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Being Considerate Toward Others

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People often tell me that I’m considerate, both at work and in my personal life. I don’t have any special talents, but this might be the one thing I can feel proud of. In Canada, this skill may not be seen as very important, but in Japan, it is something people really value. Still, I sometimes wonder—what kind of actions truly make others happy? Imagine the Other Person’s Everything When I talk to someone, I try to imagine everything about them. What kind of person are they? What do they like or dislike? What might they be doing after this? For example, if my boss often praises people who work fast, I think that person cares about time. So I try to make meetings short and send simple messages that are easy to understand quickly. On the other hand, if the boss cares more about making “good work,” even if it takes time, I try to learn what “good work” means to them. Is it strong data, a creative idea, or a beautiful design? These kinds of people often want to talk more. They are usually ...
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Tips for Working in Japan: What I Learned After 5 Years

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I worked at a Japanese company for five years. Friends from abroad, like those from Canada, often say that Japanese people are very serious, work hard, and are good at time management. I agree with that, and in this post, I’d like to share what I experienced while working in Japan. I hope this will help people who are planning to work in Japan in the future. Working Hard Is Often Valued In Japan, saying "I can do overtime" doesn’t give a bad impression. In fact, bosses and coworkers may see it as a positive thing — that you are hardworking and responsible. When I was a new graduate, I often worked late. Sometimes it was because I was still slow at my tasks, but by my third or fourth year, I was working longer because I had taken on more responsibility than others. Many people, including my boss, told me, “You’re doing a great job.” In Canada, if someone says “I’m OK with working overtime” in a job interview, the company may think that the person isn’t good at managing their t...
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Overcoming My Habit of Procrastination

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Objective  I have a habit of starting preparations for tasks like assignments or meeting times at the last minute. My submissions are just in time, and sometimes I even arrive late for appointments. This behavior is often referred to as the "Student Syndrome," where individuals delay tasks until the deadline approaches, believing they can manage just in time. Reflective Looking back on my experiences, I realize that although I often prepare at the last minute, I haven’t really experienced any major failures. In fact, many times I felt that I worked better under pressure. The stress of the deadline seems to sharpen my focus, and I can concentrate more easily. Because of this, I’ve started to believe that it’s okay to leave things until the last minute. However, I also know this is not entirely true. For example, I sometimes arrive late when meeting friends. Even if they don’t say anything, I feel I might be slowly losing their trust. This makes me feel a bit guilty afterward. ...
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