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Dmitry Grozoubinski Profile picture
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7 Mar, 5 tweets, 2 min read
1/ The UK government clearly feels it needs to deliver some tough messages to Brussels (and I suspect to be seen doing so by UK domestic audiences).

What baffles is why it keeps choosing as the messenger the one person it needs to have good, collaborative relations with the EU.
2/ Whatever one thinks of the Johnson Cabinet, it's clearly not lacking in people willing to criticize the EU on the front page of the Telegraph.

Why not tag in literally anyone else? I'm sure JRM has some thoughts to share, very possibly in Latin.
3/ The same message delivered by another senior figure at least leaves Frost SOME distance.

"Yes I can appreciate you didn't like reading that but you must understand tensions are high and this is a sensitive matter. Let's find some common ground and lower the temperature."
4/ During the FTA negotiations, Davidson/Frost and Barnier repeatedly exchanged testy press-conferences and dueling tweets, and the role of lowering the temperature fell to the Leaders.

That moment has passed. Von Der Leyen and Johnson can't constantly be resetting talks. 🤷‍♂️/end
5/ Note: In trying to provide y'all with what I hope is useful analysis, I deliberately set aside questioning the motives and good faith of the parties involved.

I cannot tell you how boring I find getting 50 replies to the tune of, "BUT U DON'T REALIZE, THEY IZ CUNTZ"

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Dmitry Grozoubinski Profile picture
5 Mar
A great point in a good thread on how not to be taken advantage of in price negotiations as a freelancer or content creator.

Would add: Accepting a vastly lower price reduces your ability to honestly say "On average, clients pay $xyz per hour for my work." A strong argument.
If there is a gig you really want to do where they honestly can't afford your standard rate I'd recommend either:

1️⃣ Doing it pro bono;
2⃣ Negotiating non monetary compensation like in-kind services, advertising etc; or
3️⃣ Invoicing as full price - discount so its clear.
Negotiating as a freelancer/content creator sucks, because it can often feel like the client has all the power and their attempts to low ball you feel demeaning.

The critical part is learning to tell a compelling story about the value you deliver compared to cheaper options.
Read 11 tweets
Dmitry Grozoubinski Profile picture
22 Feb
@sturdyAlex Dearest Marie,

The fires of this war pale compared to the flames of my love for you. General Khan has us dug in deep around Embankment in anticipation of an offensive by the Samuel Plimsoll statue there erected. I only pray I show courage when its stony eyes upon me fall.
@sturdyAlex I miss our home-cooking terribly. The lads try to maintain a brave face, but the heroic Deliveroo and Uber drivers on whom we rely for rations and kebabs are increasingly infrequent, no doubt falling prey to Nelson's bombardment from atop Trafalgar.
@sturdyAlex Though I would never criticize the General, I can't help but fear that our commitment of forces to this statue offensive has left the cities flanks vulnerable to a strike by the criminal army.

I am sure he knows what he's doing, but do keep a shotgun by the porch, for my sake.
Read 4 tweets
Dmitry Grozoubinski Profile picture
19 Feb
1/ "Tackling Chinese Subsidies" is an increasingly common call to arms, and so here's my attempt at an explainer thread.

Note: I wanted to keep away from personalities and Brexit with this one, so I'll be focusing on China and trade, not @trussliz.

thesun.co.uk/news/14089864/…
2/ "So what's this all about?"

For years, some other countries have accused China of using government authority, influence and money give Chinese firms advantages that businesses in other countries don't get.
3/ "So what, it's the government of China, of course it supports Chinese firms?"

The problem is the global trading system is kind of built on a trade-off (sorry).

Governments agreed to lower tariffs in exchange for also agreeing not to subsidize too much.
Read 19 tweets
Dmitry Grozoubinski Profile picture
16 Feb
1/ My pet theory on conservative culture wars the world over is they can be effective politically but only provided the government doesn't get carried and actually try to do anything... at which point the wheels tend to come off.
2/ Whatever you think of its substance or ethics, banging on rhetorically about the War on Christmas, cancel culture, woke statue assassins, student lefties and communist academics clearly has some electoral appeal.

Focus groups are clearly telling governments it's a winner.
3/ However, when you move from railing in principle against these social forces to enacting policies to defeat them you almost inevitably do a couple of things that ruin the appeal.
Read 8 tweets
Dmitry Grozoubinski Profile picture
19 Jan
1/ Regulations are ultimately about managing risk, whether that risk is fraud, unsafe practices or someone building an ugly building.

The more (actually or performatively) worried you are about the specific risk, the more checks, approvals, rules and guidelines you put in place.
2/ Governments on both the left and right actually have similarly low appetites for risk, they just focus primarily on different risk categories and operate from an assumption that different groups are bastards that must be watched.
3/ Left wing governments have a tendency to focus on risks arising from business activities and capital.

Their regulations tend to assume that management are bastards, and must be monitored and constrained lest they exploit people or generate negative externalities for profit.
Read 9 tweets
Dmitry Grozoubinski Profile picture
18 Jan
1/ A challenge in parsing Brexit news is that businesses are facing overlapping types of challenges that can be difficult to separate.

The key questions are:
1⃣ Given the model of Brexit chosen, could this have been prevented, and by whom?
2⃣ Can it get better?
2/ To put those another way:

"If you knew everything you needed to know and did everything right, is your existing business and delivery model still viable and competitive?"

The answer to that question determines if for you the problem is Brexit, or how Brexit was delivered.
3/ Some of the challenges at borders could have been prevented while still having the exact same model of Brexit (No Single Market, No Customs Union, but an FTA).

That they're appearing is an implementation failure and you can fully support Brexit but still be pissed about them.
Read 11 tweets

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