Thursday, June 30, 2011

FB Page "CrossCultureSquare" acquired more than 200 "likes"!


My Facebook Page called "Cross Culture Square", based on my website "Cross Culture Square", has passed 2 weeks since its launch, last week.  I provide links and image of the page below, but you can easily search in Facebook by keyword of "CrossCulturalSquare".

The purpose of this page was to promote and sooth the communication between different cultural background.  I hope it would help promoting not only communication, but also understanding, further the spirit of helping each other in cross-cultural community.

Although I had prepared this page for months, it was officially launched and shared in my own Facebook wall last Wednesday, June 8th.  The third day from the launch, 25 people liked it, and could formally named it "CrossCultureSquare".  Although the page has short history of about one week and still not so many posts, it gathered "likes" in 7 days.  Now I am pleased to inform you that people who "like"ed this page went over 200.  How are people in the world today conscious about communication over cultural difference and gaps.

Actually, the number of people who "like"ed this page continued to grow and it is over 226, today.  I would like to express my hearty appreciation to the people who gave me "like" on the CrossCulturalExchange FB Page for past 1 week.  Also deep gratitude for people who have written on the wall and gave me messages.

Still the most impressive message the "CrossCulturalSquare" received stays the same.  It is from John. He wrote "I think we can be living in a peaceful world while understanding each other.  I think this intercultural exchange will become a very important theme with among each other when we want to build the sure peaceful world from now on. "  The message came from John Sunlinix.  Thank you, again, John.

I cannot thank enough for your help.  I will do my very best not to disappoint you on my operation in CrossCultureSquare.

Link:  http://www.facebook.com/CrossCultureSquare

My "zi" iFrame Link: http://www.facebook.com/CrossCultureSquare?sk=app_229239457102605









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Sunday, June 26, 2011

How to Accomplish Something


There are many authors, including myself, who have written on how to be successful in business, relationships, or life. All of these things are useful advice. However, most of them magnified one aspect of the entire process to accomplish something. Also, based on my own writings in the past, I wanted to put down the whole picture of the process on how to accomplish things. The keys of being successful could be put in the three categories. They are: Do's, Don'ts, and Emotional Attitudes.

I) First, let me list some Do's to accomplish something:

1. Set the final goal and make it as concrete as possible.

2. Set the time schedule. Set the target on how quickly one can accomplish it.

3. Set goal milestones. Celebrate whenever you reach your milestones.

4. Keep finding and filling your missing links.

5. Listen to others' wisdom.

II) The following are Don'ts to accomplishing something:

1. Do not do what you cannot be comfortable with.

2. Do not do what you are skeptical about.

3. Do not do what you cannot be sure of doing.

4. Do not copy what someone else has done.

5. Do not be influenced by someone's opinion. Instead influence them.

III) Emotional Attitudes:

1. Be relaxed, confident, and stable about your final goal.

2. Be positive about the achievement.

3. Do not be influenced by others; influence them.

4. Do not go panic when things do not go as you expect.

5. Accomplishing something is a journey and you should enjoy the entire process.

Let me explain some key issues here. The above is an important process. By setting milestones, you can visualize your progress of accomplishment. It is terribly difficult for us to continue to make an effort without knowing how much progress we have already made. Celebrate and commemorate when you reach your milestones. The fourth step is an ongoing effort. Striving to accomplish something is like filling something that is missing to achieve your goal. Do not be afraid of finding out that something is missing.

On the second category II, I would like to explain more on the fifth step. Even though you think you are confident, comfortable, and sure about your final goal, sometimes you will become skeptical or uncomfortable. You would not be as confident as before. Do not listen to the negative opinions of others. Instead, attempt to explain what you are trying to do to others.

In the last category, the most prominent item is the fifth step. Rome was not built in a day. Building Roma must have been great fun. Understand that it is a journey to accomplish something and you should enjoy it.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/6023177





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Thursday, June 23, 2011

Do Not Listen to Hypocrites


Some people say that people who are successful are decisive. In contrast, we also hear people say that successful people listen to the opinions of others and adopt such opinions with flexibility. Is decisiveness more important than flexibility? This is a paradox. Which is more important, flexibility or decisiveness?

