Published by
Richard Posner
Website
http://www.successinjapan.com
Contact Us
newsletter@successinjapan.com
Thoughts From Above And Below
Reflections of a Year Gone By
“A moral being is one who is capable of reflecting on his past actions and
their motives - of approving of some and disapproving of others”
~Charles Darwin~
If you are sitting pretty on December 31st, 2008, then hang up your cleats and let your life move forward blissfully on autopilot. You have all the money, love, fame and respect you could ever desire. You are serving the world while serving yourself. Congratulations.
But I have a sneaking suspicion that your life and the accomplishments you desire are far from optimal. And that insecurity -- that void -- is not a bad omen. It keeps you alive and adds meaning to life. The great accomplishments throughout history were not built by complacent-minded people. They were built by people driven by a desire to see just how high and far they could go in life.
Let's assume you have anywhere between one day and fifty or more years of life to go. Let's assume you have achieved little other than a survival lifestyle that depends on you going to work each day and making widgets or closing that next deal. That survival mode is God's grace to you. It is as if He is saying: "OK. You are not going to starve. You are not short in the intelligence department. I have given you good friends, love through many channels, and a general sense of well-being. Yes, Mom loved your sibling more than you.....so what are you going to do next - snore or soar?"
If you have read thus far, I am certain you want to soar. The alternative in 2009 is to sink and suffer.
The doomsayers are everywhere telling you that the economy is heading south, while implying that everyone is going to be a victim of this economic malaise. If you choose to believe that gloomy outlook, then just stay in bed for the rest of the year. But if you sense that these purveyors' of doom are totally unhelpful and dead wrong, then decide that this year - whether it be your 20th year or 70th on this planet - will be the very one where you run to daylight and soar to unimaginable heights.
While everyone buys into darkness and puts their collective heads in the sand, this can and will be your breakthrough year. When things look darkest, opportunity looms around every corner and on the other side of every deep valley. Life is balance and always has been. Where there is loss, gain can't help but be over the horizon. This is law, not some esoteric notion!
Congratulations on being alive and ready to reach your stride. This is going to be a great year full of fantastic opportunities amidst an economic paradigm shift.
I promise you that I will give insightful, honest information about Japan to help you see options for success which you might not have seen. Let me serve you, and you me. Together we will reach unimaginable heights in the next 365 days. Get ready to roll in '09.
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Japan Niche Opportunities of the Week
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The time is ripe for going green and any enterprising person or business could take advantage of it. Eco Action Point is the Japanese government's call to arms in protecting our planet, and putting Japan on the right footing. It often takes incentives or bribes to make people do what should be common sense and responsible, but why find fault or suspicion with right-thinking actions that are implicitly unacceptable to an overwhelming majority of citizens? |
The Environment Ministry says the emission volume in fiscal 2007 increased 8.7% over fiscal 1990, and the volume in the household sector jumped 30%. The Ministry is trying to "encourage changes in consumer behavior and reduce household-sector emissions." The Eco Action Plan - supported by 20 companies nationwide - awards points to consumers buying eco-friendly goods and services from authorized sponsors. When 2,500 points are accumulated, individuals can exchange them for daily necessities, such as a solar-cell radio, or electronics money. They can also donate the points to projects to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. A problem with the program is that participating enterprises shoulder costs associated with return services. But an official at JCB Co., which is in charge of creating the point project, said, "Enterprises can also have benefits such as showing their contributions to society." Hmm? Altruism is not a mainstream idea in Japan yet, but such projects may yet have an impact on that phenomena. For an example of the type of companies leading the way, visit Econos' homepage.
