have written about CEOs quite a bit recently, because of their criticality to the success of the business. Today I want to target my comments at those people whose job it is to appoint or support the selection of a CEO or General Manager for Japan. I have dealt with many technology firms over the years, and have...

I once asked my rich uncle - yes, I grew up on the poor side of the tracks, but there really was a rich uncle - what his advice to a young man starting out on the path of life was. What was the secret to his success? His answer was succinct, "The smallest fish are the sweetest." And ever since then I have followed his advice: keeping my businesses smallish...

The opportunities for foreign workers in Japan continue to improve and certainly for bilinguals in the IT, HR, travel, and financial sectors, there are plenty of jobs to go around. However, with the expansion of foreign involvement in the realm of professional services, the question of licenses and appropriate education become important. For example, very few foreigners...

Completing this group of articles, I'd like to offer some advice to foreign CEOs in Japan, who suspect that the terms of their employment are about to come to an end and who don't want to leave Japan. By "suspect", I mean that the head office is starting to make noises about personnel costs and how the Japan office needs to become more...