Since individual capacity and time is limited, those who want to be successful need help from others. They must interact with people, listen to people, and learn from people. Successful people are good at these interactions with others. However, if one only listened to others and obeyed what others told him to do, he would never be successful.

In the movie "The Matrix," when Neo was first brought to Nebakanezer, the hovercraft ship of Morpheus, Mouse, one of Morpheus' team members, told Neo not to listen to those hypocrites. While it is essential to listen to others in order to form or shape one's own opinion, plan, or schedule, once such a plan is set, it is more crucial to stick to the plan.

When Japan was in the war against Imperial Russia in 1905, the Russian Baltic Fleet cruised to Japan for a grand attack. Heihachiro Togo was the Japanese admiral general commanding the Japanese navy. The Japanese Chiefs of Staff could not decide which route the Russian Baltic Fleet would take to invade the Japan Sea. There were three possible places for the fleet to invade in Japanese territorial water. Soya, Tsusgaru, and Tsushima were regarded as possible invasion points. Tsushima was the furthest from the Russian base, but the easiest to invade Japanese territory.

There were three possible invasion points. There was a heated debate to decide which strait the Japanese navy should send their main fleet to in order to stop the invasion. Should all three be covered? Just two? Or even one? If one strait should be covered, which one?

General Togo argued they should focus on only one strait. He insisted the strait to be defended was Tsushima. He was stubborn and inflexible and stuck with his own opinion. Others criticized his stubbornness and uncompromising position, but he did not change his mind. He told his colleagues he did not care what others said, he would not change his position because he was the one who commanded the Japanese Navy. Emperor Meiji also agreed with Togo.

In the meeting of the Chiefs of Staff, the decision was made to focus only on the Tsushima Straight. The Russian Baltic Fleet appeared in the Tsushima Strait as Togo had predicted and the Japanese navy defended against the invasion. Togo's story tells that, once decided, one should not change his position so easily.








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Sunday, June 19, 2011

Say Yes First


Do you not have a friend who rubs you in the wrong way? You like him or her. He or she is an intelligent, knowledgeable person. You two have much in common. However, if exchanging opinions, you always ended up arguing. If you have this kind of friend, you may be able to improve your relationship.

First, let us check your responding pattern. Pay attention to the first word you use when you respond to your friend's opinion. When either agreeing or disagreeing with your friend, you tend to say "no" right away, don't you? If not, that is good.

Next, let us examine your friend's opening statement. I have the same question. Does your friend, when answering your questions or responding to your opinion, tend to say "no" right away?

If you tend to start your statement with "no," you might want to be careful. Either your friend or a general listener tends not to listen to what you say after they've heard you say "no." Your "no" gives the impression that your statement denies their views.

If you do not use "no" at the beginning of your response, and if your friend usually starts his or her response with "no," with or without denial contents, you should carefully listen to what he or she says, regardless of what you heard at the beginning of the statement. You may find that your friend's statement does not actually have a context of denial.

There are some people who always say "no" at the beginning of their statements. Even if they cannot say anything else, they always say "no" to begin. If you think you are one of these people, I suggest saying "yes" or another statement of agreement at the beginning of your speech.
By consciously doing so, you will notice how you make changes. You will review carefully what your speaker has said to find agreeable points. You will be able to build friendly logic for your listeners. This will come naturally since, at the beginning of your speech, you agreed.

If you find that your friend's speaking style always sounds negative in the beginning, you will be able to advise your friend that his or her behavior is not beneficial to him/herself or others. Nobody wants to hear such negativity. In this way, you can benefit your friend, making your relationship better.

There are no rules, without the exception: You may use negativity in your speech opening if you hope to impress your audience. It may be useful to open your speech with denial to catch their attention. However, you should use denial only by intention, not unconsciously.






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Thursday, June 16, 2011

New Facebook Page on Cross Cultural Exchange Launched


Based on my New Website, on "Cross Cultural Exchange", I launched and published Facebook Page called "Cross Culture Square".  I provide links and image of the page, but you can easily search in Facebook by keyword of "CrossCulturalSquare".

