aFamilyFrenzy

  Welcome to your weekly 1 on 1 , where I tackle some of your most challenging questions concerning Engineering, Global Leadership, Life in Japan and more. Today I'd like to offer a reflection on how to recieve harsh critique. It's been a while since I've been called "naive", and honestly I didn't take the critique well. I smiled and nodded, emoting that... "hm... yes, I could see where your feedback is coming from." But on the inside, pride and entitlement slipped in softly. It's been about a week now and I'm still a bit cut up about it. We all receive feedback from time to time that may land outside the realm of what the giver intended. Honest feedback that is meant to propel us forward on our growth journey, can actually stop us in our tracks. Or worse, seed unspoken resentment that simmers over time. I've had the privilege of working for exceptional leaders over the last decade within JNJ, and yet each of these leaders has at one poi...

Welcome to your weekly 1 on 1 , where I tackle some of your most challenging questions concerning Engineering, Global Leadership, Life in Japan and more. Today I'd like to offer a reflection on "Assumptions" and why you should be weary of them in your career. It was one of my lazier, simple TikToks that got me in trouble. Now this isn't the first time I've ever "triggered" the internet... but most of the time that is a willful choice when I characterize "The Pretentious Engineer". One day, I found a video of what looked like a giant 3D printing architecture used to manipulate a concrete pouring nozzle. This marvelous invention was pouring concrete... well actually it was more like smearing frosting on a cake one layer at a time, to build walls. The video claimed that this was the future of home construction and the comments were equally enthusiastic. It was at that moment that I made a dangerous assumption. I didn't really see the futu...

Welcome to your weekly 1 on 1 , where I tackle some of your most challenging questions concerning Engineering, Global Leadership, Life in Japan, Work Life Integration, and more. Today I'd like to offer a reflection on Fatherhood. I've always wanted to be a present father. I grew up in a relatively stable home with blue-collar parents who worked hard to provide financially while also being present with us. I remember my father working challenging hours as a plant manager at a Japanese ink company. Some of my most celebrated times with him would be on Saturday mornings when he would go into the plant to do extra batches of ink. I would often wake up early and go to work with him.  I would pack up my PlayStation 1 and Crash Bandicoot in a backpack and he would set me up on a small tube TV. He'd give me a couple quarters to buy snacks from a vending machine and I'd be set for the next 5 hours. While he was making ink and providing for the family, I enjoyed special time awa...