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success principles: you can either let the wind blow you where it wants to or put up your sail

Expert Perspective

Mar 142013

Reading time: 4 – 7 minutes

Life’s unpredictable.

That’s what I’ve learned about life in my 38 years on this planet.

Just when you think you’ve got it all worked out, life throws you a curve ball.

On a more personal level, my life has turned out to be one big rollercoaster ride.

It started out pretty pedestrian.

Born in a small town in England. I moved house three times before I was 4, but I only remember one the last one.

I was pretty much your average kid.

I was slender so a few kids bullied me, trying to get me to give them money.

Thankfully I could run pretty fast.

I remember being stood up in front of the class to be mocked at by my English teacher when I was 7…as you might imagine, I loved that.

I loved going on trips with my parents. Nothing exotic, just hop in the car and head off for a few days.

I recall staying at quite a few caravan parks.

It was just the three of us, well, four if you include the dog. It wasn’t Disneyland, but we had each other and we always seemed to have fun.

And then, in the blink of an eye, everything changed.

I was told we were moving.

No big deal but I was sad to say goodbye to my friends. My school, good riddance. My house, oh well.

I had to get some shots, malaria being the worst.

My school threw me a goodbye ceremony and I remember the entire school being there, for little old me. I felt like I was an astronaut heading off to space.

And then…we were gone.

A single decision changed everything.

It wasn’t an easy one, but looking back at it now I see that’s where it all began.

Since that time a lot’s happened.

Had you said that…

I’d live in the Philippines
I’d be a teacher
I’d live in Japan
I’d study 2-3 hours a day
I’d speak Japanese.
I’d like reading books
I’d still be riding a bike
I’d start yoga at the age of 37
I’d take up Karate at the age of 38
I’d speak with an American accent
I’d call Thailand and Japan home
I’d witness (and survive) the greatest natural disaster of our lifetimes
I’d like studying finance
I’d love rock climbing
I’d become a self-help coach
I’d go bankrupt almost three times
I’d get suckered into a pyramid scheme
I’d self-teach myself magic
I’d learn how to cook
I’d achieve my dream of going to America, only to leave
I’d marry a Japanese woman
My wife would choose me (she was so out of my league)

…I’d have said you were off your rocker.

But you just never know where things will take you. Every single day we are faced with small decisions, and some of those decisions could end up being life-changing.

The thing is we never know where we’ll be ten years from now, but we will be somewhere.

Most of us just let life take us where it may.

I prefer the other alternative — designing it.

Life is a formidable foe but we do have one power within our control and that is the power of choice.

Most of my life I just went with the flow, but after surviving the tsunami something changed within me. After all, life was giving me a “golden ticket” as Brendon Burchard likes to call it.

Today I create my life.

For the past 6 years I have been building the foundation for my future.

I set goals. I study. I work hard. I stick with it.

You might notice that nearly all the things on the list I had control over. We can’t control everything, but we can determine how we are going to live our lives today.

All I suggest is rather than letting the winds of life take them where they will, that we simply put up our sails.

Sometimes we may fail to reach our destinations but by having our sails up we do have some say in where we end up.

Adrian Shepherd

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success principles: 47 ways to relax, something we all need to do from time to time

Expert Perspective

Nov 262012

Reading time: 4 – 6 minutes

“Daddy, you’ve gotta give me a massage…”

That’s what my 4-year-old son said to me just a few hours ago.

Like he needs it. His body recuperates at lightning speed.

My wife and I are the ones who feel it after our Karate lesson on Saturday mornings.

My back paid the price last time and felt it all the next day.

I just have to face facts, I’m no longer young…and whether you’re 14 or 40, if you’re reading this sooner or later you’ll have to accept this fact, too.

What I’ve found is the older I get the more I appreciate taking it easy.

As a kid it’s all go go go…”slow down” doesn’t exist as part of their vocabulary.

But then one day it hits you – life.

You have things to do, people to see and bills to pay and pretty soon we’re devoting much of our time to things we have to do, rather than want to do.

But in doing so we deprive our mind and body of the relaxation they need to perform at optimum levels.

I’d rather someone worked 5 hours at 100%, than someone who worked 10 hours at 50%. The result may be the same but one way is effective, the other painful.

One day, you have time to spend with your family, catch up with friends, cook dinner and all the other things we should be doing more of. The other, mind-numbing and frustrating for everyone involved with no time to do much of anything.

As such, this post is devoted to R&R.

It’s the unspoken rule of success in any endeavor – taking the time to enjoy the spoils of victory.