An Opportunity: With the world economy on hold or falling into the abyss, many governments are going to use this downturn as a stimulus to create eco-friendly jobs and businesses to offset high unemployment rates and bankruptcies. You can expect the Japanese government to mirror the intentions of President-elect Obama. One area of serious concern is that most houses in Japan are poorly insulated and this of course leads to unneeded energy costs. Most houses in Japan are made to be torn down and rebuilt in a generation. The cost of materials to do that will begin to skyrocket in the coming years because of oil depletion and government incentives to build homes which last. Enterprising green businesses of the profit and non-profit ilk are bound to increase. It's not just a fad anymore. There are so many rural and semi-rural areas in Japan where you can set up shop for a fraction of the cost of doing so in big cities. You can build eco-villages meant to educate the masses on how to care for their homes and how to become more self-sufficient. Most assuredly you could also plug your villages in several ways to Eco Action Plan. A good reference point for taking action on this idea can be found on the Global Ecovillage Network site.
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The online business newsletter, NikkeiNet, talks about yet another trend which won't disappear, bicycle rentals for commuters. The reason why it won't go away is that a majority of people dependent on a job rather than Multiple Sources of Income (MSIs) are working more for less. Security on the job - if it ever did exist - is history. Besides bicycles, more travelers and commuters are turning to comfortable and affordable buses for long-distance travel to resort areas on and off the Shinkansen runs. On the bus front, I can vouch for the popularity of distance buses. They line the streets of Tokorozawa Station (where I live) day and night with a constant queue of willing passengers. Not all are retirees either. Frugality and economy are buzzwords around present-day Japan. |
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An Opportunity:
One concern, Japan Biker Rentals, has already jumped on this bandwagon. They offer touring motorbikes and claim Japan is a biker's paradise - with scenic routes and perfectly paved highways and byways. When I thought about it, they're absolutely right. On the more plebian side, a good model for regular bicycle rentals can be found by seeing the OYBike System of London. It is activated by mobile phones, perfect for Japan's keitai-addicted society and is prepaid. Because station areas are dominated by public transportation facilities, you could probably get some local merchants - especially food and bar establishments to let you set up mini-parks in front of their stores for a cut of the action. What's especially nice is this can be a MSI.
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Want to Introduce Your Product or Service to Japan? Looking for partners? CLICK HERE.
Empowering Japan Resources
Fukushima Prefecture
The coastal region traditionally specializes in fishing and seafood
industries, and is notable for its electric and particularly nuclear
power-generating industry, while the upland regions are more focused
on agriculture. The capital region near Fukushima City has a
strong industry in software and electronics.
Fukushima offers convenience, low business costs, and an ideal the meeting point for the Kanto and Tohoku regions. |
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Average Industrial Land Prices
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Heads Up
I encourage everyone to look at Japan as a place for business, commerce and opportunity in the Twenty-First Century. It is a not only a strong launching ground for enterprise, but the last, great hope for the survival of this planet. Please fill out the form below and join our Japan prosperity circle:
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Coming UpJFW International Fashion Fair from 1/14/09-1/16/09 International Fashion Fair (IFF) has established its status as the largest fashion trade fair in Asia. Now IFF takes a new step to be much more internationally competitive, providing the largest and best information both in quality and quantity in Asia. CLICK HERE for details. |
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Procurement in Japan
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs has compiled a White Paper offering suggestions in accessing the government procurement market in Japan. Read this 38-page report by CLICKING HERE. Also, in line with the eco-friendly themes above, take a look at the Law Concerning the Promotion of Procurement of Eco-friendly Goods and Services by the State and Other Entities. Finally, if these previos two articles stoke you, look at the JETRO Government Procurement Database.