The purpose of this page was to promote and sooth the communication between different cultural background.  I hope it would help promoting not only communication, but also understanding, further the spirit of helping each other in cross-cultural community.

Although I had prepared this page for months, it was officially launched and shared in my own Facebook wall last Wednesday, June 8th.  The third day from the launch, 25 people liked it, and could formally named it "CrossCultureSquare".  Although the page has short history of about one week and still not so many posts, it gathered "likes" in 7 days.  It proves that people in the world today is conscious about communication over cultural difference and gaps.

I would like to express my hearty appreciation to the people who gave me "like" on the CrossCulturalExchange FB Page for past 1 week.  Also deep gratitude for people who have written on the wall and gave me messages.

I also wanted to share the most impressive message the "CrossCulturalSquare" received. He wrote "I think we can be living in a peaceful world while understanding each other.  I think this intercultural exchange will become a very important theme with among each other when we want to build the sure peaceful world from now on. "  The message came from John Sunlinix.  Thank you, again, here John.

I cannot thank enough for your help.  I will do my very best not to disappoint you on my operation in CrossCultureSquare.

Link:  http://www.facebook.com/CrossCultureSquare

My "zi" iFrame Link: http://www.facebook.com/CrossCultureSquare?sk=app_229239457102605





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Sunday, June 12, 2011

Nice Surprise Discovering Herbs in Our Garden


I cannot blame the place where I have grown up, but living in Tokyo did not provide me of opportunities to learn much about flowers, plants, or vegetables.  It was natural that I ignored some plants in our back and front yards.  My wife is interested in fruit trees, but has not shown interest in the greens as well.  Our constructor who repaired this house called us last week and asked us if we did not mind to give him some herbs he found in our garden.  Next day, he stopped by and told us which ones are herbs.





This is Mint.  He believes this is Spare Mint.  He found Pepper Mint and Green Mint, as well.  We were talking to get rid of this because it surrounded our rose.













The right side is Pineapple Balm.  We finally found it is very good to be used in cooking with soup.  My wife and I bit the leaves.  It really smell and taste like Pineapple fruit meat.













We were told that the left is called "Rue".  Slight bitterness make sweet desert to be sweeter when used with a desert such as cakes, ice creams, or Chinese style hot dessert.  This was the one our constructor wanted.  He told us he cannot find it in market place any more.  He was so glad that he found it in our back yard.











The right is a kind of Sage.  It does not give out smell too much when we picked the leaf, but when boiled with soup, it adds fresh flavor.












Almost everybody but my family knows the left is Rosemary. It gives nice flavor to meats.  It is good for broiled or BBQ style cooking of any meat.


My wife wanted to get rid of those to plant more fruit trees, we were glad that our constructor was knowledgeable about herbs.  We were also glad that he told us before we remove them.  Thank God!












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Thursday, June 9, 2011

Why Anything Can Happen With a Positive Attitude!



Before I discuss why anything can happen with a positive attitude, I should define what it is. This kind of concept can be subjective to define, but I believe the attitude is to look at the bright side of things. Someone who has a positive thinking will feel doubly happy when something good happens. He or she looks at the bright side of things whenever things are not going well. Every cloud has a silver lining. People with positive attitudes are the ones who always find silver linings, and try to make things better. Thus, their unhappiness on unhappy occasions is only about one-tenth of the unhappiness of someone who does not have a positive thinking.

Additionally, those with positive attitudes have a different way of measuring degrees of success. Let's say you are walking to the nearest station, and are halfway there. What do you consider your progress? Have you reached the station? Maybe you have not. Maybe you feel you have not reached the station until the moment you step inside. In this sense, even if you have completed 99% of your journey, you have not reached the station. In contrast, a person with a positive nature thinks even his or her first step to the station accounts for 1% of reaching it. If that person came half the way, he or she would say they had completed 50% of their journey.

In this way, his process of approaching the station would be considered having come 99% of the way.

Do you see the difference? If one continued to think he or she had not yet reached the station, the walk would become painful. On the other hand, if one felt closer with every step, the walk would be enjoyable. Those feeling pain would quit walking and not arrive at their destination. In contrast, those with positive attitudes would surely reach the station-the final goal. The probability of people successfully achieving something is high if they enjoy the process, and can feel 30%, 50%, or 80% accomplished, for example. People with positive attitudes would surely accomplish the task 100% since they enjoy the process.