I was reminded of this the other day listening to a friend talk about their work. It was sucking the fun out of them.

In response to this, I decided to sit down and write up my own list of how to kick back and recharge the old batteries.

Take a bath
Listen to music
Take a nap
Make fists with your toes
Play a boardgame
Have a glass of warm milk
Close your eyes and clear your mind for 2 minutes
Sit by the ocean
Go stargazing
Watch the clouds
Light a candle (scented preferably)
Rest your legs up on a wall
Do some light stretches
Fly a kite
Write a letter
Sit in nature
Listen to a TED presentation
Read a book
Learn something new
Have a lollipop
Write in a journal
Think
Take a walk
Build a model
Go for a run
Sing X-Mas carols
Turn off all electronics
Color with crayons
Watch your favorite cartoon
Take a drive
Climb a tree
Go to a park
Take a bike ride
Read poetry
Go somewhere new
Watch the world go by
Make yourself a drink
Read or watch something funny
Visit a museum
Stop and smell the flowers
Go shopping (always works for my wife)
Meander around town
Drive somewhere new
Get a massage
Cook
Take pics of people and places in your backyard
Play with your pet

Sometimes all it takes is a few minutes to forget our troubles, other times it takes hours. The point is today we’re all so wired-in. And while being connected has its benefits, relaxation usually isn’t one of them despite what we might think.

The Internet may be our preferred avenue of escape these days but when it comes to freeing your mind from the troubles of the world there’s nothing better than just remembering the simple joys of life, the ones that exist all around us and yet so few of us take advantage of.

Earlier this year, I took a walk around the local park at night (hey, it’s Japan). It was cold but very peaceful and within a short time I began to feel at ease with all that was going on in my life.

At home I’m a father, a husband, a housekeeper, a businessman, a student and a coach and from time to time, even someone as motivated as myself needs just a few uninterrupted minutes to his thoughts.

That’s my choice. What’s yours?

Adrian Shepherd

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success principles: 3 days of jammy heaven…sometimes it good to just take it easy

Expert Perspective

Aug 172012

Reading time: 4 – 6 minutes

Who doesn’t love Sundays?

I know I sure do…it’s the lazy day of the week. It’s the day when we get to do what we want to do. Sleep, eat, watch TV, relax, swim, anything and everything…that is until you have kids.

Now Sundays are no longer our day but the family day as it’s the only day my wife and I can spend together with our son. Now it’s less about what we want, and pretty much all about what he wants.

I’m of course talking about our 4-year old son.

He’s a great kid but like every other kid in the world, he has energy…and a lot of it. I swear there must be something that we have in our brains as a child that says, “Hey, this is the day I get to spend with my parents so wake up early and keep going till late.”

It’s like he’s got a constant adrenaline high on the weekends while during the week, in the morning, it’s like waking the sleeping dead.

I remember there were days when I stayed in my jammies till noon but that is a pretty much a thing of the past…that is until this past week.

From Monday to Thursday my wife and I were off thanks to the Obon holidays here in Japan and we took full advantage of the break.

Unfortunately a few of our plans fell through due to weather and a friend’s illness, but we made the best of a bad situation and went to a local amusement park one day, caught up on some shows we’d been meaning to watch and basically took it easy.

Maybe the best of all was being able to simply stay in my jammies till noon.

It’s true what they say, sometimes the simple pleasures are the best.

Work is hard. Studying is draining. Playing with young children is exhausting. And so we need time to simply just relax.

A while ago I came up with a simple formula for success: aptitude + attitude + hard work = success but what I left out of the equation is R&R.

Rest and relaxation is what keeps us sane in an otherwise sometime insane world.

Each and every day we face challenges, some more difficult than others. And it’s important that we all take the time to recover in order that we’re able to operate at optimum efficiency.

In Stephen Covey’s landmark classic, “The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People,” his 7th habit is “Sharpen the saw” which talks about not continually working but taking time out to sharpen our skills to make us more effective.

Planning is one such thing. Planning saves time, it’s a proven fact. And yet most people spend very little, if any, time planning.

Studying’s another, as it allows us to get more done in less time. At first people feel that the time involved isn’t worth the investment, but if we keep at it we’ll start to see remarkable progress and change in our lives.

Rest is needed simply because we’re not robots. We all need a certain amount of time to allow our body to recover and return to full strength.

Relaxation on the other hand is for the mind. Too often our minds get too full of information that we have trouble keeping track of it all. In spite of the best planning there are times when we can become overwhelmed simply because of amount of work or responsibilities we have.

