The Japanese students in my Millionaire Mindset Coaching Certification Course were the most attentive, focused group I’ve ever had the privilege to instruct.
My recent journey to Asia reinforced in me what a valuable education international travel has to offer. This trip really opened my mind to new ideas, new perspectives, and new ways of looking at my life and business.
For example, I learned how the Asian approach to marketing employs ideas not used in the U.S., ideas that could be leveraged. Knowing there’s a great big world out there to expand your products and services to takes on a much richer meaning when you actively get out there and walk around in it!
Personally, one of the most delightful things I learned was how the people of Japan are literally the most gracious and grateful of any other people I’ve ever encountered – and I have traveled extensively in my lifetime. The Japanese truly delight in being of good service. In fact, the way they combine astonishing service with an attitude of gratitude is almost shocking. Anyone who visits Japan always comments about the amazing service they experience. When I got home one of the first things I thought of was HOW CAN MY COMPANY create even better service to my clients and customers?
Before I left on my business trip to Tokyo (and then on to Kyoto and Osaka) I had a year and a half to educate myself on Japanese Business Etiquette, Social Etiquette, Culture, and History. Sometimes the first step to progress is the hardest one, so to get myself some momentum, I bought a video and written History of Japan through a company called Great Courses (which I highly recommend, to continue your education of the world). NO matter what people say, history is important because we can learn so much from the successes and failures of our leaders, as well as the end results of behaviors and belief systems.
What I learned helped me prepare for teaching my three-day, Millionaire Mindset Coaching Certification Course to about 100 students, with the help of translators (see photo, above). My study of Japanese history helped me focus on what has effected the population, what today’s culture is like, and what Japanese people really want. I also read a few books on the Samurai history and culture, and what the Samurai meant to the population. In my course I often referred to the students as Samurai and they loved it. That empowered them to want more success and results with their efforts. Keep in mind we have to teach more than information, we have to activate students’ emotions.
I sincerely desire to bring great value to my students, providing tools, strategies and wisdom that empowers them. To be able to make a difference in someone’s life, you have to be over prepared with well thought out, researched materials that are relevant to your audience’s needs. It was gratifying to see my preparatory efforts transform into an extraordinary Experience for this group of eager students.
I learned that Status is very important in Asia, and the Certification my course offered was prized by my Japanese students as a significant step towards being respected and valued in business. The students in my course were literally the best behaved, most interested, most sincere learners – and without a doubt – the most grateful audience of my entire career.
In fact, over the entire three days, not one student looked at or played with their cell phones at all. Everyone was at the Certification Course to learn. They were totally present and asking questions and absolutely absorbed into learning how to leverage their talents into a Coaching Business. I’d love to go back and work with these appreciative folks again.
It is a Japanese tradition to gift your teachers, and over two thirds of the group bought me small gifts of appreciation like hand written cards, food, and flowers. I traveled to Japan with one big bag and had to buy another one to bring home the thoughtful, heart-swelling gifts of gratitude they showered on me. I was deeply touched.
This experience of working with people in Japan made me realize how blessed I was to have this amazing opportunity to work with a new culture and, to be honest, it made me work harder to do a good job. I was out of my comfort zone speaking long periods of time through translators (which in the past has been super stressful), offering a Certification Program in a new country. I really had to psych myself up for the challenge of being gone for 23 days from my home, office, Dog and Cat, living out of a suitcase.
I did fly Business Class the entire way and that gave us the privacy of our own little pod with a fold-down bed. I know when you first see the cost of it, you say to yourself, “Wow, do I really need that upgrade?” Well, in the 33 hours it took to get home I will honestly tell you that you need to nurture yourself. If possible, invest in the best actual travel experience you can afford.
All that said, I loved working in Japan. I have had a publisher there since 2007 who prints all my products in Japanese, so I had the benefit of a supportive base make my visit special.
So pack your bags and visit a country you have never seen – it’ll definitely change the way you look at things! Life is an Adventure – go for it! Next week I will share what I learned from my visit to Hong Kong, where – unbeknownst to me – big protests were about to erupt.