東京フォトウォーク 2

Nice post. I was well keen on working in the 3d industry in Tokyo - even if its just for a year), but the shitty things that have happened at home over the last 7 months have put an end to that. I do hope to pursue it soon though. As you said - life is too short.

Heh, Danny its not that hard to ride a bike. Did you not know at all how to ride?

Great article, Danny. You're an amazing inspirational/motivational article writer!
While I might be a bit too young to have experienced anything major in terms of obstacles, I do find my time to be a bit scarce at times. I have so many plans learn Japanese and to go to Japan, but I can't seem to get myself there just yet. As an avid gamer, I mostly get caught in my PC's tractor beam and I stay there whenever not in school. While this is might be an obstacle in its own right, it's one that I should be able to overcome easily if I just put my mind to it.
Getting a part-time job also seems like a mean feat to me, but it is necessary if I'm ever to get to Japan. Again, it's all about tearing myself away my PC. What's the best way to walk away from your beloved hobby (not entirely though) and get a job and practice Japanese?

More inspiration once again. Thanks Danny. Still in school but I'm still aiming to get somewhere in Japan. Just not sure what to combine Japan with. I still have 1year and a bit before I leave school/enter university. Still not sure what to do but it'll come to me.

Funny that you didn't know how to ride a bike at such an age!

Quite a nice post, Danny. Nice pics too. :p

I myself have many plans and ambitions for the future, basically I want to earn at least my masters degree and hopefully higher (doctoral or prof.) in computer science or engineering and I'm planning on minoring in Japanese language studies. Once I get my education I'm planning on moving to Japan, as a matter of fact I'm still trying to look for a way that would allow me to move to Japan while still getting my education. I currently have a couple of obstacles and I'm sure more will crop up along the way, but I'm definitely not going to let them stop me, I know there is going to be a lot of hard work along the way and I'm still trying to accept the fact that I simply won't have the kind of time that I want to have to do the extra things, the fun things while getting my education. But at the same time I'm going to be studying something I enjoy, so I'm thinking things will work out just fine for me.

I'm going to have to get the studying in and once it's done then I will work toward putting myself in a situation like yours, one where I can enjoy work and have fun at the same time. One of my main obstacles is going to be money, getting the kind of education I want is going to take many years in a university and that's going to cost quite a lot, which means I'm going to have to work even harder so that I can get scholarships to pay for it all, but it will all be worth it in the end.

Always looking for these extra pick-me-up articles to keep me motivated.

I'm honestly getting sick of my full-time job, even if I am being groomed to be a project manager at a digital media firm. I did manage to make my dream come true to go to Japan for a time while in college, but now I just want to make my own stuff happen.

What would you recommend for someone who has business ideas, but doesn't have enough devoted support (or time because their full-time work takes up their energy) to make it happen?

Thanks again for the article, and hoping for a response if you have the time. ^^

Loved the talk on obstacles, and you have the right attitude towards them. A lot of military leadership likes to call obstacles, "opportunities to excel." While it's somewhat cliched, it is true. Only through adversity do you get a chance to truly shine.

And remember, whether you face an obstacle and succeed or fail, always take away something. As long as you learn from your experiences, you're ahead of the game.

Ha ha, I guess I'm not going through my midlife crisis yet at age 19 so I'll just keep plugging along, looking up. This made me feel pretty warm inside and what started off at just looking at nice pictures, I was more absorbed in your words than the pictures in the end.

Great post Danny, was once again captivated by the words and missed the pictures. I can point to a few "defining moments" that have shaped the last 10+ years of my life so I especially related to the "Without my language skills I probably ....." paragraph.

Without the on the spot decision to move to Queensland i would not have learnt the Software i use which opened a door in Melbourne which in turn saw me working for the Software company as a teacher / consultant which has now allowed me to live in Japan for the last few years and many more i hope.

People have told me i am "lucky" ... B.S i am lucky, i have made my own luck and made decisions that others would have thought too hard.

Loved the post man, great motivational stuff!

based on what you said about your wife picking you up,i'm assuming you got married while in college?that must have been hard having to pay for college and support the family

Just wanted to say Thanks. I read this in the exact moment of my life I needed it.

Say hi to Hector on my behalf.