While most of us are able to kick back and watch a little TV each night or squeeze in some recreational activities here and there, in today’s high speed world, the one in which we’re always in touch, it’s getting harder to just relax.

Even God took the seventh day off, so maybe that’s something we should remember.

Life is all about achievement and growth but in order to do so we need to make sure we take the time to, at times, rest.

Jammies, naps, massages, sleep…never underestimate the power of taking it easy.

Simple advice, but one that many people forget in their drive for success and must pay the price later on.

Adrian Shepherd

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success principles: Jim Rohn’s 4 “ifs” and how they have changed my life

Expert Perspective

Jun 042012

Reading time: 5 – 8 minutes

Ever wonder what you were meant to do?

I know I did.

As a child all I could think of was going to the US for university.

My mother being British, she wasn’t too excited about the prospect of me heading off to the States. In fact, that’s an understatement. For years she simply refused to entertain the idea.

It wasn’t until the 11th grade that she came to her senses : )

Despite being rejected by my first choice, I got into second, Pitzer College.

Dream 1 – check.

I still remember walking around the campus that first day. I was so filled with excitement.

But just two days after my orientation had begun and I was already thinking of going overseas. Don’t get me wrong, college life was great and I grew so much but if I were to look back at it now, deciding to come to Japan on a study abroad program was one of the best decision I ever made.

I opened my own business.

Dream 2 – check.

I met the love of my life.

Dream 3 – check.

I taught myself magic.

I wrote iSucceed.

Dream 4 – check.

And now I am about to start a new venture – seminars.

Dream 5 – check.

Teaching has been a part of my life for more than half my life.

I just never knew that I would move from English to success & finance.

Jim Rohn once gave a talk to a rotary club entitled “The 4 Ifs that make life worth living,” and when I look back over my life I can see that he was spot on.

Let me give them to you first.

Life is worth living if you:

Learn
Try
Stay
Care

I most certainly learned, though I suppose my real learning began when I started my business. Till then I had simply coasted along.

My grades had been good enough and I’d always found a way to get decent grades with the least amount of effort.

What does that mean?

As a teacher I hate to admit it but I’ve been guilty of cheating a few times (never caught though).

I just couldn’t be bothered. Literature, physics, Spanish…none of that interested me.

I was interested in life. In movies, money, and all that stuff that teenagers like. Only one problem – that wasn’t part of the curriculum.

Today I choose what I want to study and, more importantly, who I study from. I’ve learned it’s the teacher that makes 90% of the difference in learning which is why I surround myself with the best marketers, financial advisers, business men and speakers out there.

3 hours a day is devoted to studying in one form or another. During lunch, while I’m waiting for a friend, in-between classes…whenever, wherever I can.

Yes, I think it’s fair to say that I’ve learnt.

Have I tried? Like most people I have tried and failed time and time again.

But each failure has brought me here. Success anywhere along my path may have stopped me from getting here. And here is right where I want to be.

I’ve lost businesses, lost friendships, fallen down so many times I’ve lost count, but here I am. So yes, I think I’ve tried…and will keep on trying.

Staying is important. A lot of people have big ideas only to falter early on.

Me, I believe in finishing what I’ve started.

I built up my school. I created an flashcard system for kids. I commissioned a program for schools. I became an amateur magician, an author and a speaker.

There were times when I was frustrated, when I wanted to give up. But I didn’t.

And I’m glad I didn’t.

Finally we have caring. Jim Rohn goes on to say that “If you care at all, you’ll get some results. If you care enough, you can get incredible results.”

I think that’s the difference between a good teacher and a great one – caring.

Me – I care. I really care.

I care about my friends. I care about my family. And I care about my clients.

I want to do whatever I can to help them live better lives which is why I decided to get my ideas down on paper.

There is a limit to the amount of people I can reach out and touch directly but with books and the Internet I can help hundreds, if not thousands in the same amount of time.

And one day, I hope, millions.

I’ll just keep at it.

And I hope you do, too. Whatever it is you want to do…were meant to do. Do it.

That doesn’t mean you have to quit your job (in fact I would very much be against that). Instead work part-time on your dreams while working full-time to earn a living.

I guess I’m lucky that I found what I’m supposed to do – teach.

Who knew that a summer job that was forced upon me would change my life forever? The rest just sort of fell into place.

Learn, try, stay and care.

4 words to live our lives by.

Adrian Shepherd

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success principles: 10 simple tips to a successful marriage

Expert Perspective

May 212012

Reading time: 4 – 6 minutes

I do.

Two simple words.

And with those two words our life begins anew.

