The company I currently work for has a flexible policy — three days a week in the office, and the rest we can work from home. But this past week, I found myself in the office every day, with a full schedule of work and people to meet.
I pushed myself to be more social than usual, and perhaps that’s why, when I woke up today, I couldn’t bring myself to leave my pajamas until well past noon.
The sun was shining on a beautiful spring day, the calm before another rainy, chilly week ahead. Still, I decided to embrace the quiet and introverted energy of the moment, enjoying it from the window next to my bed.
Here’s how my week 1,519 unfolded.
1. What I read.
The quote that stuck with me:
“Even after serving their sentence and returning to society, many elderly people find themselves with no home and no one to welcome them. In such cases, prison seems better, and many end up returning to it repeatedly.”（「刑を終えて社会に復帰しても、家がない、出迎えてくれる人もいない。ならば刑務所のほうがいいと、何度も戻ってきてしまう高齢者が多い」）ーp.27
2. Who I saw.
This week, two colleagues from the Partnerships team, visiting from our New York office, came to our Tokyo office. I took the opportunity to invite each of them for a brief coffee break, which gave me the chance to learn more about their work.
The little details I observed:
The primary goal of their visit was to meet with our partners in Japan, with whom we already have established global relationships.
Although they seemed to be aware of this, it appeared that they might not fully grasp why — or how — the process of engaging with Japanese business professionals requires a more delicate approach, often described as the defining characteristic of Japan’s business culture, with the subtleties involved in building relationships being unique compared to those in New York and many other Western countries. This is quite understandable, especially for someone who has not grown up locally and is only visiting for a week.
Despite working for the same company, it was fascinating to realize how our roles, while interconnected, are also quite distinct. This encounter highlighted the diversity of perspectives and practices within our global organization.
3. What I created.
I set goals for this year at work. There are quite a few things I need to complete in order to grow the way I hope to, both in my role and in my career. My manager asked me to come up with three specific goals, and I might share them later this year if I feel like it.
The story behind it:
In my team, we upload our individual goals for the year at the beginning of the year, based on what we’ve agreed upon with our manager during our one-on-one meetings.
For the past two years, my goals have been mostly focused on learning. But now, entering my third year, some of my goals have shifted towards sharing the knowledge I’ve gained with the team, in the office, and across other teams.
It’s a new challenge for me, but it feels meaningful, and I think the effort I put into these goals will bring me closer to becoming the person I’ve always dreamed of being.
Next Week’s Peek — What I’m looking forward to and why
I’m looking forward to a few things next week. On my list are:
- Finishing the rest of the book: I’m excited to complete the book I’ve been reading.
- Organizing my knowledge about Wallet payment methods: Currently, my notes are piled up in random order, and I’m hoping to bring more clarity to what I know and what I still need to learn. This will make my future work more efficient and effective.
- Going for a run while listening to a podcast from my old favorite: After revisiting the podcast channel for the first time in over half a year, I discovered many new episodes I haven’t yet listened to. It’s hosted by two women in their 40s, and I’m excited to catch up on the latest episodes.
Hope you had a great week.
Catch you next week!