Saturday, March 31, 2007
Japan
I have just arrived back from my trip to Japan. It was really nice. I learned a few things, made some interesting new connections, had a good time with my coworker Allain who came along on the trip, and most importantly got a taste of life and culture in Tokyo.
Japan is a notably service-oriented culture, and quite well ordered. I guess some find it to be an oppressive and overly homogeneous country as well, and there is always a balance to be sought between good order and liberty. In any case, I certainly appreciated being taken care of and helped with such efficiency and courtesy so often.
Japan has come such a long way in a relatively short time, development-wise. We gave them a modified version of our own constitution after WWII, and at this point they're probably following theirs better than we're following our own. The engine of capitalism has been unleashed there without the obscene drains of military and jail spending that we have in the USA. (Their military spending is capped at 1% of GNP by constitutional law, and the crime rate there is much lower.) Japan has had other inefficiencies, but I think they're mild compared to the waste that happens here.
I had 4 seats on the plane on the way back... That's better than flying first class.
I'm back in my office now... lots to do. Check back here in a couple of days for a major business acquisition announcement.
Japan is a notably service-oriented culture, and quite well ordered. I guess some find it to be an oppressive and overly homogeneous country as well, and there is always a balance to be sought between good order and liberty. In any case, I certainly appreciated being taken care of and helped with such efficiency and courtesy so often.
Japan has come such a long way in a relatively short time, development-wise. We gave them a modified version of our own constitution after WWII, and at this point they're probably following theirs better than we're following our own. The engine of capitalism has been unleashed there without the obscene drains of military and jail spending that we have in the USA. (Their military spending is capped at 1% of GNP by constitutional law, and the crime rate there is much lower.) Japan has had other inefficiencies, but I think they're mild compared to the waste that happens here.
I had 4 seats on the plane on the way back... That's better than flying first class.
I'm back in my office now... lots to do. Check back here in a couple of days for a major business acquisition announcement.
Tuesday, March 20, 2007
Update
I just watched The Notebook on DVD in my office. Someone told me it was good, I don't even remember who, and I spotted an inexpensive copy while I was buying a batch of DVDs online, so I added it to my order. I think it was the best love story I've seen on film. I didn't even realize -- until I started researching the film right after I finished watching it -- that it was directed by Nick Cassavetes, the son of John Cassavetes and Gena Rowlands, who plays one of the leads in the film. I guess people who don't buy poignant romances might find this one hard to take, but I found it quite affecting. (It spoke to me... I have been there. I've paid prices for the privilege too, but I wouldn't have it otherwise.) Well made.
This past weekend I made a trip to Los Cabos, at the southern tip of Baja California, with my 9-member forum group from the Entrepreneurs' Organization. It was a lovely trip. I gave a presentation on Myers-Briggs temperament types, about 4 hours, which seemed to be well received. Something about the energy of the place was really positive and life affirming. Kayaking and swimming in the ocean in the Sea of Cortez and the Pacific (on opposite sides of the little peninsula at the southernmost tip of Baja) was sublime.
Now I'm back in Los Angeles, working on some important, new, top-secret business developments that I can't announce now, but hopefully will soon. Then this weekend I'll be off to Tokyo for a week to attend another EO University conference. Then back for more business development work, and then Amsterdam next month. Busy times. Fortunately, we have some new blood in the company, and a lot of the team support that I'm going to be needing for explosive expansion we're engineering for this year, and which is already beginning to take shape.
In my last post I promised links to music soon. It's still coming. I've just been too busy and spread too thinly to get it up here... but it's coming.
This past weekend I made a trip to Los Cabos, at the southern tip of Baja California, with my 9-member forum group from the Entrepreneurs' Organization. It was a lovely trip. I gave a presentation on Myers-Briggs temperament types, about 4 hours, which seemed to be well received. Something about the energy of the place was really positive and life affirming. Kayaking and swimming in the ocean in the Sea of Cortez and the Pacific (on opposite sides of the little peninsula at the southernmost tip of Baja) was sublime.
Now I'm back in Los Angeles, working on some important, new, top-secret business developments that I can't announce now, but hopefully will soon. Then this weekend I'll be off to Tokyo for a week to attend another EO University conference. Then back for more business development work, and then Amsterdam next month. Busy times. Fortunately, we have some new blood in the company, and a lot of the team support that I'm going to be needing for explosive expansion we're engineering for this year, and which is already beginning to take shape.
In my last post I promised links to music soon. It's still coming. I've just been too busy and spread too thinly to get it up here... but it's coming.
