Peter I of Russia came up with the idea of sending delegations of young Russians to Western countries so that they could learn as much as possible in fields ranging from modern production methods to military organization. Peter was so enthusiastic about this plan that he joined on of these delegations himself and took an opportunity to learn about shipbuilding from the Dutch and, when it came down to work hard, using his hands, he requested not to be given a special treatment (he was over six feet tall and so strong that he could handle any kind of job). As these young Russians came back to Russia, they served as cadres training Russian manufacturers, artisans, etc. to use modern Western techniques in order to increase their productivity and the quality of their finished products.
Other reforms carried out by Peter had a more aesthetic goal: he ordered all men to shave off their beards, so that they did not look so old-fashioned and even wild (Russian men objected this on religious grounds, alleging a command n the Holy Scripture for men to keep their beards ) and change their medieval-looking clothes for modern Western clothes. Peter's reasoning was that people would change their mindset if they carried out changes in their lifestyle, and even though he managed to get Russia involved in European affairs, he failed to convince the majority of the population to adopt all the changes he demanded.