Thank you, Danny. That's just the kind of inspirational talk I needed. I now have a new creedo to live by: "Dont wait for things to happen - make them happen."

Ever since my girlfriend and I broke up a few months back, I have been down in the dumps. I kept asking myself where I went wrong and where I lacked. As a few friends pointed out, it wasn't that I lacked in things, it was more of I gave too much. Every time I get idle, thoughts bother my mind. Then I just thought to myself, rather than think of how things could have been, I should think of ways to make it right and how to prove to her that she was wrong to just give up on us.

I'm currently working a menial job as web support for a BPO Firm. I'm also taking culinary arts classes after work hours. Pretty much, my plan is to setup my own restaurant once I have my certificate in culinary arts in a year or so. And from then on, hopefully when things work out, maybe ask her.

Thanks Danny :)

Thank you for another inspirational post Danny. In fact, I'm facing some difficulties right now and instead feeling depressed by it, I should see them differently and will try to overcome them. I'm still young and I should not give up yet when there's hope. Thanks again~

THANK YOU Danny!

You're a great motivator, really, I don't know how you do it but in fact I feel much better after reading this post. My dream is living and working in Japan, just like you're doing, and there's some times when I feel the world's against me or just feel that I never going to make my dream come true but when I feel a little down, I come to your blog and all the photos and posts makes me stand up again and work hard to get my goals done.

I think you're a nice person who help others and that's why good things happen to you, it must be a kind of universal law or something but I'm glad you're having a good time. Hope someday I can meet you personally, I'm going to work to make that happen ^_^

Cheers!

Very inspirational article, Danny.
Thanks!

Although, I don't think I've totally given up. I've been mixing chemicals for the past 5 years. Not what I thought I would be doing after all that graphic design training...

E^d

So you could skate but couldn't ride a bike?
Maybe skating isn't that scary after all. Still don't have the interest to learn, though ^^

Aw that almost made me cry. I'm going through a teenage crisis right now; this has been the worst month of my life and you've given me and everyone else hope. My dream is to become someone like you, living your life to the fullest and fulfilling your dreams and passions.
I wish to one day see the world as stunning as Japan looks through your lens.

I quit community college about a year ago, I was getting really burnt out and was just wasting money. I've been a secretary(/slave) for about a year...I like the work, but not the job if that makes any sense. Soon (I am waiting for my PC to arrive) I will start learning to be a Medical Transcriptionist, which means I can work from home and hopefully we can start a family soon...which is more important to me than my career (but of course we need money, so I have to do something). Hopefully I really like Medical Transcription...it seems promising! :)

I still wish I could work for you though, Danny ;)

Walking at night...
It seems that it's safe in some way.
Well here in Canada, you'll get jumped...
It's getting dangerous here sometimes at night...
Well, still, it seems that Japan is safer then here at night!!!
Love the pics!!!
Danny, how you get you pics so clear!!!?

Very well written post Danny! Thanks!

I couldn't agree with you more on the "unseen obstacles", if I have now made that decision about a single working opportunity in Japan I wouldn't be even here. I have always dream of coming to Japan but yet afraid about those "unseen obstacles", somehow I managed to get over it :D and I'm glad I did it back then.

Thanks again ^^

(P.S Danny, the "Post Comment" link seems to erase the textbox comments when you accidentally clicked on them)

When life gives you lemons, make lemonade.
when things are sour, turn it sweet.
make the best of a bad situation.
no one can help u if u don't help yourself.
cheers. ^^;

I have given up on lots of things in the past, but usualy when i wanted something i would get it. My actual -want- besides loads of figmas (lol couldn't resist) is going to life and work in Japan (oh the news) and i change my job specialization just for it, as long as it's still IT i don't mind what branch it is. :) So yea, maybe in 3-4 years i can invite you and Haruhi for a figma tea party, if your schedule allows it lol. ;)
Of course i will need a load of luck to manage anyhow, but guess thats my little obstacle. ^^
Other then that, nice pictures there, i love night pictures - seems you make a lot of those.

"Brick walls are there for a reason- they keep those who don't belong out".

I am a hard worker. I am a student engineer at Penn State that spends 20+ hours a week in the library (not counting additional work) and maybe 40+ hours or so a week in classrooms. On weekends, to support myself I will have to be working at another "job" to make ends meet. I would like to live independently on my own this summer and I will save money over the fall semester to pay for it.

