Three Years Ago Today

Third anniversary of Great East Japan Earthquake of 2011. There is a lot of media attention on the disaster in Japan this week; but memory is fast fading away elsewhere. There was no mention of the anniversary in front pages of NY Times or WSJ today; not that I would have expected it. The truth is the people living in the affected areas do not have their normal lives back. The reconstruction work is certainly going too slow where many are still living in temp housing. But I ask myself "what can I really do about it?" I hate to admit it but there is really nothing that I can do. But we can make sure that we do not forget about the disaster and remind ourselves how precious our lives are and count our blessings.

New York - The Transient City

Friends come and go. Some drift apart for no fault of anyone in particular. Some were never meant to be. There are those that endure through the test of time and proximity. But I never fully appreciated the importance of having good, trusting, and long-term friendships until I came to New York. 

New York is a great place to meet new people from all walks of life. That's one of the things I love about the city. But the reality is that for many, New York is not the final destination but only a layover in their life's journey. Some come for further education, others come for work, to live the glamor of the city life for a brief moment in their lives, only to go back to their roots hopefully bigger, prouder and more experienced. Many more come for the pursuit of their dreams, and too many of them forgotten never realizing those dreams. 

During my years in New York, I've met many new friends. But I've said many good-byes as well.  I've come to grips with the fact that this is a fact of life in New York. Over the years, friends have come and gone. I don't dwell on it, but I am reminded of this fact periodically. In reflection, the friends I had 5 years ago are not the same as the friends I have now. Of course there are some friendships that have endured. These are friends in what I call the semi-permanent group; those of us that call New York our permanent home, or at least until we find a better city to live (and its not easy to out do New York). That's not to say or belittle the friendships I have formed and bonded over the years. But as they move on and go back to where ever they came from, only a handful have endured the test of time and distance. Perhaps with Facebook and other SNS, we have a better chance of keeping those friendships (but that's for another time). 

This past weekend, I was at a farewell party for a couple friend - whom we've met here in New York and gotten to be good friends. Again, a reminder that friends come and go. Although we had to say good-bye, we also met new friends. I never really liked farewell parties - why would you go to a party to say good-bye? Its usually an excuse to get together and have drinks. But perhaps there is a reason for such a party. Obviously to say good-bye; but it also serves a purpose of making new friendships - a partying gift by the person that's moving on to those that's left behind.

Establishing a livelihood in a new city where you have no friends or family is never easy. And in a transient city like New York, friends that you can trust is most critical to survival. 

Is It OK to "Friend" Your Boss or Your Staff From Work on Social Media?

Podcast is a great innovation. I can download radio programs from Japan and listen to them during my commute every day. One podcast in particular that I listen to regularly is called "Session 22" (and its predecessor "DIG") produced by TBS Radio in Japan. Its a prime time radio talk show where the host interact with guests and listeners to cover variety of hot and trendy topics in Japan. It's a great way for me to keep up with my Japanese as well as to keep up with the current events in Japan.

A recent episode covered a topic of social media (or social networking services / SNS) and workplace. More specifically, the host posed the question whether it is okay to "friend" your boss, your staff, or your colleagues at work on SNS? What surprised me about the episode was the ignorance of the host and the producer of the show. It surprised me enough to prompt me to write it on this blog. 

There are variety of SNSs out there, each with its target audience and objective. Twitter is different from Facebook; and LinkedIn has its niche focus different from Google+. But the host completely ignored that these SNSs are different and treated them as one big SNS service. He went on to discuss whether it is okay to "follow", "friend" or "connect" with someone from work on SNSs. He missed the boat complete on this. I would have focused the discussion on the fact that there are distinctions among the SNSs; so here are my take on some of the major SNSs.

Twitter - its a tool to broadcast information in an open forum to the whole Twitter community; therefore, its more a place to gather and share with the broader community of similar interest. Now, I can enhance my "The Amazing Race" experience by sharing the moment with thousands of other viewers at the same as each episode is aired using #TheAmazingRace hashtag. 

