Looking for the Sasuga! Podcast? After over 4 years and 219 episodes, the podcast is on pause.
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Below, you’ll find my latest blog posts to help you do brilliant work without sacrificing your personal life – less effort, more impact!

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Take A Break

Take A Break

Do you agree to do too much and expect too much of yourself? How is that affecting your health and other areas of your life? How much time for yourself are you scheduling into your calendar? In Episode 43 of the Sasuga! Podcast, you’ll hear Why it’s common to...

3 Tips For Video Conferences

3 Tips For Video Conferences

Is communicating by video conference becoming more common in your business? Even if it’s not yet, it probably will be soon. Not long ago, you would have had to go to a specially-equipped room in your company to join a video conference. Now, you can connect with...

Answer The Question!

Answer The Question!

What if you’re unintentionally annoying your global colleagues - especially global leaders - and clients? That would be bad, right? As part of my work coaching Japanese managers and executives in business communication skills, I sometimes speak with their senior...

Conclusion First Or Last?

Conclusion First Or Last?

You may have heard that it’s good to give your conclusion first in today’s business world. This is because many people are busy and want to get straight to the point. This can apply to your presentations, meetings, and emails. But if you’re Japanese, do you feel a...

When You Don’t Know A Word

When You Don’t Know A Word

Have you ever been in a business meeting and you didn’t understand something? If English is not your native language, but the meeting is in English and you hear a word or phrase that you don’t know, what do you do? When they first come to me, corporate clients and...

Getting Over Embarrassment

Getting Over Embarrassment

- An Interview with Miho Noguchi We all have embarrassing moments - such as going blank in a presentation, forgetting an important person’s name, sending a message to the wrong recipients, spilling something down a white shirt, breaking wind in a quiet office full of...

Communication Is More Than Words

Communication Is More Than Words

- An Interview with Miho Noguchi When you go to an event that has a professional MC, like a Japanese wedding reception or a high-level business function, are you amazed by how engaging the MC is and how confident he or she appears? Wouldn’t you like to know the...

The GOYA Approach To Personal And Professional Development

The GOYA Approach To Personal And Professional Development

I was walking in the park one morning when a Japanese lady who I often see exercising there came along with a pair of scissors! She said to me, “Goya,” and pointed over to the edge of the park, where a goya plant that was growing in her garden had spread over into the...

The Best Way To Reduce Stress

The Best Way To Reduce Stress

Do you sometimes feel stressed at work or in your personal life?  Maybe more than just sometimes? Stress not only feels awful, but it has a terrible impact on your communication with others and your health. Over the years, I’ve found what I consider the best way to...

Your Words Create Your Weaknesses And Strengths

Your Words Create Your Weaknesses And Strengths

How often do you think the same things and use the same words without fully considering the impact? This is the same for both English and Japanese. American author, Betty Eadie, said, “If we understood the power of our thoughts, we would guard them more closely. If we...

Speak Up Even If It’s Not Perfect – An Interview with Jim Fortin

Speak Up Even If It’s Not Perfect – An Interview with Jim Fortin

Do you ever tell yourself that something you do isn’t good enough? And that holds you back? I see this all the time when I’m coaching Japanese managers and executives. So many of them are hard on themselves. How about you? This is not unique to Japanese culture....