# The Secret to Selling Overseas: Be Prepared To Be Multilingual Author: Pal Sinha, Barnali Author URL: https://financedigest.com/author/pal-sinha-barnali Published: 2022-10-10 Category: BUSINESS Category URL: https://financedigest.com/category/business Meta Title: How Learning Multiple Languages Helped Me Grow My Business Meta Description: Discover the inspiring journey of Datsa Gaile, founder of SolaAir Sequin Walls UK. From broken English to global success, language opens doors! URL: https://financedigest.com/the-secret-to-selling-overseas-be-prepared-to-be-multilingualhtml ![undefined](https://prod.superblogcdn.com/site_cuid_cm5qst7v3003gwirgwqtxn8i8/images/datsagaile-sm-1736815065946-compressed.jpg) As a proud Latvian business owner who came to the UK in 2004, I can speak three languages. I am Datsa Gaile, the founder of [SolaAir Sequin Walls UK](https://solaairsequinwalls.co.uk/) and when I came to England, it was a different story. I recognised a few words, so I first worked in a warehouse when I tried to find a job. I spoke in broken English and found accents challenging to understand. During the four [months I was searching](https://www.financedigest.com/august-the-most-popular-month-to-start-a-holiday-home-search-reveals-portal.html "AUGUST THE MOST POPULAR MONTH TO START A HOLIDAY HOME SEARCH REVEALS PORTAL") for a job, I bought an Oxford English for beginners book and spent 10 hours a day learning. I knew if I couldn’t speak English, I could not work. I was committed to learning the language, and within four months, I [passed my university test](https://www.financedigest.com/ensuring-traders-pass-the-test-of-mifid-ii-and-mar.html "Ensuring traders pass the test of MiFID II and MAR") and accepted my place on the BA business course. I went to university because I believed I would get a better job. It was the second step. I then got decent jobs and progressed. When I started my business, I could speak and write English quite well after university, so it was not a problem. Now I [work with clients](https://www.financedigest.com/bank-of-barodas-new-digital-supply-chain-finance-solution-from-igtb-to-open-up-raft-of-working-capital-opportunities-for-clients-of-all-sizes.html "Bank of Baroda’s new digital Supply Chain Finance solution from iGTB to open up raft of working capital opportunities for clients of all sizes") in America, Australia, European countries, Africa, Mexico and Gibraltar. My first overseas project was in [Los Angeles](https://www.financedigest.com/patsnap-circumnavigates-northern-hemisphere-with-launch-of-los-angeles-office.html "PatSnap circumnavigates northern hemisphere with launch of Los Angeles office"). A London [company saw what I did and asked](https://www.financedigest.com/why-more-companies-are-asking-new-employees-to-commence-employment-before-christmas.html "Why more companies are asking new employees to commence employment BEFORE Christmas.") me to travel in 4 weeks. I was unsure how I would do this, but I had to find a way. My manufacturers are in Prague, Czechia, and although they speak English too, I think that what I said in other languages meant that they could trust me more and felt the relationship was more robust. Most countries I deal with speak English, but I have [needed to hire](https://www.financedigest.com/5-key-things-you-need-to-know-before-hiring-your-first-employee.html "5 Key Things You Need to Know Before Hiring Your First Employee") a translator for places like Mexico. The most significant [benefit of being multilingual is my communication](https://www.financedigest.com/teach-first-reaps-the-benefits-of-joined-up-communications-with-via-voice.html "Teach first reaps the benefits of joined-up communications with via voice ") with my suppliers. I [speak three languages](https://www.financedigest.com/how-can-fintechs-better-engage-zillennials-with-their-financial-health-the-answer-lies-in-speaking-to-them-in-their-own-language.html "How can fintechs better engage Zillennials with their financial health? The answer lies in speaking to them in their own language"), and English was the only language I chose to learn. I now think in English because I mostly talk in English. Communication is so essential in [business because it builds trust](https://www.financedigest.com/trusting-your-gut-how-to-harness-the-power-of-your-business-instincts.html "Trusting your gut: how to harness the power of your business instincts"). I still have to ask people to [speak clearly](https://www.financedigest.com/speaking-clearly-the-case-for-voice-biometrics.html "Speaking Clearly: The Case for Voice Biometrics"), and emails help. In the same way, you learn a language, you can absorb the terms of your business, and you have to keep learning. One [day you will think](https://www.financedigest.com/over-a-third-of-uk-people-think-thomas-whitmore-from-independence-day-will-be-joined-by-donald-trump-in-disneys-hall-of-presidents.html "Over a third of UK people think Thomas Whitmore from Independence Day will be joined by Donald Trump in Disney’s Hall of Presidents") about your business more fluently, just like a language. How to scale up and how to do things better. It will help if you stay open-minded. If you learn languages, you can find you are asking new questions—your [mindset changes](https://www.financedigest.com/dispute-management-mindset-changing-the-disputes-game.html "Dispute Management Mindset: Changing the disputes game") because you know terminologies that open your mind to new ideas. If I had not learned three languages, my options would have been limited, and I would have dedicated myself to [creating my business](https://www.financedigest.com/how-to-create-financial-goals-for-your-business-in-2021.html "How To Create Financial Goals For Your Business In 2021") with the determination to succeed. At home, we try to speak Latvian, but increasingly we break into English. I am a straightforward speaker because I learned it this way. I then don’t [know other alternatives of how to tell people what I want or need](https://www.financedigest.com/g20-summit-what-you-need-to-know-now.html "G20 Summit: What you need to know now"). I sometimes confuse English words that mean different things, making me laugh. Humour is so important in communication, and I have found that it helps me to do business. People get used to the way that we use different languages and our accents [change](https://www.financedigest.com/artificial-intelligence-change-way-sell.html "Artificial Intelligence Could Change The Way We Sell") the way things are interpreted. When I noticed the sequin panel on Instagram, I knew I needed it. I found the factory in Prague, reached out and bought my first backdrop. When someone asked me to put it up, others asked how they could have the same solar sequin wall products. I asked the factory if I could sell more. A few months later, I realised that potential clients were going straight to the factory. I needed to [gain their trust and become the exclusive SolaAir Sequin Wall](https://www.financedigest.com/dollar-gains-as-wall-street-retreats-on-future-fed-hikes.html "Dollar gains as Wall Street retreats on future Fed hikes") UK Distributor. They were impressed with me, my [progress and what I had done for the sequin walls](https://www.financedigest.com/wall-street-gains-dollar-climbs-on-solid-data-debt-ceiling-progress.html "Wall Street gains, dollar climbs on solid data, debt ceiling progress") and agreed. Now overseas clients find me; I don’t look for them. When my sequin walls began to feature in the celebrity world, that was when my [business began to take off globally](https://www.financedigest.com/from-a-year-of-disruption-to-gentle-growth-what-2018-may-hold-for-the-global-business-landscape.html "From a year of disruption to gentle growth: What 2018 may hold for the global business landscape"). I have adapted quickly because my mind is trained to learn. A high-profile influencer with millions of followers tagged us in an [Instagram post](https://www.financedigest.com/whats-the-best-time-to-post-on-instagram.html "What’s the best time to post on Instagram"), which went viral. I then targeted advertising in more countries and took part in events with new creations, and that was when I noticed the [business expanding](https://www.financedigest.com/expanding-your-business.html "Expanding your business") to another level. Learning English has meant that I can [run my business](https://www.financedigest.com/4-signs-you-have-what-it-takes-to-run-a-business.html "4 Signs You Have What It Takes to Run a Business") in three languages, opening doors that I would never have known existed. --- This blog is powered by Superblog. Visit https://superblog.ai to know more. ---