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An Outstanding Social Network for Japan and the World
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There are boatloads of social networks to build your business. Many of them have trap doors which require you to pay big bucks to plug in. Ecademy is a different story. As a free member, you can participate in online business clubs and such. You can't, as a free member, send out mass mailings to Ecademy members, but you can meet them and build a network worldwide without paying a dime. There are lots of members living in or dealing with Japan. Why not |
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E-shopping site to open in China for Japan goods
A new site called Buy-J.com will be launched in January 2008 to allow Japanese products to be bought online by credit card. The credit card called UnionPay - the first such card ever issued in China - has been issued to 1.8 billion people throughout China and will serve as the means of payment for Japanese goods which will range from apparel to cosmetics to electronics goods. Over 100 Japanese companies are ready to cash in on this potential consumer bonanza. The Sumitomo Mitsui Card Co. has teamed up with UnionPay and has designated SBI VeriTrans Co, a Tokyo-based e-commerce company, to run the site. Scant details are available in English online about how you can participate if you have have a Japanese product, but surely you must know some obscure Japanese companies with weak online presence who would love to participate in this extravaganza based on your e-commerce expertise.. Read the full article about this launch by CLICKING HERE.
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Unions in Japan
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Often they are knee-jerking companions to a company's management, but unions do exist are a part of the Japanese business landscape you must know and deal with if setting up shop here. The most comprehensive English directory of Japanese trade and industrial unions can be found by CLICKING HERE. |
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This Week's Challenge
Four Super Simple Moves to Increase Productivity
by Josh Hinds
I'd like to share two quotes that I
believe are important to keeping someone productive.
Ready? Good, here goes...
"Out of sight, out of mind is a productivity killer!"
and ...
Writer G. K. Chesterton said, "More often than not people need to be
reminded, more than they need to be instructed."
With these quotes in mind, let me then share a few things that can keep you
productive:
1. Keep your priorities straight. Write down the most important things and
do them first! Remember that not every task that comes our way is created
equal. While everything in its own way may be important--some tasks when
completed give you a greater sense of accomplishment or reward.
Tip: Develop the habit of identifying tasks that if completed so that
they're the first to get your attention each day.
2. Use lists. I'm a big proponent of keeping lists because they help remind
you about what needs to be done. Keep these things in mind when you come up
with your to-do list: include your most important items first, leave room
for unexpected things, add time frames for when you will do something, and
don't schedule things back to back with little or no time between them.
Then, when you finish a task, mark it complete so that you'll get a sense of
accomplishment to give you the boost you need to go through the other items
on your list.
Tip: Don't panic if you don't accomplish every item on your list. Instead,
at the end of the day, just place the items left behind on your to-do list
for the next day.
3. Get a calendar. A calendar offers an easy "at a glance" view of upcoming
events, whether they are today or in the near future. You can use a
traditional paper calendar--such as a day planner that's small enough to
carry with you. Or, if you prefer, you can opt for a desk calendar. I
personally use a desk calendar as a "real world" backup, because my primary
calendar solution is the Web-based Google Calendar. There is no shortage of
software programs or other web based solutions to choose from.
Tip: With the Google Calendar, you will be able to create unique calendars
within a larger calendar. You can have specialized "sub-calendars." For
example, you can create one for personal use and one for work purposes. As
you add new tasks you assign the particular "sub-calendar" to the task. One
advantage to this is that while everything can be grouped on your calendar
view, you can also easily view tasks by each calendar group. With a
Web-based calendar, you could also have alerts sent to either your cell
phone as a text message, or sent as an email to remind you of the events on
your calendar.
4. Adopt a "Do it now!" attitude. Even the most well-laid plans get derailed
when we don't get moving. It's not always because we don't want to do the
tasks. At times, they just don't get done because other things come up and
overwhelm us. The funny thing is when we simply do the thing we're
neglecting, we find that it rarely takes anywhere near the time to do it
that we may have originally thought it would. In any instances, we waste
more time when we put off a task in order to wait for a more convenient time
to do it. Isn't that ironic?
Tip: Keep in mind that becoming more productive is simply about doing what
you know needs to be done as soon as possible, as well as using a few handy
solutions and tools which will help you in your efforts.
For starters, these moves should help you get things done right through a
more streamlined process that will give you more time to develop
groundbreaking ideas. When that happens, then there's no doubt that you're
on your way to the peak of your productivity.
© Richard Posner . All rights Reserved Worldwide.