While I understand that marriages don’t always work out, I believe in the “till death do us part.”

We’ve all heard the statistics, 50% of marriages end in divorce.

And international marriages, like mine, have even worse odds of success.

Marriage isn’t just two people living in the same house. It’s about years of upbringing and various beliefs and habits getting smashed together.

But like all things in life, the harder you have to work for something, the more you appreciate it.

I wish I had all the answers to a successful marriage but I don’t.

No one does.

What I do know is that my wife and I have been married for going on 9 years and we’ve lived together for 11, and we’re still going strong.

Have we had our fights? Sure…some ticky-tack stuff but as for big ones, if you can believe it, I can count them on one hand.

So today I thought I’d share with you my thoughts on what it takes to make a marriage work.

I once asked my father once what he thought the key to a successful marriage was and he gave me the first item on my list.

Laugh
Be together
Be alone
Be considerate
Don’t go to bed angry
Have common ground
Listen
Learn
Help
Surprise

Let’s go through them one by one. I never really understood the power of laughter as a child, maybe because I took it for granted as my parents and I were always laughing.

My father always had the best stories and he knew how to tell them. He would have us in stitches. Living in the Philippines, Thailand and Myanmar where things didn’t always go as planned definitely kept life interesting, to say the least.

The truth is that life can be frustrating living in a foreign country. But as my mentor, Jim Rohn said, “Learn how to turn frustration into fascination. You will learn more being fascinated by life than you will be being frustrated by it.”

He was right. And I’m glad that my father could always spin even the toughest situations.

And in true Shepherd tradition, I’m doing my best to make my son grows up with laughter each and every day.

If you need any more convincing of the power of laughter consider this, laughter is the first thing to leave a marriage when people aren’t getting along.

As for the next two things on my list. Every successful married couple I know understands the importance of spending time together, but also apart. Kit Kat got it right, “Have a break…” which is why I encourage my wife to go out with her friends once or twice a month while I stay home and guard the house.

Having our own support system is important in being able to talk about the things we may not be able to talk about with our spouse.

Being considerate is, as we say here in Japan, “Atarimae” which means “naturally.”

Not going to bed angry is something my wife taught me, and while she has broken the rule once, it helped us vent our emotions rather than letting them fester as so many people do.

Common ground just means that you need to be able to share something with your partner.

A sport perhaps. Your love of movies. Music. Something. Anything.

Those couples that share very little with each other I find are more prone to divorce for a somewhat obvious reason – different thinking.

Listen, learn, help and surprise are 4 verbs every couple should remember because there is power in each of them. Listening shows caring. Learning reflects growth and change. Helping means being there for your partner when you need them. And surprise, who doesn’t love a little surprise every now and then.

I wish I could say I’ve mastered these 10 concepts but the truth is I’m a still learning.

I’ve found that success in marriage is like success in anything.

We can always learn more. We will make mistakes. But it’s all worth it.

Adrian Shepherd

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success principles: what does a good teacher cost and how do you find one?

Expert Perspective

Apr 262012

Reading time: 4 – 6 minutes

Something must be wrong.

According to my passport I’m 37. That means that I’ve been an educator in one form or another for over 21 years.

Wow.

How did I get into teaching? By accident really.

Back in high school I needed some extracurricular credit in order to graduate, so rather than be a camp leader, I chose to be an assistant ESL teacher.

Surprisingly, I thoroughly enjoyed it and have been hooked ever since.

I think that’s one of the reasons I chose to make Japan my home. Here, teachers are referred to as “sensei” (which means teacher) which is also used for doctors.

Imagine that. Me, a doctor…crazy?!

In contrast, in the West we say such things as “Those who can’t, teach.”

A teacher may not have to do life and death surgeries, they are instrumental in shaping their students’ minds and helping them reach their potential.

Teaching, to me, is a very serious responsibility.

In my case, most of the students that I teach have made the decision to learn themselves so they’re serious. And as they improve, I’m always asking myself, how can I take them to the next level?

Whether I’m teaching English, success principles, time management, marketing or finance I’m always on the lookout for new ideas and different ways to present the material.

I ask two questions in the title of this blog:

What is a good teacher cost?
How do you find one?

Before I answer these let me start by asking an even more important question – What makes a teacher good?

I have come up with 10 qualities from my own experiences and those of my friends:

Sincere
Admit mistakes
Constantly learning
Never satisfied
Fair
Tough but kind
Strict
Funny
Open to new ideas
Passionate

Most of these should be self-evident but I would like to address a few. In my experience the best teachers are humble. They’re always willing to admit they made a mistake. That doesn’t mean they won’t give up without a fight but they encourage their students to prove them wrong. I know I love it because the smarter my students become, the smarter I become.