Those who are positive have a different way of coping with negative happenings. Those who feel pain in the process are not strong enough to continue experiencing negative and painful happenings. The people who enjoy the process would effectively cope with negative occasions, simply because they do not want to quit.





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Sunday, June 5, 2011

A Few Ideas About Organizing You Can't Afford to Miss!


My boss used to tell me that giving business documents to me for filing was almost the same as throwing them out. I was a terrible organizer. Whenever my section manager or assistant manager asked me to show them a record of orders, business correspondence, or even bills, I was unable to locate them. While I don't call myself a perfect organizer now, a change in my way of thinking has made a big difference. When my wife wants me to get old business records, telephone bills, or email dialogues with our clients, she has them in a matter of a minute.

This is a story of Mr. Kaji, who was as awful as I was at organizing. He was severely reprimanded by his company's managers and requested to improve his organizing practices. He thought about the way he remembered the documents, and he focused on the documents he could not find in his files. He noticed he did not remember categories, but he remembered when he came across the documents. The next day, he suggested to his boss that he change the filing method to one that works for him. His boss reluctantly approved Kaji's request. A month later, Kaji's bosses saw the difference: Kaji no longer misplaced the documents. He could locate what they needed in a minute. When his boss asked what he did to improve his methods of organizing, Kaji answered that he decided to ignore the categories of documents.

Instead, he started to organize the documents in chronological order.

Kaji found it confusing that some documents belonged in different categories. First, he took copies and filed duplicates in files of different categories. However, that took a lot of time, yet he would sometimes still forget to file a copy in one of the related categories. So he started to file documents in files labeled only by date, such as "Feb 01 - Mar 31, 2011." Additionally, he used his favorite small notebook to take notes on a document whenever he felt he needed help remembering something.

People's preference varies, and this is just a suggestion. However, this method of organizing documents in chronological order helps the organizer remember where they are. Additionally, this chronological method of filing has advantages. You neither have to go through the category files to find the document, or open several category files to find it. You can just put the filing document in the front of the file folder, which will save you a lot of time.


Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/6026412






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Thursday, June 2, 2011

Music of Nature



An ancient Chinese philosopher, Zhuangzi, was known as a founder of Taoism. His philosophy was written in a form of fables. These stories contain profound wisdom of life, truth in nature, and a way of thinking. Many of them are useful to us who are living more than 200 years later than his age. Here is one of the interesting stories.

One day, Zhuangzi was meditating, folding his legs crossed. He looked unconscious. He appeared to be not feeling anything. He looked almost dead. One of his students walked close to him, meditating. Worried, this student asked Zhuangzi if he was okay. The student needed to shout into his ears to bring him back to consciousness. Asked again what he was doing, Zhuangzi answered that he was listening and enjoying music of nature. "Music of nature?" the student asked again, puzzled. The student had never heard of it.

The master then explained to his student. All nature's activities have scenes, colors, smells, shapes, and music. If wind blows through a forest, it creates sounds. When a flower blooms, it gives out a sound. The sound of birds flying, a bug buzzing, a dog barking, or even human footsteps form music of nature.

The master continued. The interesting thing is that this music of nature can be heard not by the people who can hear sound, but by the people who are willing to listen to the sound. It is a message from nature. It alerts people about the coming storm. It reminds people the spring is near. It tells them that the next day will be rainy.

If one is not willing to listen to this music, it is just sound, and may be taken as noise. However, the music of nature always gives meaning to those who are willing to listen and take it seriously. The master asked the student if he had seen the color of the wind.

This story is nothing specific for people who do not feel something from it and try to pick up on its meaning. It took me a long time to understand that this story was more meaningful than it seemed when I first read it. The story teaches us that we can pick up messages from nature if we are willing to receive them. It might not be only about the nature. If you are willing to listen to music or a message from nature, society, a market, or any of our surroundings, you will be surprised what there is to learn. There may be messages that bring you success, or perhaps for a happy and peaceful life.






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