Your rabid support for the Sea Shepherd Conservation Society obliges you to refuse a bowl of shark fin soup during a dinner with clients in Shanghai. Your clients are insulted by your refusal and complain about your conduct to your boss. Welcome to unemployment.

The electronic devices your company sells don't work in Europe because the American engineering team didn't consider voltage differences between countries. Your European clients think you're great, but they'll be taking their business to a competing company, thanks.

Your hotel in Delhi runs out of toilet paper, but you brought your own roll from the United States. Having avoided a case of the itchy butt, you're able to give a flawless sales presentation that impresses your clients and convinces them to buy from you.

Someone steals your cell phone on the train in Rome. This doesn't stop you from selling $1 million in product to your Italian client…or from running into your future husband at the Trevi Fountain.

Your reputation in international sales is unsurpassed. A rival company contacts you with a sweet job offer: They want you to manage their international sales team, and they're willing to pay top dollar for your services.