Unfortunately, not all teachers agree. Some believe admitting mistakes is a sign of weakness. Nothing could be further from the truth. Students respect those teachers who are “man enough” to admit they are wrong.

Another item on the list is something that many parents seem to have an issue with these days and that is of strictness. Personally I think the better we get, the stricter our teachers must be otherwise we won’t learn.

I push my clients hard. And that’s why they choose to work with me. I know what to expect from them and if their work is below their own standard then I point that out.

Good teachers never expect anything less than the best from their students, and more often than not, they get it.

Finally, I do believe that teachers should also be learners as people learn best by example. Seeing a teacher constantly trying to improve themselves is inspiring for their students.

So back to the two questions I posed. What is a good teacher worth?

That all depends. To me a good teacher (and I mean really good) is priceless because finding someone that is just right for you isn’t always easy.

Thankfully in today’s world we have access to some of the greatest minds out there in the form of books, audio lectures and DVDs.

I have no qualms about spending $1,000 for a good DVD training set. Shelling out $5,000 for a 4-day seminar by people like Tony Robbins, Frank Kern and Brendon Burchard or other experts in their field of expertise is not unheard of. Heck, I even heard of one 9-year old earning $800 per person offering seminars to teachers.

Just keep one thing in mind, the better you get, the more you’ll have to spend to find good teachers.

People often think that a good teacher needs to be right there with you. I haven’t found that to be the case but if you’re lucky enough to know a good teacher then stick with them.

As the expression goes, to find your prince (or princess as the case may be) you have to kiss a lot of frogs and the same can be said for teachers, too.

Social media sites such as Facebook, Twitter and LinkedIn are great places to ask around. I’m sure that someone in your network knows a good swimming coach, a good English teacher or math tutor.

Experts in marketing, business management, website design and the like may be harder to find, but you’re bound to find someone that suits you and your needs if you keep at it.

When it comes to finding a good teacher, one piece of advice – don’t try to get them on the cheap.

Good teachers are good for a reason, they work hard to be the best. They invest a lot of money to improve themselves and deserve to be rewarded if they help you achieve your dreams.

Teachers may not be quite on the same level as a doctor, but they often play a big part in our success.

“Sensei” – I like that.

Adrian Shepherd

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success principles: the world today versus my father’s generation and what it means to us

Expert Perspective

Apr 022012

Reading time: 5 – 8 minutes

History, for many people, isn’t a fun subject.

We were bored to tears with names of kings and presidents that ruled the land hundreds and thousands of years ago.

For many of us, it’s sheer torture.

However, I learnt that history can be one of the most enlightening subjects we will ever take. Assuming you have a good teacher, that is.

Here, on this site, I try to be just that. A good teacher.

My goal is, as you may already know, is to share good ideas with you.

Success ideas, business ideas, social ideas, health ideas, marketing ideas, education ideas – anything and everything that might make a difference in your life.

I’m not here looking for people to agree with everything I say. I just want to make you think.

The other day I was talking with a client about how the world has changed.

I posed the question, “What’s the difference between the world today and our parents’ generation?”

One issue that came up was the role of men and women in the family.

30 years ago Japan was undergoing incredible growth and the economic machine was rolling along.

A sushi chef told me that back then he would just go into Gucci, point at a shirt and then ask, “How many colors does it come in?”

Money practically, if you’ll excuse the expression, grew on trees back then.

Housing went through the roof.

Men worked, women took care of the family.

Life was good.

Fast forward to today and it’s a very different picture.

Today both men and women work.

And yet, together, a couple’s salary doesn’t allow them to live as well as 30 years ago.

The economic boom is long forgotten and enthusiasm about the future has become more of trepidation.

Women no longer feeling the need to rely on men.

Divorce is up.

Students today are struggling to find work.

Those lucky enough to find a job have to deal with long hours and a bigger workload than just a few years ago.

And this isn’t unique to Japan.

Most first world nations are falling prey to the same circumstances. Unemployment, lower salaries, higher prices…it’s unnerving.

Now I’m not trying to scare people. These are what we call, “the facts.”

In order to solve any problem we must first come to grips with the situation we are in. And the situation most of us face today is, in a word, grim.

This site is about hope though.

So what good can we take away from all of this change?

I was thinking about why our world has undergone such incredible change. I used to think that it was the Internet that caused such a radical change but these days I believe that it simply helped increase the speed at which it took place.

