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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The Key To Break Through Language Limitations As An Adult

The Key To Break Through Language Limitations As An Adult

Have you struggled with language learning as an adult?Or have you ever given up on something else you wanted to do because someone told you it wasn’t possible?English Pronunciation Expert and Coach Aiko Hemingway shared in her recent TEDx Talk at Huntington Beach how...

3 Reasons To Get Professional Photos

3 Reasons To Get Professional Photos

Do you like having your photo taken? We always check with event participants whether they’re okay with us taking photos to share on social media. One of our participants - a lovely Japanese lady - always said, “No.” She didn’t like having her photo taken. So we did...

3 Tips To Deal With Negative People

3 Tips To Deal With Negative People

How do you react when people around you are negative or angry? The other day, during an event for The #LessEffortMoreImpact Movement for Women in Business, the fire alarm at our venue went off. We immediately evacuated the building. While waiting for the alarm to stop...

The Most Effective Way To Use A Laser Pointer

The Most Effective Way To Use A Laser Pointer

Have you been in a presentation where the speaker is using a laser pointer? This could be in person or online. You see that little red dot shakily attempting to underline a phrase, whizzing from one side of the screen to the other, and even twirling in circles. Have...

3 Ways To Save Time Practicing Presentations

3 Ways To Save Time Practicing Presentations

If you’re like many busy business professionals, you’re rushing to finish your presentation slides at the last minute and definitely don’t have time to practice your delivery. Sound familiar? Here’s the problem… Your slides may be logical, comprehensive, and...

9 Things To Do When You’re Not Feeling Your Best (And 2 To Avoid)

9 Things To Do When You’re Not Feeling Your Best (And 2 To Avoid)

What do you do when you’re feeling down? How do you handle your own negative thinking or low energy? I take time to acknowledge how I’m feeling and consider the cause (so that I can do something about it if it’s within my control). Then, here are 9 things I find...

Do You Really Need To Say “Sorry”?

Do You Really Need To Say “Sorry”?

I was on a call to confirm details about an upcoming corporate speaking engagement. Since we were meeting online for the first time, everyone briefly introduced themselves. I was struck by how each of the Japanese women immediately apologized or put themselves down in...

A Funny Story About Learning From Mistakes

A Funny Story About Learning From Mistakes

Well, this story certainly got a laugh from the audience at our recent event for The #LessEffortMoreImpact Movement for Women in Business. Around 30 years ago (!!!), I was working as a Coordinator for International Relations at Yokohama City Hall. I’d been asked to...

Too Embarrassed To Admit Taking Time Off

Too Embarrassed To Admit Taking Time Off

I lied. I was HORRIFIED because I like to think of myself as an honest person. But the lie just plopped out of my mouth before I could even think. While ordering lunch from a Thai food truck near my office in Ginza, I told the vendor that I’d just got back from...

Is It Wrong To Lean Into Easy?

Is It Wrong To Lean Into Easy?

Thank you to everyone who emailed me about last week’s Sasuga! Tips For You newsletter: How can you apply “less effort” in your work? If you missed it, you can read it here on the Sasuga! blog or on LinkedIn articles. One lovely lady wrote: Thank you for explaining...

How Can You Apply “Less Effort” In Your Work?

How Can You Apply “Less Effort” In Your Work?

If you hear “less effort,” what does that mean to you? Is it positive or negative? Some people interpret “less effort” as lazy or unrealistic if you want to succeed in a demanding business environment. Makes sense. That’s because it’s drummed into many of us from...