Now I said

wow great article it is very inspirational.
I like the pix too

Good stuff.

The only thing I can say really is there have been times in the past where I've either given up on stuff, or it just wasn't that huge of a priority it just sorta slipped my mind. Because of those times, I have had points in the future where I thought to myself, "If I had just kept to it, by now I'd probably be able to do it". Whenever I think of that, I get a deep sense of guilt and regret for not trying harder.

I can happily say that I've been studying japanese for a long time now, longer than I have of anything else in the past. I think a huge motivational factor for me is when I find myself watching anime/dorama, and notice that sometimes my eyes drift away from the subtitles, and I just listen and actually UNDERSTAND what's being said. Whenever I have moments like this, I just get this humongous sense of accomplishment that motivates me to push on.

The day I can watch anime/dorama and play japanese only games, and understand it without the need of subtitles is one I'm looking forward to greatly, and when I make it. I can only imagine a huge sense of accomplishment knowing I've started this and saw it through to the end, and not only that did something (learn another language) that most never do in their lifetime.

I'm currently working on tech support, and while I'm glad to have a job after being unempolyed for three years, I know that support isn't what I want to do. It's a tossup between writing and developing in databases (not admin position). I'm basically trying to find my dreams again.

I'd like to post a link if I can for those of us who are struggling with finding what we want to do. It's a link I found from lifehacker.com (lifehacker.com/398740/what-do-you-want-to-do-with-your-life-ebook-helps-you-answer-that-question) to a free ebook called What do You Want to do With Your Life?". The link is: whatdoyouwanttodowithyourlife.com/. Just downloaded itself today.

For those of use who can't get motivated (like me) I suggest grabbing a copy of Peter McWilliams' book called "DO IT! Let's Get Off Our Buts" which I'm also reading and doing the exercises. It's a great book.

When I posted a shot of my desktop, on of the embedded items is some quotes that I find inspiring/motivational, I read 'em everyday out loud and I think it helps. So find some that help you. I think Danny has a good one in this post.

thanks danny. i needed that pick me up.

Nice pics, good job Danny ^^

Its not hard to accomplish something, its just find the motivation. Like in probably many other school, my school is rather competitive within for rankings and top marks, and this isnt even university, this is still highschool in Australia. I find my self rather scared of competing with thi people as my total average for my exams are pretty average (76%, though that becuase 2 exams pulled it down T_T")compared to other people, especially my friends who acheive pretty high in almost all classes. And I find it hard not to give up competing with them and go the easy path if anyone gets what I mean.

Im trying out for a scholarship program (2 week intensive) to Japan and the deadline is in 2 weeks. I really wanted to go, but I can't find it in my self to write things without sounding stupid to my host family and worrying that I wont get in. I havnt fully completed anything and I do not know why. I guess its the laziness factor =/ i also want to ask, for anyone who lives in Japan, when reading english to what level do you guys understand the language? as in able to read fluently or at least get the overall picture of each sentence.

thankyou for your many articles on life stuff danny ^_^" i guess judging by the size of the community who reads, many do get encouragement from your post :)

wow, that was from out of nowhere.. very inspiring.
i might add: time waits for no one, from the girl who leap thru time.

Danny, I'm not sure whether you've seen Randy Pausch's last lecture, but reading your post today reminded me of it.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ji5_MqicxSo

have you ever thought of writing a motivational book?

Inspirational article - i kept skipping the pics and jumping straight to the text.
And you had to end it right when you were on a roll? do complete it cause i think you had a lot to tell and stopped writing cause people might think its a big post.

....maybe you are not passionate enough about learning Japanese.... - makes sense to me. I'm not passionate enough, hence i'm dilly dallying in learning the language. need to be more passionate in learning the language, not just for the heck of learning it.

if i had an older brother, i'm sure i would hear the same words out of his mouth.

well said.
and nice photos too.

Thanks for posting this Danny. I don't know if you got it or not, but I sent you an email earlier this week asking for advice, due to pretty much are where I hope I can be in the future. I don't know if you ever read it or not, but it felt as I was reading this you answer every question I asked at more. It definitely motivated me to do better and start living live more. I know I had some personal problems with myself, but I need to get over them in-order to be truly happy.