The real reason for change, in my humble opinion, was the change in economy.

That’s why I implore people to study economy, because it is something we all must deal with and it has incredible implications in our daily life, even if we don’t notice it.

I know what some of you are thinking, “Economics is complicated,” I get that.

But that doesn’t make it any less important.

Whether we like taxes or not, we do have to pay them.

We might not like medicine, but we have to take it nonetheless.

Sometimes, in life, it’s not about what we like, but what we must do.

I believe that today, we must make economics a study.

Way back in 1215, the Magna Carta came into being. Essentially the business men went to the King of England (John at the time) and said, “You no longer make the rules.”

Business, or economics, is how our society survives and it touches each and everyone one of us.

What I have found most amazing about history is that time and time again we fall prey to the same mistakes.

I attribute this fact to our human folly.

Despite our ever growing intelligence, each generation must learn the world anew, and unless a serious study of history is made, the same mistakes will be made.

Today the world is facing a crisis, one still unraveling. The course is set, the only question is when and how.

One month ago I did my first official financial seminar and I’m busy working on my next one which will be held later this year.

I’m working on some videos that will be made available to everyone free of charge to help enlighten people.

My videos, as well as my seminar, are designed to be simple.

Whether you like economics isn’t the issue here…economics play a huge part in our lives and we should all take the time to learn a little.

History is a cruel teacher for those not willing to learn the lessons of the past.

Get educated now in order to prosper tomorrow.

Adrian Shepherd

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lifestyle: 20 reasons why I love Japan

Daily Life in Japan

Mar 192012

Reading time: 7 – 11 minutes

Success isn’t something that’s taught in school.

So if one decides to make success a study, where should we start?

Earl Nightingale talks about attitude, Tony Robbins talks about state, Robert Kiyosaki touches on mindset.

And they’re all right.

Success is based on building a strong foundation of fundamental concepts of which attitude, state and mindset are a part.

For me, I like to start with gratitude.

Why? Two reasons really.

First, as many of you already know, I was given a second chance at life.

And when that happens you start to see things in a different light.

Second, it’s not hard to get to work on. All it takes is a piece of paper and a pen and some thinking.

The other day I came across an article on the Web talking about the things the author, Andrew Bender, believes Westerners love about Japan.

It’s always interesting to hear what other people like, or dislike, about pretty much anything.

I suppose we’re either looking for vindication for our own opinions or evidence to prove us wrong.

In the article he went on to list 20 things of which some I agreed with, and some not so much.

Since I’m closing in on my 20th year here (17 and counting) I thought why not make up my own list of 20 things I love about Japan.

First off I’ll share my list with you and then I’ll break them down one by one.

Here are my 20:

The people
Sushi
Steak
Fruits
Bread
Izakaya’s
Club Harie
Safety
Convenience stores
Hot springs
The trains
High-tech toilets
Ume-shu
100 yen stores
The healthcare system
Cherry blossoms
Autumn leaves
Temples
Oidaki
Fashion

Let’s start off with the people. I have found them to be kind and accommodating, regardless of whether you speak their language or not. Punctuality, politeness and calm are three more words that come to mind when I think about the Japanese people. What I did find interesting is how curious the many Japanese were about other countries, their languages and their cultures.

Although Japanese people usually spend 6 years studying English they have very little chance to use it and therefore aren’t good at using English as a tool for communication but my experience has been that they do try which I very much appreciated when my language ability was limited.

The second thing I love is the food…and I could go on and on about the incredible quality and attention to detail at many restaurants but I find that when it comes to sushi and steak there are no equals. I also have found that Japanese fruit is incredible albeit quite pricey. And the bread, simply the softest I have ever eaten. I’m getting hungry just thinking about my food tonight…

Club Harie is a confectionery few foreigners know about but definitely deserves mentioning because the Bamkuhen (a German style cake) is to die for. It is so good that it actually beat out all other competitors in an International Bamkuhen contest so that says something.

Izakaya’s are something that every person who comes to Japan learns about within a short period of time. They are reasonably priced restaurants with a large selection of drinks to choose from.

Next we have safety. Never, in all the time I’ve been here, have I ever felt any danger for my personal safety. 99% of the time if you put your belongings on a table then leave for a few hours, chances are they’ll still be there. It’s something that people take for granted living here but it’s something you appreciate the minute you leave.

Convenience stores really are just that. They’re super convenient. They offer a whole variety of services including banking, mail, bill payment and more I’m sure. That on top of a wide range of goods of which the best might be their Onigiri (rice balls). They’re hard to beat at the price of around 100 yen.

