Business as Unusual

In other realms, there is a massive communication blitz in the making claiming that here in the Kanto area, it is "Business as usual". It is spearheaded by foreign concerns that have good reasons to stage a communication blitzkrieg, a propaganda powwow : they are in need not only for business continuity and recovery, but also with some for trust recovery and rebuilding. Yes, today's sky in Tokyo is a (windy) blue tempest. But calling the situation Business as Usual is lame, to quote it mildly. You have to face it instead : it is not that business has stopped, it is business as unusual. Shops are often dimmed as they take part in the national call to save electricity. The results are dismal : a dim shop is a closed shop. So they have staff outside, standing and making noise, appealing to the passersby. A rotating lamp of some taxi like LED signs set outside meaning "yes we are open" will appear sooner than later.

It is not business as usual, otherwise the newspaper would not be awash with BCP stories, those who did good, those who did really bad, especially because they had no BCP. I queried the net for hints at BCP for professional independents and found a small choice of lame, superficial cool articles that adorns the sites and blogs focusing on freelancing. Why do they so often make freelancing sound lacking seriousness. Why is seriousness not cool? Anyway, we will be discussing and try not be lame about BCP for independent professionals next month at the monthly meeting of the professional network Freelance France Japon here.

In the meantime, I wrote down an sent a message to all and sundry clients, past, current and maybe future about the state of Business as Unusual, a calling of arms I never did before (of course) besides the season greetings. Does it sound lame? I don't know and would appreciate feedback although there is no way to betterize it for this time, until the next big one.

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Dear Clients and Friends,

Thank you very much for so many caring messages following the
11.03.2011 devastating earthquake and tsunami here. We are lucky to
have been living in Tokyo where the jolt was fabulously frightening
but generated few casualties. Everyone around has a story of having
seen buildings jolting like jelly. Everyone has stories of having
walked X hours back to home, X being a matter between 2 to 8 hours or
more, because trains and subways came to a halt.

Then the media frenzy crashed in. One newspaper title read "Japan is
destroyed", whereas it should have read : "Tohoku region is crushed",
that is the northern part of the main Japanese island. The fact is
that Tohoku, especially the sea side facing the Pacific Ocean, is a
mangled mess. But Tokyo and Western side of the country down to
Okinawa, but also Hokkaido way up in the North are not crushed.


Some advices and commentaries.

Business is bruised but back. Most trains and subways in Tokyo are
running at 80 to 90% of standard schedule. Many now runs at 100%.
Shinkansen fast train to Osaka and further destinations South never
stopped running. Most Tokyo business districts are free of planned
power cut.

If you are back planning your next business trip to Tokyo and most
parts of Japan, you are welcome. I would advise to extra check
information about issues being cleared up pretty fast. I can help with
that.  In remote areas or even outskirts of Tokyo, gasoline may still
be an issue but things are quickly catching up. Bring your disposable
batteries with you as those are still very scarce right now. Water is
an issue at the moment if you extra fret about Sievers. Based on
international standards and faith that information is not manipulated,
there is no fear, as of today. But there is concern.

Bring your encouragements and warm support to your clients, prospects
and partners. If you are still procrastinating about coming, at least
send encouraging messages and pledge of standing by them. Getting
involved with donations, despite the fact that Japan is still a rich,
advanced and highly organized country, is a valuable investment in
trust, or trust recovery management.

I spent three days as a volunteer interpreter around Sendai city with
the French international rescue team of more than 100 firefighters.
This was not moved by any calculation motives of course, just by the
will to do something to help. So many people including outside Japan
want to "do something for Japan". Now safely back in Tokyo, and while
not bragging about having been there and seen what you saw on TV, this
small amount of volunteering time has had tremendous effect on my
Japanese business partners. The confusion and thanks are overflowing.

Now, the conclusion is this :

- I am in Tokyo and never moved except for a short stint in Tohoku.
- I am open for business.

I provide the usual but also extended services related to
communication that are crucial due to the circumstances:

- Interpretation in situ and remote (meetings through phone,
videoconference, etc. If your Japanese partners are not used to these
tools - so many are not! -  I will set them up).
- Business and Trust Recovery conscious interpretation and liaison
with your partners, clients and prospects. It is not time for
interpretation as usual.
- Agency for remote business and trust recovery action when you are
not ready to visit here. I act as your trustee envoy, go and visit the
people you can't meet face to face, massage your message by applying
the necessary vocal redundancy, scoop worries and concerns from them
and transmit these back to you in more details than a standard direct
exchange of emails.

Communication that is caring, minute, sustained, humble, warm and
trust building (or rebuilding) is key. I can help on all these
dimensions.

One last thing : please forward this mail to businesses, big and
small, you deem potentially interested by my services in Japan.

Best regards.