I had an excellent time at the Developing Business Relations in Tokyo event last night. Got to the Carrot Tower (Carrot Tower? ah well, this is Tokyo: after all, I live across the street from the esteemed Titty Boo building:-)
I walked in late, because I had to do a bunch of blogging to do, and I had to create marketing material for our new services, plus brainstorm a product launch plan for a potential client that means a lot to me. So I was a little bit nervous, sort of sidled into the large room. There was a large crowd, some people in suits, some in elegant casual, a very even mix of Japanese and foreigners, and I could hear English and Japanese, which was heartening. But I didn't see anyone I knew, so, food table first:-). Excellent food, lots of veggie sushi, upscale Jamaican meat pies, good desserts, etc. I managed to get a 1/2 glass of wine (I don't drink much at all, and don't generally like red wine, as it's heavy). Kudos to Corporate Gourmet as the food and service was down-to-earth and delicious.
I wandered around the room a bit, plate in hand, backpack slung over one shoulder, just a smidgeon nervous, but basically okay. Since this is a blog that's meant to help me re-examine and recalibrate my life, I'll note that one of the things I like about my personality is that I really find people fascinating. I'm very outgoing, so if I can communicate with a person, usually we can find some common ground.
But the plate and glass were getting in the way, so I dropped everything on the table behind the whiteboard, and looked around, then headed towards a lovely Japanese young lady who seemed to be standing and eating alone. It turned out that Yuko is doing temp work for the company that organized the event, and we got to talking about that. When I told her I spent most of my life in the music business and that my partner and I have transferred those skills to a new business model, she told me about her jazz and classical vocalising, and about her love of performing. Even though she's at the amateur stage right now, she said, "But I will be professional someday": I really admired her spirit. In fact, when I mentioned that I wasn't sure how I got invited, and I'd love to meet the organizers and thank them, she introduced me to Paul Consalvi at Next Unit, a very cool American entrepreneur who put the event together. We hit it off, and started to talk about business, then sequed into politics (always a bit delicate, but less so since the sElection of GWBush). Very good conversation: I could feel my adrenaline doing the same thing that happens when I'm on stage performing, that delicate, comfortable little click! that means I'm in the zone.
An aside: I really like Mihaly Csikeszentmihalyi's work Finding Flow: I highly recommend it for anyone who's interested in an informed, but not too academic work on "The Psychology of Engagement with Everyday Life".
So, anyway, my flow found me, and I met about 15 people, exchanged cards, laughed a lot, and came home from the event buzzing, and feeling that it was completey worthwhile. I met folks from ActAdvent, Inc , from CtheD Intercultural Language Center, from Japan Small & Medium Enterprise Co., from Teknion Furniture Systems, from Booz Allen Hamilton, from ChapmanBuck Intl (thanks Andrew, card on the way!) , from event organizers International Exchange Organization & International Coordinate System. Inc. & from Kuroda Design.
Everybody I met had an interesting story, and I enjoyed hearing them all (and telling my own:-). Just goes to show that business can be a delight!
Business: TWWDI
Politics:TokyoProgressiveForum
Random Notes: Estraven in Japan
