Why is it difficult to improve your business?

In holiday season, I had a time to talk with my old friend who is in Consultation Business for Big Enterprises in Japan. We exchanged views and opinions on ever changing Internet business field.

In our conversation, he indicated interesting facts related to "Fill the Missing Link" to improve your business.

He said more than 90% of his clients tell him "We know what is the problem." when he first meet them. Then, why they do not change and why they need an outside consultant? He got used to it these days, but he told me that he used to be stunned on this statement.

2nd interesting reaction from his clients comes after all the consultation is finished and his clients have clear cut idea what they should do to change. They do not implement any of actions needed for change!?! They pay him and agreed all the action items needed and still do not do anything.

It is not easy for people to be objective to approach to problems. Maybe it was the ones which former president caused. Maybe the problem cannot be solved without removing one of board members.

Two lessons here:
1. To take objective approach to problems, you need third party opinion following step by step stream like "Fill the Missing Link".
2. Even the analysis and planning were totally correct, if you do not implement the plan, nothing changes.

Here are once again importance of "Taking Actions".

Check my websites to find out what I am doing:
http://funami.edcdiamond.com/
http://www.shawfunami.com/
http://zhenintl.ws/

Feel free to contact me:
shaw@zhenintl.ws
Shaw Funami
Fill the Missing Link

Zhuang Zi Tree

Once upon a time in China, there was a huge tree. In spring, summer, autumn, the tree gave full green leaves. The trunk was like dragon body. The people in nearby village were wondering how many houses can be built with this tree. There were carpenters who tried to cut down the tree to get wooden materials from the tree to be used for building a house.

The tree was too hard to cut. They gave up to cut it down. They said the tree is huge, but not be used for anything. They called it useless.

One hot summer day, a famous philosopher, Zhuang Zi found the tree. It was hot and Zhuang Zi was tired from walking long distance. He lied down on the foot of the tree and took a nap. The shade of the tree was perfect to protect him from strong sun light of summer. In the shade, a gentle breeze was very comfortable. He slept for a couple of hours and felt refreshed. After he left, the villagers realized the real use of the tree. Nobody call it "useless" afterward.

This story tells us the value of things can be changed depending on how you view it, how you use it. Huge useless tree to build a house was perfect for providing shade to take a nap. Is bad economy crisis or chance for us?

Check my websites to find out what I am doing:
http://funami.edcdiamond.com/
http://www.shawfunami.com/
http://zhenintl.ws/

Feel free to contact me:
shaw@zhenintl.ws
Shaw Funami
Fill the Missing Link

The Year 2009

A Happy New Year, my fellow friends.

I stayed up almost all night last night watching news programs in several countries. American News, CNN, Chinese, CCTV, Japanese, NHK, etc... All the news programs were talking about instability and dark side of politics, economics, employment, etc...

Almost there is nobody including myself who does not worry about what will happen in year 2009. However, I have a little bit different view on the Year 2009.

Despite of uncertainty of business in the year 2009, some experienced professionals were expecting there should be bright side. For example, due to the fact that theories in the past do not work any more, some change will inevitably accelerated. International alliance, JV, cooperation will be further speed up in the new way of Business merger and acquisition, Joint effort, Joint Branding. Some have already started. So, there are opportunities in these areas. Also I may not have to point out the fact that major software and internet players in recent 20-30 years were established in bad economy time.

More importantly, I expect there are more opportunities for small or individual business people to succeed, since old, big, and established companies' experience and theories are no longer working well. Even they are planning to change to the right direction, they cannot be as fast as small or individual business people could be.

This is a time for change namely paradigm shift, ladies and gentlemen. Let's plan and take actions for successful year 2009 for all of us.

Enjoy the rest of your holidays.

Check my websites to find out what I am doing:
http://funami.edcdiamond.com/
http://www.shawfunami.com/
http://zhenintl.ws/

Feel free to contact me:
shaw@zhenintl.ws
Shaw Funami
Fill the Missing Link

Why is it so difficult to Find What is Missing?

In my previous posting, I talked about the 3 processes of Fill the Missing Link. What is most important and difficult part is #1) Find what is missing. I would say that if you could properly "Find What is Missing", your problem solution is half the way done.

There are again 3 elements make your fact finding process difficult.

- Difficulty to think OUTSIDE of your PRESUMPTION
- Difficulty to view what is behind the VISIBLE SURFACE
- Difficulty not to be EMOTIONAL in evaluation problem

"Fill the Missing Link" consists of following 3 steps. 1) Find what is missing 2) Find the piece that can fill the missing, and 3) Fill the missing using found piece. It is simple but not easy.

First point may be easy to understand. A retail shop created a corner in front of the entrance for Tooth Paste. They were selling same ones inside of the shop with the same brand, same amount, and same price. By the end of the business day, all the Tooth Paste in front were gone. Despite the fact that they are same, the ones inside were not even been touched. People has presumption that something in front may be with cheaper pricing or with some promotion.

Second is not so difficult to imagine. Titanic sank hitting the iceberg inside of sea not the surface. But, people are created to be drawn attention to visible phenomena. Sometimes, we need to take time to analyze what will be behind the visible scene.

