

[@tossacointoyourwitcherOriginal]

@@MarioPetrinovich not everyone. That's literally a golden rule. Not everyone. You can't group people in to 1 box just because that box agrees with you l. Connections open doors period. No matter the country, you must get or have connections period. The entire world is built this way, everything is who you know.

[@jdalbion]

That about Rimac is 100% true. They're bashing him because his dad apparently stole some money bla bla. Yea even if he did, he invested that money and made astonishing things for Croatia. Meanwhile, you have thousands of other daddy boys, whose fathers stole millions, for example, Zdravko Mamić's, and NOBODY is bashing Mamić's son about where his dad's money is, where is he spending his dad's money, and so on, he can spend it on cocaine, who***, alcohol, etc. and nobody will say a word. Or Sanader and his daughters who are spending daddy's stolen money and so on. But let's say they invest that instead and they succeed, oh boy, they are enemy number 1, but while they were spending it on God knows what everything was cool.

[@PaulBradbury]

That is Hrvatska for you

[@Nikola-Bozic]

Here I both agree and disagree with you. Not all Croatians are like that. Of course, there are a lot of envious people in Croatia, and unfortunately these people are so loud that the good ones cannot be heard. Such people blame everyone around them for their failure in life. Everyone successful people in Croatia are to blame for their failure. Such people should be avoided

[@hrvoje_bartolin]

After 20 years you say country is changing. I hope.. :-)

[@PaulBradbury]

Yes, it definitely is - and in the right direction.

[@anasaulea2105]

❤Croatia, the goods and the bads:)

[@PaulBradbury]

Haha

[@zd-motion6688]

maybe, "the good and the bad"

[@anasaulea2105]

@@zd-motion6688 you r right, my bad

[@panzer8as]

because we know that 90% of "succesful" people today in croatia were cashiers or some office worm back in the 90`s and their succes has nothing to do with their ability

[@PaulBradbury]

Well I think that this was certainly true for a long time, but there is a new type of successful Croat which is growing year by year - the entrepreneur. And most of that success is very underreported. For now.

[@panzer8as]

@@PaulBradbury time is only cure here, generation ot two must die, succesful croatians from 90`s and we who know from first hand how they became rich. then we can live happily in not knowing the truth. have no doubt in croatians and their ability to thrive, sport is great example, team or solo

[@MarioPetrinovich]

@@panzer8as Of course, Paul isn't true, again. The new ones are carefully selected. See those representatives in European Parliament. There you have HDZ, SDP, and Mislav Kolakusic, and "Vilibor" Sincic. Those two are representatives of new forces. Per statistics exactly those two are most opposing decisions of European Parliament. Exactly those two out of so many representatives. Imagine that. Take a look at "Mozemo". The leaders of this party started by opposing foreign investments (like, those aren't eco friendly). So, they earned scholarships in the most prestigious world colleges, Harvard and Cambridge. Zagreb is full with empty locations. The late major, Milan Bandic, intended to sell those locations so that he can fix old water pipes. He died "prematurely", and he was replaced with "Mozemo". Their election program was vague, except one thing, where they were very clear, under no circumstances they will not sell those empty locations to strangers. So the pipes keep breaking, but they simply don't care.

[@franfinesim]

@@panzer8as most of the guys got from our first president cheap flats (I am not sure if they were of serbs who ran away, or not), but my mom assured me that most of these flats were offered to chosen people for a small amount of money. Also, most people today have a few flats... They have a huge bank account, but fear taxing of their real estates. If you didn't do any s*it, then there is no reason for fear

[@User_cc]

True story

[@PaulBradbury]

Sadly

[@ultrasupernectar]

we recently spent two weeks in Croatia it was very beautiful and it was the cleanest place I've ever been, didn't see a single ciggy butt on the ground the entire time. It was remarkable, but everyone we connected with while there turned out to be foreigners like us. the few Croatian guys I did go drinking with ended up scaring the hell out of me with some weird racist and hateful views that came out after drinking enough to get quite loose. The past war seems to have really messed with the heads to this day. A lot of hatred under the surface but I did only talk deeply with two locals so I don't know if that was just my luck or what.

[@agontprevarator5214]

Can you specify what they were hateful and racist about?

[@PaulBradbury]

Sorry to hear about your experience. I honestly think you were unlucky in the people you met. Yes, that element does exist in Croatia, but the vast majority of people I have met here for the first time are extremely friendly, and have been since the day I moved here.

[@moooobkityy]

​@@agontprevarator5214trust me. You never want to meet a drunk Croatian male. It gets very very dark very fast

[@josippetkovic389]

Sooo true hahahaha Let me just say that spelling in the comment section is awful and that's the way I like it. It makes me fell better :P - i'm a Croat ;)

[@PaulBradbury]

haha

[@kategoried7501]

ne svidja mi se naslov jer je generalizacija...ja sam hrvat ka i svi oko mene pa nitko nije ljubomoran a tudji uspjeh, dapace mene kao hrvatskog domoljuba iznimno raduje svaki hrvatski uspjeh, bilo na pojedinacnoj bazi ili drzavnoj. a zna se dobro ko su ti koji miniraju svaki hrvatski uspjeh kao npr katarina peovic. to su jugovići, samo njima smetaju uspjesni hrvati. srecom u teskoj su manjini.

[@denisdralec1993]

Mozda su u manjini ali su glasni. Pogledaj samo koliko pritiska na najuspjesnijeg sportskog trenera Dalica, samo zato sto je domoljub. Gadna je to banda sa teskim psihickim poremecajima. Podrzavana izvana od raznoraznih "nevladinih organizacija".

[@kategoried7501]

@@denisdralec1993 to su sve jugovici, njih nema vise od 10 posto siguran sam.

[@mariozaccaria1078]

I know the story behind Rimac but it doesn't matter. I admire Infobip people. Honest hard working people investing theire money in pubblic good.

[@PaulBradbury]

Rimac is just one example, and there are so many more, and I agree with you on Infobip - a great story

[@lightv114]

One of the reason maybe is that , because Croatia is not a big country. And many people personally know these so-called successful people, or businessmens. And most people know how they got so rich in a dirty and corrupt way. The basic question is always the same. Where did the "entrepreneurs" get so much money overnight to start investing? And it is very well known that these "business people" acquired their money through tax evasion, bribery, corruption, and the sale of state property. People are just sick of their lies. That's it.Also, my friend in Dublin asked the local shop owner, why not expand the business to, for example, construction. The answer was, he don't have enough money to bribe the mayor to start a business. So that is not only a Croatian phenomenon, it's all over the world.

[@PaulBradbury]

And I would agree with you that there has been a strong element of that, but things are changing. Technology and social media are levelling up the playing field of entrepreneurship and opportunity. People now are making it without those 'veze'.

[@lightv114]

@@PaulBradbury I hope so, Mr. Paul. Today's society has become a society of corruption, evil and selfishness. It is not only related to Croatia, it is a global phenomenon. Even a China with strict rules and laws ,cannot do anything against corrupt politicians, and relatives. So there should come a generation of business people who would appreciate talent and ideas, more and who would reward the hard work of workers, and not like now ,a bunch of "uhljeba" and relatives who get jobs just to sit and do nothing.