Facebook - its a tool to stay engaged with network of friends that you interact with in the real physical world. That may be with your family, your friends from school, and yes, your friends from work. But you would "friend" those from work only if you would also interact with them outside of work and share your private life with. 

LinkedIn - its a tool to network with professionals in your field of work. This is where you should be "connected" with your boss, staff or colleagues. 

You may have noticed that each SNS is a tool. Each time we have any SNS related discussion, it is important to remember that SNS is a mere tool available to us as a convenience to enhance the real physical world we live in. It is true that SNSs exist in virtual reality; but its not a separate and apart from the real physical world; but rather its still a part of the real physical world and should be viewed as a mean to an end. 

I go back to my earlier comment that each SNS has its own audience and objective. If we focus our discussion on the distinctions, then the question of whether its okay to "friend" someone from work becomes irrelevant. 

Two Years Ago Today

Two years ago today, the world as we know it changed. The Great East Japan Earthquake changed the lives of many directly impacted not only by the earthquake, but the tsunami and the nuclear meltdown. It also impact millions more in their own way.

I remember that day very well. The pictures of the tsunami destroying everything in its path as if they were made of paper. Then the pictures of explosions at the nuclear plants. Unimaginable and yet it was happening live in Japan of all place. But I also remember that day very well because that was the day that we learned we would be parents. It was as if many lives were taken; but one life was given to us.

As time passes, the memories fade. We move on with our lives, slowly forgetting how we felt, how the devastation impacted us, and forgetting that there are many who are still struggling to recover and rebuild. Only to be reminded by the sensationalism show put on by the media on each anniversary.

Therefore, it is incumbent upon each of us to remember in our own way so that the lives lost and impacted were not in vain but that we pass on the history to our future generations with hopes for better tomorrow.

We are reminded every day as we watch our Hope grow, how we wish her to be the type of person that brings hope and joy to others.

March 11, 2013

Sidewalk Hoggers between Me and My Dinner

One of my pet peeves is what I call the "sidewalk hoggers." We walk a lot in New York City. Yes, we hail yellow cabs, we ride on the subway, and we ride the bus. But generally, we don't think much about walking 15 to 20 city blocks. Naturally, sidewalks are the equivalent of highway for automobiles. You heard it right - highway. We want to get from point A to point B as quickly as we can. We walk on narrow sidewalks, swiftly navigating through foot traffic, artfully maneuvering through crosswalks, traffic signals and yellow cabs. Oh, and in many touristy areas, we run into the "sidewalk hoggers."

You cannot miss the "sidewalk hoggers." Usually its a family of 4 or 5, or sometimes even more. They walk 4 across (or more) on the sidewalk - pretty much take up the whole width of the sidewalk. The problem is, they are typically walking at leisurely speed, taking in the bright lights big city scene. My Baby M can walk faster than these guys; and she just barely learned how to walk. As for me, I'm late for a meeting with a client on 45th Street but I can't pass and go around the "sidewalk hoggers" because they are blocking all lanes!!! Arghhh!!

It doesn't help that my office is located in the epicenter of Tourist Central (aka Times Square). I have to fight the crowd - tourists - as I come and go from the office. When its 8:30pm and the only thing that's slowing me from my dinner is the tourists, well, I'm not a happy camper.

It is nothing personal - I welcome our guests to the great City of New York. Last year alone, New York City welcomed a record breaking 52 million tourists. According to the city, tourists "generated an estimated $55.3 billion in economic impact to the city’s economy, with direct spending reaching $36.9 billion." So as a New Yorker, I welcome them to our great city. I thank each and everyone of the 52 million, for visiting and willing to spend money on overpriced goods and services. But when they stand between myself and my destination - well, they are not my best of friends.

Back to the "sidewalk hoggers." A four-lane highway typically means that slower traffic yield to the faster traffic by staying on the right lane. Remember what I said about sidewalks being the equivalent of highway for New Yorkers? Well, here too, we would like to have slower traffic yield to the side and allow the faster traffic to pass.

