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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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...
Well, this story certainly got a laugh from the audience at our recent event. Around 30 years ago (!!!), I was working as a Coordinator for International Relations at Yokohama City Hall. I’d been asked to show some important foreign visitors around the city. When I...
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...
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...
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...
One of my clients is starting an executive role in a new company. He wants coaching to help him be his best. One area he asked for advice was how to work effectively with his new executive assistant. My first tip was to talk with her and ask about her work style and...
Think of the last time you received bad news. How did you react? Has bad news ever turned out to be good news for you? Let me share 4 brief personal examples from a recent trip: Bad news 1: After flying from Haneda and landing at Heathrow, the first email I saw was...
When did you first become interested in personal development? I was 19 years old, and my old German teacher recommended a seminar that was held at The Queens Hotel in Leeds, UK. I passed by there last week. Ms Novakovic was quite a character. When she returned one of...
How easily are you distracted by work chat and other instant messaging? Are you sometimes frustrated by interruptions, but simultaneously compelled to reply immediately? Read on to discover How work interruptions cost you more than just your time to respond 4 tips...
Have you ever been in a meeting where your colleague didn’t seem to be paying attention or contributing fully? You might feel frustrated. But you probably don’t know what’s going on in that person’s life that could be distracting them. One day, I joined a 1:1 coaching...
“My son has been sick this week, and he ended up watching YouTube for kids all day since he wants to be in my room where I work. I felt bad.” This is a classic example of mum guilt. In many cases, “Mum guilt” (or “Mom guilt” or “Mommy guilt”) is when you want to be a...
I was amused when I read an article about how Japanese people were taking classes to learn how to smile after spending so long wearing masks during the pandemic. It makes sense though. Our facial expression has a huge impact on our communication to others as well as...