Perception of time plays a role in the way high-priority issues are manages by different cultures. In the Orient, patience is the key. For example, if an American sends a business proposal to a Japanese and does not receive a reply in two mounths, the American will assume the Japanese is not is not interested. Whereas in Japan, it means the person is building up to something of great importance. The impatience and sense of urgency displayed by many Americans are often ridiculed and exploited. One Japanese businessman remarked, “You Americans have one terrible weakness. If we make you wait long enough, you will agree to anythinh” (Aviel, 1990).