Oh, and by the way; its is not cool to suddenly stop in middle of the sidewalk without any warning, just because you want to take a picture with Naked Cowboy. No one in their right mind would stop the car in middle of a highway just to take picture of a burning car on the side street. I'm quite sure that's a moving violation - (or stopping violation)?

Valentine's Day - What Women Want...

Valentine's Day 2013.

Everywhere I look, I'm constantly reminded that Valentine's Day is fast approaching. WSJ had an article or two everyday for the past week reporting on the business of romance. Every other banner ad is by 1-800-FLOWERS reminding me to send flowers to my Valentine. FB asked me whether I wanted to surprise my Valentine by sending a $1 cookie. Bakeries (oops, sorry patisseries) are sending me e-mails about their special Valentine's Day gift boxes of sweets. Oh, and can't forget Open Table, kind enough to send me a list of restaurants in the area with tables available two days before Valentine's Day. There is no doubt that expectation is building up for men to do something special for women in their lives.

This all begs the question: do women really want what the commercialized material world is telling men what we are expected to give to our Valentines? Two dozen long-stem red roses that arrives in a FedEx box? A box of chocolates from Duane Reade? A romantic dinner where the chef has already decided the menu for the night and boot you out after 2-hour dinner so that they can get through another seating? Lingerie that never gets worn except once?

What do all of the above have in common? They are universally accepted methods of expression of our love and appreciation to the women we love (maybe not the last one). By the act of purchasing and presenting these gifts, we are telling women that we love them enough for us to go out of the way to make them feel special on this special day. But don't we express our love and appreciation regularly, even on not so special days? Maybe not in the form of gifts and dinners, but certainly in other ways, we let women know how much we love them. If so, do we really need to do something special once a year just to please the material world that we've conformed to the commercialized society?

This all sounds logical to me. Why do I need to do something special once a year when I let my Valentine know that she is loved every day. But the reality is - love can never be explained or understood by logic. So back to the question, what do women really want for Valentine's Day? They want to be reminded that they are loved and make them feel special - even if its done everyday, it is never one too many - whether the methods are conventional or unconventional, or submitting to what's expected by our peers and society. But then what do I know about what women want?

I'm going to check 1-800-FLOWERS to check what the extra service charge is to order flowers the night before Valentine's Day. 

Happy Valentine's Day! 

Why I Pay Premium for Top Brand Name Goods

I love my Tumi carry-on roller luggage. It's six years old. It's been to all corners of the globe, well not quite all but it has taken a lot of abuse. It usually fits nicely in airplanes' overhead compartment. But there are times when it has to sit alone down in the baggage compartment - especially when I want to take bottles of wine or shochu with me or when my contact lens solution doesn't quite fit nicely in a 3oz bottle.

Yes, it was expensive compared to similar sized roller luggage, but I thought "why not"? I look good with a Tumi; and besides, I've always wanted to be a cool frequent traveler with my Tumi luggage dutifully following me quietly behind me as I walk through famous airport terminals of the world - the likes of Changi, Heathrow, JFK, Charles de Gaulle, Incheon, Narita, and O'Hare.

So I was very disappointed and distraught when coming back from our vacation last summer from Florida, the airline temporarily borrowed my Tumi for a couple of days and had the nerve to return it to me (no pun intended) with pieces missing. That's right, my Tumi had one of its wheels torn out and missing. To make matters worse, by the time I discovered the damage it was past the 24-hour window the airline allowed o report and file a claim - 24 hours since the luggage was delivered to the concierge in our apartment building. Believe me I called and tried but with no avail. That was

The damage didn't look that bad. Perhaps all I have to do was to replace the wheels. So I dropped in at the Tumi store near our apartment and explained what happened. They said to bring in my Tumi and they'll send it to the main repair facility somewhere down in the South. The repair center will assess the damage and give me an estimate of the cost. That was last fall and I never got around to actually lugging (note: the wheel is missing) my damaged Tumi to the store.

Finally, I got around to taking my damaged Tumi to the store last month. The clerk assessed the damaged, filled out the work order, and asked for $20 (handling and shipping). I should get it back in 2 to 3 weeks. Well, it was actually more like 5 weeks. I called the repair center (at the number the Tumi store gave me) to check on the status. The parts were delayed so it took longer than usual - but its not fixed and my Tumi is on its way back to New York. Oh, and by the way, its no charge to me. That's right, I don't have to pay anything to get this fixed (except for the $20 handling fee I paid the Tumi store).

