Seeing somebody wear my shoes

Seeing somebody wear my shoes
Hakusan-ichige by YK

To interview people and ask the right questions are important elements of my business tactics as a business consultant. Less than one hour, perhaps forty minutes is more than enough to get the point for the interviews. If you have the right questionnaire, just a few key questions are all you need.

An interviewer, a magazine reporter, and a photographer arrived at my office a little earlier than the appointment time. My company web master saw a Mitsubishi Pajero driven by the interviewer himself through the office window. He parked his car and came into the office with his hands in his pocket wincing in the cold air. It was a sunny afternoon but a cold winter day in January 2003.

As soon as the interviewer entered my office, he glanced at a small Compact Disk rack, which I bought at a local store in Boston, and complimented, saying "This is nice stuff." As typical business protocol, we exchanged business cards and greetings in Japanese. Without even taking a break, the reporter asked me quite bluntly, "Why did you begin this consultant business?"

The interview team

The interview team looked like professional. Short precise key questions induced me to explain what I was doing as a consultant. The interviewer responded softly making the conversation proceed smoothly. "Off-the-record", I mentioned about my past business experiences with large American companies in order to show him real showcases, which I had learned as the "right" American business behaviors. He looked impressed, and then he also told me his background and business career both in the U.S. and Japan "off-the-record", I strongly felt this interview would be worth my time.

One of his interesting queries was "What is your motto?" I had assumed this key question, so I picked up a paper binder, well-prepared for this meeting, and showed him a cartoon clipping, which I got on March 16, 1995 from my secretary. I still remember that day. While managers at my company in the U.S. had been discussing the corporate mission statement for a few months, a simple answer was on the Boston Globe. Famous "Dilbert" says, "No more mission statements or "Visions." Our motto is "HAVE FUN, SATISFY CUSTOMERS, MAKE MONEY." The interviewer loved it so much, that he translated it into Japanese for the reporter and the photographer.

Famous "Dilbert"

The interview was completed just after one hour. His compliment, "Nice sunny room" made the managing director ( also manages the house) very happy. And then we took commemorative photos along with her and the web master of the Applegrove House. The interview team left my office bringing with them an enlarged hard copy of my motto.

This experience was a nice occasion for the consultant who has been claiming that interviewing is one of the best methods for his kind of business. He is also proud that his belief has been proven right, "getting the point" and "being well-prepared", are indeed crucial in his kind of business.

February 2003

	Seeing somebody wear my shoes			Hakusan-ichige by YK
	To interview people and ask the right questions are important elements of my business tactics as a business consultant. Less than one hour, perhaps forty minutes is more than enough to get the point for the interviews. If you have the right questionnaire, just a few key questions are all you need. An interviewer, a magazine reporter, and a photographer arrived at my office a little earlier than the appointment time. My company web master saw a Mitsubishi Pajero driven by the interviewer himself through the office window. He parked his car and came into the office with his hands in his pocket wincing in the cold air. It was a sunny afternoon but a cold winter day in January 2003. As soon as the interviewer entered my office, he glanced at a small Compact Disk rack, which I bought at a local store in Boston, and complimented, saying "This is nice stuff." As typical business protocol, we exchanged business cards and greetings in Japanese. Without even taking a break, the reporter asked me quite bluntly, "Why did you begin this consultant business?"			The interview team
	The interview team looked like professional. Short precise key questions induced me to explain what I was doing as a consultant. The interviewer responded softly making the conversation proceed smoothly. "Off-the-record", I mentioned about my past business experiences with large American companies in order to show him real showcases, which I had learned as the "right" American business behaviors. He looked impressed, and then he also told me his background and business career both in the U.S. and Japan "off-the-record", I strongly felt this interview would be worth my time. One of his interesting queries was "What is your motto?" I had assumed this key question, so I picked up a paper binder, well-prepared for this meeting, and showed him a cartoon clipping, which I got on March 16, 1995 from my secretary. I still remember that day. While managers at my company in the U.S. had been discussing the corporate mission statement for a few months, a simple answer was on the Boston Globe. Famous "Dilbert" says, "No more mission statements or "Visions." Our motto is "HAVE FUN, SATISFY CUSTOMERS, MAKE MONEY." The interviewer loved it so much, that he translated it into Japanese for the reporter and the photographer.			Famous "Dilbert"
	The interview was completed just after one hour. His compliment, "Nice sunny room" made the managing director ( also manages the house) very happy. And then we took commemorative photos along with her and the web master of the Applegrove House. The interview team left my office bringing with them an enlarged hard copy of my motto. This experience was a nice occasion for the consultant who has been claiming that interviewing is one of the best methods for his kind of business. He is also proud that his belief has been proven right, "getting the point" and "being well-prepared", are indeed crucial in his kind of business.
	February 2003