And speaking of 100 yen. Some of the 100 yen stores here are pretty dang good. 6 highlighters for a buck. A huge variety of candies, toiletries and household goods. I’ve known more than a few foreigners to go on a mini spending spree upon hitting these stores and for good reason.

Hot springs are something of an acquired taste. I’ll admit I wasn’t too hot on them when I first arrived 18 years ago but over the years I’ve learned to really enjoy soaking my body in nice hot water for about an hour. Many of the popular hot springs not only have a variety of baths but also beautiful scenery as well. Definitely something people should add to their Must-Do List while in Japan.

Speaking of must-do things, no trip to Japan would be complete without a visit to a few temples or shrines. There are too many to mention but if this is your cup of tea then Kyoto must be on your list of places to visit. The scenery there is lovely and great for photographers.

And what compliments the hot springs nicely is the changing seasons here. While I suffer from allergies in the spring I must say that seeing the cherry blossoms come out in spring and then watching the leaves change to reds and yellows in autumn is a highlight of any year. The weather at those times is most comfortable as well so if you’re planning a trip to Japan, if at all possible, do try and work one of these in.

No list of what people like about Japan would be complete without mentioning the fabulous transportation system. Simply put, it works and it works well. It’s scary how on time the trains are here. You can put you watch to them.

Fashion is something that amazes me. In fact, it is often said that the world’s fashion starts in Yokohama and then moves around the world. Women in particular go to great lengths to look their best each and every day. Most wake up an hour or two early in order to do so.

Ume-shu, or plum wine, is a personal favorite of mine. While I don’t drink that much I must admit that I do enjoy a nice glass of Ume-shu after a hard day’s work. It’s not for everyone but if you have a sweet tooth like me then you might want to give it a try. FYI, ume-shu comes in numerous varieties but I find Choya, Yuzu and Berry Ume-shu to be the cream of the crop.

While Japan is a mix of high-tech and tradition all rolled into one, I’m more of a tech guy myself and two things I love here are the toilets and the baths. When you first see a high tech toilet it’s slightly intimidating. There are a whole host of buttons and if you can’t read Kanji you might be in for a surprise. But once you get used to them, it’s hard to go back.

As for the baths, they have a one-touch button to run the bath (to a preset temperature and depth) as well as the ability to reheat the temperature of the water you’re in without adding any new water. Very cool and super helpful for dealing with the cold winter months.

The train system here is a well-oiled machine that you can almost set your watch to. It’s so convenient that many people who spend their entire lives here never need to buy a car.

Finally, there’s the healthcare system. It’s nice to know that even if I need surgery I won’t end up in the poor house thanks to the government’s support. Nor will I have to fight with my insurance company over some small technicality. One less thing to worry about.

So there you have it…what I love about Japan. Is Japan perfect? Maybe not…but what country is?

I simply choose to focus on the good.

Adrian Shepherd

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success principles: something wicked this way comes – our financial future

Expert Perspective

Jan 272012

Reading time: 5 – 8 minutes

My book, iSucceed, and this site are devoted to doing one thing – sharing ideas that make a difference in people’s lives.

I tend to focus my posts around success principles and business ideas because I find that they are the most practical and easy to implement.

In many ways they are one and the same.

Any idea that makes us stronger either at home or at work is pushing us towards a better future.

We all hear good ideas from a variety of sources such as friends or the Internet but that’s usually as far as it goes.

No idea is of any value if it simply stays an idea.

It is when ideas are put into action that they begin to take on a life of their own.

Yesterday a friend sent me an email and let me know that my post reminded him to do something that he should have been doing - that’s music to my ears. Fingers crossed he actually did.

Many of the ideas I share on this site aren’t anything new.

Some we already know and we either forget them or aren’t using them to their full potential.

The key is that the ideas are fundamentals. They work anywhere, with anyone, and in pretty much any situation.

That said, as I have continued to write and study I have found that there is one difference today – the gameboard itself has change.

And by the gameboard, I’m referring to the world.

Growing up life was full of promise. Today much of that promise has disappeared for so many people in the so-called modern nations.

Just yesterday I read that Spain’s unemployment number has risen to 23%. That’s not good.

If the problem was limited to Spain then that’s one thing but Spain is not the only country running into trouble.

Italy has their own problems as do Greece, Portugal, Ireland, Belgium and France.

Add the world’s third largest economy, Japan, which is suffering greatly from the rise of their currency. The UK which is now officially the most indebted nation in the world (who knew?). And America which refuses to not only not take any action whatsoever in reducing its debt but continues to add to it at an alarming rate and you have one big problem. And I do mean BIG.

