Moving To Israel From America

I understand exactly what you’re going through. You are thinking about moving to Israel, or you just moved to Israel from America. Maybe you are a new Olim or maybe you moved for love, like I did.

Well I want to tell you that Israel is a different place to live than the US… and that’s for sure!

This is a topic that come up quite often as a life coach in Tel Aviv, Israel… So, I want to share three pieces of advice if you have just moved to Israel from America, or you are thinking about doing so.

Tip Number One: Get Yourself a Pair of Headphones / Earphones

Why would you need earphones? Because Israel is a loud place. People definitely yell in Israel much more than in the US. Around the city, people are always rushing and the streets are loud… especially if you’re in Tel Aviv.

It’s nice to be able to listen to your own music and get into your own world. I recommend creating a sense of familiarity for yourself by listening to some of your favorite music while going about the city in Israel that you just moved into from the US.

Create your own comfort through consistent auditory injections.

Tip Number Two: Keep Your Guard Up

For example: Keep your guard up the same way that you would avoid being taken advantage of by the car mechanic who can easily dupe the average consumer that doesn’t know about the inner workings of an automobile.

In Israel, you definitely want to keep your guard up. Why? Because the overall philosophy of people in Israel is different from in America. A HUGE saying here is, “Don’t be a friar”. Translated, what this means is “Don’t be a sucker”.

From my own personal experience, if you are gullible or naive you will be taken advantage of much faster in Israel than in America. If you are a “sucker” while you are living in Israel, you will be duped often. In addition, the person who just took advantage of you will call you a “friar”.

If somebody offers you something that sounds awesome, you can be a bit skeptical. You should go ahead and ask another question or two to get all of the details of the awesome offer to make sure it is authentic and sincere.

Make sure that you’re keeping your eyes and your ears open, and stay sharp.

Tip Number Three: Take the Stick Out of Your Butt

For those of you already living in Israel as an American then you already know that the Israeli society as a whole is not formal.

If you are thinking of moving to Israel from the US something important that you should know, is that things are very familial here. Meaning, everybody treats each other as if they are brothers and sisters. Both in good ways and in bad ways.

People in Israel speak their mind. No “American Political Correctness”. Israelis can be brutally honest about their opinions, and are quite direct in self-expression.

You should do the same. You should be straightforward, and you can be blunt. Moreover, don’t be uptight with your words. When moving to Israel as an American, take the stick out of your butt when you land in the country.

About the creator of Moving to Israel from America

My name is Claude Lee Massey, I’ve been living in Tel Aviv for 10+ years… and what an adventure it has been! I remember the day I arrived in Israel, I had NO money – NO friends – and NO job. So, how exactly did I become a life coach and career counselor in Tel Aviv, Israel?

Here is my story…

About five years ago (after 15+ years of soul-searching), I had a realization: That I was put here on this planet to teach and to share the knowledge I have. Along with that powerful revelation, I had a powerful insight: “I want to open my own consulting business”.

As the start-up capital of the world, Israel has plenty of new companies with growing English speaking sales teams. Therefore, with my 15+ years of experience in the field of sales, I decided to open a sales training/consulting company.

I never thought that I would open my own business in Israel…but I did!

At once, I went to an accountant to file the proper paperwork to legally operate my NEW sales consulting company. Afterwards, I began to use all of my spare time (at this point I had a full-time job for a high-tech company) after work and before work creating materials and trying to acquire clients.

Most importantly, I knew what I had to do and whom I wanted to target.

I started cold calling companies in Tel Aviv, Herzliya, Ramat Gan, Jerusalem, Bat Yam, and Holon. Moreover, I was working like a madman. I was sending emails and doing everything in my power to try to generate momentum in my business.

It was, and is brutal being an entrepreneur, but great news! I was able to find my first few clients!

Something I immediately noticed, was at the conclusion of my sales training workshops (where I focused on selling through telling stories, and teaching specific sales techniques), two things would happen consistently happen:

Firstly, I would receive feedback that the sales training workshop provided massive value. Secondly, one or two of the students in the course would privately approach me.

They would speak with me about their struggles, not only in sales but also in life.

Then one time, a female student offered to pay me for a one-on-one sit down session outside of the office. She asked me to help her figure out a better career path. As a struggling entrepreneur, I accepted.

Another student, at another company, approached me and offered to pay me for my time to help prepare him for a job interview. Yes, he was planning to leave the sales job that he was at.

Similarly, another student from another workshop, at another company me to help them work with their confidence and being able to communicate efficiently. This would happen again, and again…

Each person with his or her own challenge. They knew I was not certified or professionally trained. Still, they would approach me and offer to pay me for my time.

To sit with them and help figure things out, and to give them my guidance. These first clients called me their “Life Coach” or “Career Counselor“.

Moreover, I was able to help them! At the conclusion of our 3 to 5 one-on-one sessions, they each had taken took massive steps forward towards the results they wanted.

Eventually, enough people paid me to sit down with them, and called me their Career Counselor or Life Coach… that I began to call myself a “Career Counselor” and ”Life Coach”.

Most people set out to become a trained and certified life coach or career counselor before ever having a client. However, I never said I wanted to be a life coach or a career counselor,