Thought Leadership

Episode #161: Effective Project Management Rules

Why Do So Many Projects Fail Even When We Know What to Do? Modern organizations have access to decades of proj...

Episode #162: We Won't Follow Bots

Automation and artificial intelligence are rapidly transforming industries once thought safe from machines. Fr...

Episode #163: Dream It

Why do so many professionals still underestimate their own potential? “We all have possibilities we don’t know...

Why the Consultative Sales Approach Needs a Makeover in Japan

Many salespeople arriving in Japan assume that sales techniques are universal. They expect the same logic that...

Episode #164: Leaders: Get Off the Chems

Why do smart leaders still lose control in stressful moments? Our ancient survival instincts still govern our ...

Finding the Balance in Japanese Sales — Confidence Without Pushiness

Sales expert Victor Antonio warns against using “weasel words”—phrases like perhaps, maybe, could—that signal ...

Episode #165: Stage Fright Got You?

Why do professionals in Japan struggle with stage fright? Hands shaking, knees knocking, heart pounding — stag...

Episode #166: Keep Your Shtick To Yourself Buddy

Why Do So Many Salespeople Still Rely on Image Over Insight? Despite sharp suits, glossy brochures, and memori...

Episode #167: The 106 Centimeter Cold Caller

Why Do So Many Salespeople Struggle to Meet Targets in Japan? Sales professionals worldwide are masters at fin...

Episode #168: Real Freedom

Why do intelligent professionals, leaders, and entrepreneurs still struggle with worry and negative thinking —...

Episode #169: Three Critical Things Entrepreneurs Need

Why do so many talented entrepreneurs struggle even with good ideas and capital? The answer lies not in resour...

Qualifying Buyers Faster in Japan — How to Read Buying Signals and Avoid Time Sinks

In practice, about one third of prospects will never buy, one third will buy later, and one third are ready no...

Episode #170: Gaining Willing Cooperation From Others

Why Individual Heroism No Longer Works in Modern Organizations For many years, business success stories have f...

Episode #171: Employees As Number One

Why Should Executives Prioritize Employees Before Customers or Shareholders? Many CEOs claim “people are our m...

Episode #172: People Are A Pain

Why Are “People Problems” the Hardest to Solve in Business? Most business issues — from capital shortages to i...

Episode #173: Japan - Your Educational Ladder Is On The Wrong Wall

Why does Japan’s education system still focus on memorization over innovation? Japanese education remains deep...

Episode #174: Training Women In Japan

Why Is Gender Diversity Still a Challenge in Japanese Business? Despite years of government campaigns, includi...

Episode #175: The Boss's Genius Ideas

Are strong, dynamic leaders sometimes their own worst enemy? When leaders like Shinya Katanozaka, President of...

Episode #176: Running A Foreign Business In Japan

Why is running a profitable business in Japan so difficult? Japan is one of the toughest places to run a busin...

Selling in Japan: Navigating the Sales Process and Decision-Making Culture

Across industries, many salespeople in Japan and abroad operate without a structured understanding of the full...