What is that problem? It’s a combination of many things but simply put – we’re broke.

And we’re all broke at the same time.

In years past economic problems were limited to certain countries; Germany in the 1920s, Hungary in the 1940s, Israel in the 1970s and Brazil in the 1990s.

Never before in history have so many countries been so interconnected as they are today.

If one goes down, so do all the others.

That is why I encourage all my clients, friends and family members to study money.

Economics can be a very dry subject. The same can be said when it comes to understanding stocks and P/E ratios but monetary history it is surprisingly quite interesting.

It comes off as somewhat of a Agatha Christie novel, only the events actually happened.

The other day a client was telling me about Zimbabwe and how Mugape rose to power and then caused one of the greatest collapses of any economies in recent memory. I was enthralled so I went and placed an order for a book on the subject so I could read up on it myself.

It is a harrowing tale of idealism and corruption but one that has replayed itself time and time again throughout history.

All nations rise, and all nations fall.

It’s much like the seasons. It’s not a question of whether they happen, but when.

I do my best to paint a picture of our financial future for those that are interested but have found that many people tend to dismiss my ideas as fiction.

But that’s nothing new. Whether I talk about business ideas, success ideas or financial ideas I run into the same issue.

Many people choose to simply ignore all that is going on around them and believe that everything will be ok.

Me? I’m of the belief that we should prepare for the worst. In doing so we protect ourselves for what could happen…if it never comes to be then we can all breathe a sigh of relief.

I wish I had more faith in our governments to protect us from what is coming but I just don’t.

If they had any solutions they would have already used them. But, like all politicians, the best they can do is kick the can down the road in hopes that someone will come up with a solution someday. The only problem in doing so is they amplify the problem.

Last year I believe we were given a glimpse into what is ahead with the rioting in the UK, the collapse of governments in the Middle East and the Occupy Wall Street movement.

Many people get a sense that something’s wrong but they just can’t put their finger on what.

I believe that the next few years will be ones for the history books, and many people won’t know what hit them.

Later this year I will be putting on my first financial educational seminar open to the public because I am afraid of what is on the horizon.

Will many people come? That remains to be seen.

I just want to do my part to help, whether that’s helping a few or a few thousand.

I’m a believer that it’s better to be prepared and not need it, than not to be prepared at all.

2012 is shaping up to be an exciting year what with me starting individual coaching and offering seminars, all the while running my business and working on this blog.

I thank you for letting me share my ideas with you.

Adrian Shepherd

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life in Japan: Japanese food

Daily Life in Japan

Mar 012011

Reading time: 3 – 4 minutes

Food. I love the stuff. We all do, but what you might not know about me is I will sacrifice nearly every other entertainment expenditure to eat good food.

Soft succulent pieces of meat that drop off the bone.

Fruit that makes your taste buds jump up and down with glee.

Sushi so exquisite that it melts in your mouth.

Boy, I’m getting hungry just writing this.

When I first came to Japan 17 years ago I fell in love with Japanese food and each year I find more and more amazing restaurants that meet my requirements.

So today I thought I’d pass along what I’ve found out.

Some of you might think that Japan is all about fish and rice but you’d be wrong.

In fact, Tokyo has the most restaurants of any city in the world, topping the list with 160,000.

More than 6 times as many as in NY, which comes in second.

Now while I live in Osaka, it’s no slouch either.

You can find anything your heart desires here.

Italian, French, German, Spanish, Thai, Vietnamese and the list goes on and on.

Growing up I was blessed to have traveled all over the world and, for me, Japanese restaurants are the best in the world.

BUT, with so many restaurants here it’s easy to find some not so good ones, too.

Years of experience taught me where to eat, what to buy and whose advice to trust.

But I suppose the same can be said for almost any city in the world.

One restaurant that I try and take all my friends to is called Punraku located a stone’s throw away from my office in Hirakata.

It’s what Japanese people call an Izakaya, which is kind of like halfway between a restaurant and a bar.

The menu is extensive with all sorts of dishes – raw fish, yakitori (chicken on a skewer), pizza, karage (fried chicken), and chijimi (Korean pizza), just to name a few.

It’s great for parties and it always busy especially on weekends.

So make sure you book in advance just to be sure.

Now for those reading this that are heading to Tokyo, fear not, there is actually a shop there, too, located in Shibuya, one of the busiest areas in Japan.

So if you’re looking for a great place for dinner and don’t want to break the bank, check out Punraku.

You’ll be glad you did.

Adrian Shepherd

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