If the system which is not working today was the one which once brought you a success, it is not easy to replace the system. People are emotionally attached to the system. This can be an obstacle to find the real problem.

Check my websites to find out what I am doing:
http://funami.edcdiamond.com/
http://www.shawfunami.com/
http://zhenintl.ws/

Feel free to contact me:
shaw@zhenintl.ws
Shaw Funami
Fill the Missing Link

Looking back the year 2008

Today is December 29. Only 3 days left in the year 2008. The year 2008 meant a lot for me. When I decided to spin off from previous employment in the end of year 2000, Beijing was selected to be the place for Olympic in 2008. This was the year of Beijing Olympic. State held quarters started to be issued in the year 2000. Last quarters were being issued in 2008. That time, in year 2000, I was not sure if I will still be here in San Francisco in 2008. I was not sure if I could watch Beijing Olympic in San Francisco. I could not imagine I will be able to fill the last quarters to the quoter holder panel this year. This year, I enjoyed Beijing Olympic in NBC program and last week, I could fill the later quoter from Hawaii to my holder panel.

Year 2008 was not for the big success, but it definitely marked important mile-stone in my voyage of my own business. Economy is unstable now, but I could build base for future growth. Year 2008 for me was the year for new meetings. New meeting with the system where I will be able to build my business. New meeting with the people belonging to the system I can trust. New meeting (discovery) of the course of action for growth.

"Fill the Missing Link" consists of following 3 steps. 1) Find what is missing 2) Find the piece that can fill the missing, and 3) Fill the missing using found piece. It is simple but not easy.

Looking back the year 2008 at the year end, the year 2008 was interesting and important year for foundation of further growth. In thinking of year 2008, I hoped to revisit my own company logo and company slogan. My company profile is to be "Problem Solver", with branding "Fill the Missing Link". As I showed in this simple illustration, problem solving process is usually not complicated. Instead, it is in most of cases pretty simple. Only 3 steps are involved. 1) Find what is missing 2) Find the piece that can fill the missing, and 3) Use the piece to fill the missing.

It sounds simple, right? But, is it easy? Unfortunately for all of us, this simple process is not easy. If you try to use wrong piece to fill the missing, you will not get whole picture right. If you use force, it will be like breaking a puzzle ring by pulling a part out.

In modern school education system, most of us are trained to solve problems with clear solution or answer. But daily issues, especially business problems most probably do not have any clear solution. Thus, most of people do not know how to tackle the problem. Or they can not figure out what is the problem. What is the nature of problem?

You have a business goal. Success. But you are not successful. There is obviously a problem. If you ask yourself what is the problem, you may either have no answer or too many answers. I wanted to simplify the process. The question is "What is missing?", not "What is the problem?". This concept will help you to analyze your situation.

Check my websites to find out what I am doing:
http://funami.edcdiamond.com/
http://www.shawfunami.com/
http://zhenintl.ws/

Feel free to contact me:
shaw@zhenintl.ws
Shaw Funami
Fill the Missing Link

Happy Holidays!

I wish you all a very Merry Christmas and Happy New Year.

Year 2008 was very interesting one for me. I am looking forward to a prosperous and incredible 2009.

Have a pieceful, safe, and warm holidays.



Check my websites to find out what I am doing:
http://funami.edcdiamond.com/
http://www.shawfunami.com/
http://zhenintl.ws/

Feel free to contact me:
shaw@zhenintl.ws
Shaw Funami
Fill the Missing Link

Small Joke on Japanese English

It is holiday season and people are relaxed. I would like to post a relaxed topic today.

My friend and I were posting our funny experience in English which is not our native language. I have a small Japanese English Joke here.

Young Japanese Student was traveling in the US. He wanted to go to New York. He walked into train station. He studied basic English in Japan. So, he thought there should be no problem buying the train ticket. Simple. He thought he was going to New York. So, he walked to the ticket window and asked "TO New York, please". He got TWO (2) tickets. "Oh..." he realized he made a mistake. He said "I made a mistake. FOR New York, please." Now he got FOUR (4) tickets. He is confused and he did not know what he could say. He talked to himself "Eiii---to" (Japanese expression meaning "Let me see"). Ticket sales overheard it and gave him EIGHT (8) tickets.

He did not realize he could just say "New York".

Check my websites to find out what I am doing:
http://funami.edcdiamond.com/
http://www.shawfunami.com/
http://zhenintl.ws/

Feel free to contact me:
shaw@zhenintl.ws
Shaw Funami
Fill the Missing Link

7 things about myself you might not know

In the blogosphere's version of the game of tag, Giovanna Garcia tagged me. By accepting the tagging for this particular meme, I am now going to share seven things about myself that you might not know.

The 2nd part of the game is for me to tag 7 people for them to share 7 interesting Random things about themselves. I am tagging "Kanri-nin", Long Term Overseas Stay, Fighter-K, Over the Sky, JoAnne Green, Hideki Katsuno, Mark Flevin, Gerard Corbett, and Nobuyo Sakamoto, Trivani International. If you want to join in the fun, go and tag 7 people each and ask them to link back to the one who tagged them. Remember to twitter or comment on their blog when you tag them so they will know they have been tag.

