Brittany Arthur, creator and host of the Business Karaoke podcast, was kind enough to invite me on her show to discuss a variety of topics relevant to running a small to medium-sized enterprise (SME) in Japan. More of a conversation than an interview, we covered the following and much more:
Read MoreReading a few extra books over the summer months can be a great way to beat the heat. That especially holds true this year with people around the globe spending more time indoors and social distancing.
If you’ve attended any of my seminars or have been following my work, you’re probably familiar with the books that have changed the way I live and work. Only time will tell if the following books achieve that same legendary status. However, I can confidently say they are well worth a read during the waning months of summer.
Read MoreI recently had the opportunity to share my story on the Small Business Japan Podcast, hosted by Josh Smith, a true global entrepreneur. In this wide-ranging interview, I explain how my career on both sides of the Pacific paved the way for Saga Consulting and my mission of helping Japanese companies and professionals communicate with global audiences.
Josh asked a variety of intriguing questions, and in this podcast you’ll learn how to:
Read MoreIf you are a sole proprietor or small business owner, time is your most important resource. How you use it has a direct impact on the success and profitability of your business.
Unfortunately, quality marketing demands a lot of time, and entrepreneurs constantly struggle with balancing their time between their core business and marketing efforts. Therefore, carefully selecting which social media channels to use and deciding how you use them is a critical business decision.
Read MoreEven though the coronavirus-induced state of emergency in Tokyo has been lifted, many professionals continue to work remotely. Staying productive is an ongoing challenge, but in addition to the right mindset, the right tools can also help.
Read MoreAlthough my services are primarily designed for small- to medium-sized Japanese companies that seek to engage global audiences, I’m often asked about what it takes to do business in the opposite direction: marketing to Japanese companies in Japanese.
To answer this question, I turned to a prominent member of my network, Takatomo Homma, who kindly agreed to write a guest blog post on this topic.
Read MoreWith more and more Japanese companies implementing remote working practices because of the Covid-19 pandemic, several clients and colleagues have asked me for tips on how to work efficiently from home.
As a sole proprietor in the marketing and communication field, I was already doing at least 50 percent of my work remotely before the pandemic. Now that, for the time being, I’m doing nearly all of my work from home, I’ve realized that there are three basic behaviors that keep me productive when working at a coworking space or on-site with a client is no longer an option.
Read MoreOn Friday, March 20, 2020, I presented the latest version of Finding Your First Clients in Japan, a seminar designed to help designers, coders, writers, and other service providers launch sole proprietorships or small businesses in their fields.
Occurring during the backdrop of the coronavirus pandemic, organizing this seminar presented the unique challenge of shifting what was intended to be an in-person networking event to a live, virtual format. Thankfully Asama Toyozawa of Blink Smart Workspace and Saga Partner LIFE.14 stepped up to deliver an online event with exceptional production values.
Read MoreThanks to a recent collaboration with LIFE.14, a Saga Partner, I’m excited to share content in a brand new format. Check out the video below for a brief overview of Social Networking and Personal Branding on the Global Stage, one of my most popular seminars.
Read MoreNovember 29, 2019, marked the release of the highly anticipated Startup Guide Tokyo. Often referred to as the “Lonely Planet for aspiring entrepreneurs,” the paperback book is packed with valuable resources regarding the startup scene of the world’s third-largest economy.
Read MoreI’ll be presenting the latest version of my social networking and personal branding seminar on November 22, 2019, at Blink Smart Space in Roppongi Tokyo. This event is designed for university students and entry-level professionals, however, anyone interested in getting started with global networking tools such as LinkedIn is welcome to join us. Sign up here and read on to learn more.
Read MoreI'm grateful to be featured in the "Japan Network Updates" section of The Japan Times. A “directory of who’s who in the world of business in Japan,” this section of the country’s leading source of English-language news furthers communication with Japan’s foreign community and compiles profiles of company presidents, ambassadors, and other active leaders.
Read MoreFor the third year in a row, we are proud to collaborate with LIFE.14 to produce video interviews and social media content at the ACCJ Kansai Women in Business Summit. This year’s event is on September 24 and will once again be held at the Hilton Osaka. For those attending, look for us during the reception for a chance to get in front of the camera and share your thoughts on the event.
Read MoreA large part of being a cross-cultural communications coach is helping mid-career professionals achieve their career goals through résumé writing and interview coaching.
On September 17, 2019, I gave the latest version of my résumé and interview seminar at the Blink Smart Workspace in Roppongi, Tokyo. In addition to the latest résumé writing tips, we also covered interview strategy and practiced the most common and challenging interview questions.
Read MoreDuring my recent Tokyo Digital Marketers Meetup presentation, I referenced several books that influenced my entrepreneurial journey. Audience members also asked about legal services such as immigration and accounting. Read on for a list filled with several books, a podcast, and a couple of legal and accounting resources that will give you the confidence you need to build your business.
Read MoreThe organizers of the Tokyo Digital Marketers Meetup have graciously invited me to share my story at an event on August 27, 2019. Here’s the full event summary of “How to Start a Small Business and Discover Your First Clients in Japan.”
Read MoreAs I continue to work with the Tadaima Japan team to grow their brand, the locations and content we cover have expanded far beyond the Arakicho district of Tokyo’s Shinjuku Ward. That brings us to our latest content roundup.
Read MoreEver since I started producing content related to Japan’s booming tourism industry, I have consistently encountered one question: What will Tokyo be like during the 2020 Olympic Games? So, I set out to find some answers from those who would know best.
Read MoreDuring my latest workshop on making successful presentations, I received several questions on a wide range of topics related to public speaking. Since we didn’t have time to cover everything in person, I decided to do a deep dive into these topics here in this blog post. Even if you weren’t able to join the workshop, you’ll still find some useful advice among the links below.
Read MoreIn the spirit of Presentation Zen, my seminars on advanced presentation techniques emphasize clean slides and powerful images.
After a recent seminar, a participant asked me where I sourced my photos--a good sign that my message was hitting home. Finding the right images for your presentation without breaking the bank can often be as challenging as giving the presentation itself.
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