THE JAPAN EFFECT
I went to Japan to enjoy a vacation. I came back questioning how I work, live, and move through the world.
I’ve long touted a rotating list of tips and tricks for anyone in business — my fellow work-from-home friends, freelancers new and seasoned, and those in more traditionally structured workplaces. The advice feels universal — do something for yourself first, taking time off is good for you and good for business, strike a work-life balance… all the things that seem so obvious.
I still stand by all of this, but I wonder, how often do the scales tip back toward the ever-growing task list? Why do we rush through the time we carve out for ourselves, just to get back to work?
At the end of June, I spent two weeks traveling through Japan. Two weeks sounded like a long time when I started planning, but it was not nearly long enough. I know I have barely begun to scratch the surface of what the country truly is, and what someone like me can learn from its culture and people. My vocabulary isn’t sophisticated enough to describe the indescribable. But what I can reveal is that the mark this experience has made on me through lessons imparted will be long lasting.
I could cherrypick a few favorite moments — the serenity of walking through Okunoin Cemetery and the ritual of a temple stay in Koyasan, the tradition and honor of a tea ceremony in Kyoto, the precision and technique of omakase in Tokyo, and the pride of craftsmanship in Kanazawa. But what captivated me the most was observing how intentionally the Japanese people moved through each practice.
Authenticity, focus, honor, intention, modernity, pride, respect, tradition — this jumbled list of buzz words still feels too simple to describe it all. There’s an ease and slowness in their work that is part calm and understanding, and part something else… enlightenment? Have the Japanese people figured it all out?
For the observer, perfection feels natural and stress is hidden out of sight. The effortlessness and care in which the simplest of tasks is carried out feels like they have reached a level so many of us have strived for. Though even when we in turn get what we’re after, there’s always the next goal to reach.
What I wonder is this — can we endeavor to embody these same ideals into our own personal and professional lives? Can we slow down, move with intention, and not rush for the sake of checking something off our to do list? Can we be confident in our abilities, take pride in what we’ve achieved, and be content with what we have? I think so.
Over the next several weeks, I will be diving deeper into this exploration by sharing lessons learned from more specific experiences. In addition to regular content, these insights will be shared in the RB Collaborative email only. I hope you’ll follow along on this journey!
—RB