My Tumi arrived last week. All fixed up with a new set of wheels and a new handle. It gave me good six yeas and now I can get another six years out of my Tumi.

Products from top brand name do cost more. But you get "something" in return for the premium you pay. It could be excellent customer service, it could be unbelievable support, it could be the quality of the product, it could be the best overall customer experience, or a lifelong relationship. For many (although may not admit it) it could simply be the conspicuous showing of your wealth. Whatever that "something" is for a particular consumer, its worth the premium to purchase the good because the customer see the value of the "BRAND". The more consumers see that value, the more valuable the "BRAND" gets. It takes investment of time and money to build up the value of the "BRAND"; and requires continuous investment to protect that value because it can easily be devalued. There are brand owners who see the importance of investment; then there are also many brand owners who do not see that importance.

As a consumer, I pay the premium for the "BRAND" because I'm investing in the "BRAND" so that over time, I get that "something" in return. The tough part (as in any investment) is to discern what brands are worth investing in.

... or maybe I pay the premium because, damn it, I can and I just want to flaunt my wealth.

Rat Race in NYC - Extrovert v Introvert

Some of us really enjoy the lifestyle that NYC has to offer. Living in the center of global activities and one of the biggest (if not the biggest) metropolitan cities in the world. Then there are some of us who would never think of living in a city like NYC. Perhaps visiting the city once every five years to take in the sights, enjoy a show or two, dine/wine at a 4-star restaurant, and indulge in shopping; but one week is enough and would rather go back to the slower and quieter lifestyle. 

There's no doubt in my mind that to live and survive in NYC, you have to participate in the rat race - whether at work, in the neighborhood, within the play date circle, or with the social circuit. It can be tiring and can wear you out. 

I was reflecting back on a client dinner I had, as I walked back to my office today. It's always fun to get together with clients over drinks, dinner, or lunch. Gets me energized to take on more challenges. Its the same when I'm with friends on the weekends. Whether its drinks at a scotch bar, wine party at home, roof top hang out, I do enjoy spending time with people and it energizes me. 

So what does it have to do with rat race? I'm entertaining the idea that my survival in NYC has something to do with the fact that I'm actually an extrovert. The reason that I'm still enjoying the NYC after over six years  must be because I enjoy being with people and it energizes me to helps me survive the rat race. I have always thought of myself as an introvert. But if "extrovert" is defined as "a person who's energized by being around other people," then there's definitely a part of me that is an extrovert; and that's the secret of my success. 

I'm not suggesting that if you don't like the lifestyle in NYC, you are an introvert. But being an extrovert does help to adjust to the fast paced rat race that NYC is. 

... or maybe its just the alcohol that's doing its magic to ease the pain and suffering from the race. ... no, I do really enjoy the life that NYC has to offer. 

A Moment in the Life of ...

Birth of a child will completely change your perspective on life; my friends reminded me repeatedly during the 10 months leading up to the birth. Conceptually, I understood what they were saying. But it never really hit you until you come home from the hospital with the little precious baby who is barely learning how to breath on her own. 

My life has always been about living my life for what I want it to be - to achieve success at work, with family, and every other ways the world defines success. Blame it on ambition, motivation, drive for success, or peers. How has it changed? I come to realize that there's another perspective on life - that it is okay to live my life for what it is. What's the use if in the pursuit of happiness, I miss the moments that make life it self. It's all about living the life for what it is; and experience, enjoy and take in every moment. Then and only then will I achieve the life that I want it to be. 

I began writing blogs back in 2006, although not updating diligently as I would have liked to or should have. Back then, it was all about the life of wine and dine in NYC. But its now time for me to re-launch my blog with expanded scope - to reflect my new perspective on life. If I discipline myself to write to captures those moments, it will help me to experience and enjoy the same.

So here we go.

A moment in the life of me!