Uncategorized – Grit – Passion & Perseverance

Control What You Can Control

In her memoir, Becoming, Michelle Obama wrote about how not trying to control what she couldn’t control saved her marriage. According to the former first lady, her husband, the former president Barack Obama, was not a punctual person. Before the White House, they lived separately. Her husband worked as a senator in D.C., while sheContinue reading “Control What You Can Control”

Lead Like Conducting an Orchestra

“So, what do you do?” This is a very typical question that you get from people you meet for the first time.“I manage an IT team in a Japanese bank,” is my typical answer. I’ve been managing IT teams in a traditional Japanese bank for the last 14 years.Some people then ask me, “Ok, butContinue reading “Lead Like Conducting an Orchestra”

Are You Willing To Fail?

Are you WTF – Willing To Fail? A while ago, I read WTF?! (Willing to Fail): How Failure Can Be Your Key to Success by Brian Scudamore, the founder of 1-800-GOT-JUNK? and the pioneer of the professional junk removal industry. This is a very powerful and inspiring book, as well as being fun to read.Continue reading “Are You Willing To Fail?”

Toastmasters

What is Toastmasters?That’s what I thought, when I saw a Facebook post where somebody said that she had given a speech at a Toastmasters meeting.I got curious, Googled, and found that Toastmasters was a US headquartered nonprofit educational organization promoting public speaking and leadership skills, with clubs worldwide. Ok, this is interesting! I looked for clubsContinue reading “Toastmasters”

Learn to Listen, Listen to Learn

There are many organizations and training courses to help improve public speaking skills – to help lean to speak effectively to deliver our messages to our audience.But what about receiving messages? It is when we listen that we learn. When your mouth is open, you’re not learning. — Buddha Everyone that you will ever meetContinue reading “Learn to Listen, Listen to Learn”

Happy New Year!

Happy New Year 2020! We started 2020 with a traditional Japanese New Year’s foods collectively called Osechi. Most Japanese households used to make Osechi. I remember my mother would start preparing the dishes a week prior to the New Year’s Day. Nowadays, many households purchase Osechi from restaurants, department stores, or supermarkets. In the pastContinue reading “Happy New Year!”

Effects of Piano Practice

Last week, I performed in a piano concert and that was a disaster.I started taking piano lessons several years ago, without any past experience. It was very difficult for me to control my left hand fingers, while my daughters, who had started piano when they reached 5 years of age, moved their both hands soContinue reading “Effects of Piano Practice”

A Disastrous Piano Concert

I started taking piano lessons at 43, with zero prior experience. I’d wanted to learn how to play piano since I was a kid. Bill, an accomplished Bulgarian pianist, came to our house on Saturdays to teach my daughters. One day, I asked if he could spare an extra hour to also teach me. HeContinue reading “A Disastrous Piano Concert”

There is No Such Thing As an “R” in Japanese

I had been perfectly ok with my Japanese accent. I’ve been in a management position for over 14 years, and communication has been the biggest part of my job. I communicate with people at different levels, from my staff to C-Suite officers. I negotiate with vendors. I host meetings. I attend conferences. I’d never feltContinue reading “There is No Such Thing As an “R” in Japanese”

To Have Another Language is to Possess a Second Soul

“To Have Another Language is to Possess a Second Soul.“ Charlemagne, a former Roman emperor (2 April 748– 28 January 814), said. I believe that having a second soul or a wide range of thoughts helps to understand people with different backgrounds. That is the key to diversification and inclusion. Although I don’t think thatContinue reading “To Have Another Language is to Possess a Second Soul”