"The US looks familiar. Everyone speaks English. The contracts look similar. And that's the trap."
— from the book
22 CHAPTERS · 5 PARTS
What's Inside
PART I — The Transatlantic Illusion
Why the US looks familiar but operates on an entirely different frequency. The familiarity trap, the speed gap, and the scale problem nobody warns you about.
PART II — How the US Really Works
Regional buyer differences, how Americans actually buy, building a US team, legal landmines, and the financial realities of operating on American soil.
PART III — Where Expansions Fail
The five structural failures that kill most European expansions — and how to recognize them before they take root.
PART IV — The Playbook
What successful European companies actually do differently: team structure, decision-making, customer relationships, and the long game.
PART V — The Long View
Staying power, succession planning, and what it means to truly commit to the American market.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Thomas Blechinger
President & CEO · Austrian-born · Virginia Beach, VA
Thomas started his career at sixteen as an apprentice on the shop floor of an Austrian factory. Over three decades, he worked his way through manufacturing, engineering, and executive leadership across Europe, Asia, and the Americas. He serves as President & CEO of the North American subsidiary of a global European industrial manufacturer since 2016. This book distills two decades of hard-won lessons from building a real American business — not from a textbook, but from the front lines.
Bridging the Atlantic™ is the first in a series of books exploring the real differences between European and American business — from corporate culture and leadership to industry operations and beyond.