This way, we can expand the bloggers' network. Now the 7 things about myself which you might now know.

1. My very first visit to US was 1985 as a business trainee of my previous employment. I stayed in New York for one year at that time. It was my first trip to outside of Japan. I was 29 years old.

2. Soon after arrival to NY in 1985, I went to McDonald for lunch. I tried to buy "Fillet-O-Fish". Spent 5 minutes to made myself understood. I needed to point out the picture in the wall to buy it.

3. In McDonald, same time. The girl asked me if it is "Here or To-go". I did not understand it. The girl put everything into take out-bag. I end up eating hamburgers in the car parked in the McDonald's parking.

4. When in college, I participated in English Debate with Hawaii University representatives. They spoke too fast, I could not write a word from what first constructive speaker said. I grabbed my partner's notepad and walked to podium. When I started to speak and looked down my partner's notepad. Nothing was written. Terrible game. we lost twice as affirmative and negative.

5. Back to New York in 1985, my boss was a New Yorker whose father was immigrated and worked as a taxi driver there for his life. All bad English of mine was transplanted from my former boss.

6. Before I spun off my former employer, I was a director, multimedia products in San Francisco Office of a Japanese electronics manufacturer.

7. In office working, I had a lot of problems with Japanese management people. Instead, I made a lot of friends with non-Japanese people.

As said, the real goal of 7 Things blog posts is to help people find new connections. I need to ask tagged people that they link back to the one who tagged them.


Check my websites to find out what I am doing:
http://funami.edcdiamond.com/
http://www.shawfunami.com/
http://zhenintl.ws/

Feel free to contact me:
shaw@zhenintl.ws
Shaw Funami
Fill the Missing Link

5 Market Elements

I happened to come across interesting marketing training video today. I thought it will be useful to share this information here with my dear readers.

Unfortunately, this material is all Japanese and cannot upload the video and original materials used. But, I can explain essence of this marketing training.

The title of this marketing course is "5 Management Elements" and talks mostly about company management. However, this information is very useful to learn what is today's market and how we, entrepreneurs make most of it.

If you have involved in a company management or attended management course, you might have learned that there are 3 important resources of company management. 1. People (basically employee, or we can call them Human Resources) 2. Products (I do not think any explanation necessary) 3. Money (Fund, you can call it)

So, resource can look like the illustration, left side. It goes without saying the importance of people who you work with. It is quite self-explanatory model, including money and products. I remember early part of 2002, I was running like a headless chicken to find proper products to sell.

It looks like the importance of these 3 elements have not been changed much in Internet age. You can call it classical model of management element.

Interesting was the next new model. Because of the change of media, people's mind, business behavior, available business tools, it tells that management resources are no longer 3. We need to recognize the following 5 elements of management and make use of them in addition to legacy 3 elements. 4th is "Information". 5th is "Branding". Now the elements looks like the illustration to your right.

I totally believe that 3 elements model is changed to be 5 elements, today. And importance of "People's Elements", namely Information and Branding are increasing in management and marketing models. Thanks to well developed Internet Tools, you can develop and promote your brands nowadays. People who does not have enough Money can gain Information and promote Brand can develop Products which has value and be successful. The ones who can manage information and brand will win the next game.

Now, what do you need to fill your missing link to adjust yourself to this new trend?

Check my websites to find out what I am doing:
http://funami.edcdiamond.com/
http://www.shawfunami.com/
http://zhenintl.ws/

Feel free to contact me:
shaw@zhenintl.ws
Shaw Funami
Fill the Missing Link

Why "Filling the Missing Link" can improve your business

I went to Japanese Consulate General today and felt a little tired. The purpose was simple. I wanted to renew my passport. My wife and I needed to go there often several years ago. We were not married that time yet and I quit my previous employment. I did not have my own company formed, yet. Applying for my wife's stay permit in Japan was pretty stressful.

Coming home, I was thinking that I would skip to write blog article today. Then I found this article.

Seven Simple Things you can do when you are feeling stress.

I started to think about "Fill the Missing Link" and decided to write. Giovanna's article reminded me why I thought "Filling the Missing Link" can be good philosophy, and brand, business slogan. She was suggesting to think "what to do next" instead of thinking "why" not to be stressful. It was exactly why I am advocating "Fill the Missing Link".

There are 3 important key points:
1. "Filling the Missing Link" is totally constructive action.
2. You can fill your missing link because you have completed picture in your mind. It makes your vision clear.
3. It is not stressful because it is process of completing your image. It is almost fun.

It is meaningless to keep thinking why the part is missing. Missing is missing. You should look into the pieces you have to find right one and fill the missing part. That way, we can stay constructive and positive in coping with missing, lacking part of business or life.

I want to thank Giovanna one more time for her inspiring article.

Related article:
Fill the Missing Link -Internet Business-
November 14, "Fill the Missing Link"

Check my websites to find out what I am doing:
http://funami.edcdiamond.com/
http://www.shawfunami.com/
http://zhenintl.ws/

Feel free to contact me:
shaw@zhenintl.ws
Shaw Funami
Fill the Missing Link