Thanks Danny again, you have been and hopefully will be for a while on my most inspirational people list.

hehe I ended up reading your post and not paying attention to your pix (oops)
but danny your story is very inspiring, the little details here and there can totally be a manga or anime detail! XD I loved the bit about your wife riding her bike and you holding behind on your rollerblade, so romantiku! XD

Damn, you nailed everything that i was feeling these last two weeks. Good post

Nice commentary! Very refreshing!

Big thanks for the inspirational article, 'Do things that your passionate about' i will always keep these word in mind.

Incredibly inspirational. I am taking all words said in this article to heart. And I couldn't have read it at a better time.
Thank you Danny.

浮生若夢，為歡幾何？

nice motivational post Danny. always glad to read articles like this since it gives us that extra push whenever we are feeling too down and out to start walking to our goals. ^^
btw may I ask if you used the sigma 18-200mm lens on the images here?

A friend of mine once told me that the Japanese word for problems is the same as opportunities. Since I live in the Netherlands and know crap about the Japanese language (well, a little bit ok) I don't know if it's true, but it sure sounds good! :)

I love your photos man. Guess that new lens is working great for you eh?

So this is where Starwars comes in?
"Do or do not, there is no try..."

here's my own concepts of life that I would like to share too..lol

1) Live a grateful life. My mum taught me that. being grateful means that many people care about you. Even when problems come and go, be grateful for them as you will learn something great out of it (example in point 2).

2) Look out for learning examples. I often look out for people whom I think is great, learn their spirit, and absorb it. However, if you're being surrounded by rubbish, do not ever think of them as rubbish. Think of them as a learning example. I learnt a lot from my crappy dad and swore not to follow his crappy life. Yes, I hate my dad =D

3) In order to achieve something big, you need stepping stones..Life is full of it, look out for it and one day, you will be there. For me, I'm a grad in "digital media design"..but the job I'm working right now has nothing to do with it. However, I found this interesting job cos I learn a lot from my colleagues and bosses. And i treat this job as a stepping stone. It's a money saver~~ (edit: I found this point quite similar to opportunities that danny mentioned >_<)

4)Yes, escaping/giving up from/on problems is bad!! I learnt that the hard way. While you are not doing anything to solve it, the problem still exists. Why dun you instead solve it? Ants, being the smallest visible being on earth, goes around an obstacle when it meets it. Learn from it ^_^

Well, that's just a few points that I keep in my brain 24-7.. Trying real hard to follow them ^_^;;; But once I tried them, there's a sense of shiok (Malay for "satisfaction").

Lovely post, Danny ^-^
I was moved by your words and admiring the pictures as I read... a nice start to the morning too, I think.
As for your question, I have had a time where I was confused and pretty much 'gave up'. My parents, friends, family and everyone here on Danny Choo.. you've all helped in some way m(_ _)m

Thank you, everyone! (7^o^)Y

I got laid off my job earlier and it was definitely a "shit hits the fan" moment for me. I loved my job and I was passionate about it but sadly our company had to do downsizing, which was really unexpected for me.

Your post helped me look at the brighter side of my current predicament, thanks for posting this Danny.

That post was so deep and so true at the same time but there are two more aspects which usually bring ppl down Danny. The first can be immediately identified as I'm too old for those things. I've wasted my life doing sth that was really boring and didin't focus on things i did like. The second one would be no real skills after graduating from uni. It's hard to find a job you like if your skills are at questionable level. I'm not sure how most of you feel but from my own exp I know that skools don't really teach you any practical skills. All they focus on are some obsolete facts and figures. Guys, do you know any programms, employers willing to hire ppl right after unis in order to give them an opportunity to gain real knowledge, practical skills, etc? especially in Japan :)

Danny~ That's a REALLY inspiring post! It struck more than a few chords in my "heart strings" Lol. Shit hit my fan last year and that's partly why I packed up and came here to Tokyo, at least for a few months actually LOL. After reading your post I'm really moved! I guess I'm in the transition and prioritizing period that you mentioned since I wrapped home up and came here sponsored by my savings account. -/- I wish I can do more in Tokyo but given my level of Jap now, I don't think I can go very far yet. There's so much more I wanna see and learn here! Had wanted to finance myself here actually but its a pain with immigration under my tourist visa even though I'm here for some studies as well. But like what you said, gotta say NO and not give in to obstacles and at the same time maybe like pray real hard for miracles as well -.-! So.. you employing? haha~

Anyhow, Happy 海の日！

thx for the post Danny, really hope to become someone similar as you in the future. prolly have to start by leaving this fuct up country

As always your words hit home in my heart and mind. I gave up on a dream I had after I realized that dream was more of a sick infatuation with something, then that dream evolved, I failed without really trying and the dream fell apart. I'm married and have a son now, and I'm just starting to think about what it is that I have left to do in my life besides be a father and a husband. I'm still at a crossroads of what I want to do and what I am capable of doing, many fears slow me down or keep me from experiences that I could be proud of. I'm taking each day one step at a time but sometimes it seems like life is moving too fast for me to catch up to. These little posts of yours somehow instill me with bits of motivation that remind me to stop putting things off for tomorrow that could be done today. Thanks again ^^

Great motivational article:) I agree, it's important to set goals for yourself and try to fulfill them and constantly improve your live.

That was a very inspiring article Mr. Danny! Your experiences in life prove that hard work really does pay off in the end.

I have so many goals in life I'm not sure which one to start. Right now my priority is graduating as early as possible to help my parents. But I'm having a hard time with engineering so rather than making my parents happy I make them feel upset from all the failures I get with my subjects. I don't want to shift courses because I want to finish what I started (plus I have no other choice: engineering or military academy which doesn't sound bad if not for my mother who is totally against it). Plus I hear engineering is a very sought after job in countries like Japan AND my university has connections with Tokyo University. It would make going to Japan a bit easier for me. I have to admit that I am a bit lazy but I'm overcoming this little by little.

Thank you I see the error in my ways; I had given up on drinkin but will start again for it was wrong.... nah just kidding good post. I hate to say I'm one of those "I want to learn Japanese but dont have the time for it" people, although I do my best to make as much time as possible (now also following lessons on mondays). Not everyone is blessed with good schedules you must have the same experience with it as me I think; planning everything and then overworking and ruining all the plans.

I believe that although you say; you live your days as it were your last ones that even if you die young (lets hope not) or even if you die old, you will be one of the few that will become immortal in the hearts of others. Some will remember you for this post others will know you for your goofy dancing in Tokyo but no matter how you look at it, it will be a life to tell people about.

I was totally sucked into the words, didnt look at the photo at all! XD

The me now is still like the warming up of an engine, still cant fly yet. I guess I'll wake up now and think more.

reading this kind of article once a while its really nice
abit wondering though,why suddenly a post like this show up ^^

anyway looking forward for post like this again ^^

Nice words Danny they sure hit the spot.

Well learning Japanese and don't have time to learn doesn't seem that we are not passionate enough, I would love to learn it but the nearest place they teach Japanese here is 300km away from my house, it's not that I'm not passionate enough but I'm not going to drop out of university to go there just to learn Japanese. When I finish my course and earn my own money I will try my best to go there and learn it.

wow. Deep post. Pretty inspiring. I understand what you mean. I have failed so many things before but though it depresses me I don't give up. I'm stubborn. Like I failed my grade 4 singing. Everyone else had already passed like grade 5. I cried and it hurts, but I'm still gonna retake. I think it's pointless starting something, then giving up just caus' you meet an obstacle. Like you said. Sometimes you know something isn't for you and it's best to give up though! I think intelligence comes from knowing when to give up and knowing when to continue.

I don't tend to think of living each day as your last. Things take time, if you were gonne live each day as you last you'd cram so much in and it'd get hectic. I just slowly live out my life, doing all the things I need to do and I try not to overthink the future. Whenever you die, unless you die old, there's gonna be some regret left behind no matter how much you've tried to live your life. What you do also comes down to parental support, time, money, location etc. Live ain't so kind you can do whatever you want.

As for learning Japanese. I try. I have lots of time but I'm a pretty lazy person- kinda have to force myself to put in the work!! I'm like that with everything. I'm one of those people with a million ideas but I'm so lazy I tend not to get half of them done. :P I don't go to classes (they are too expensive and far away) whivh means self-learning. And I'm really bad at that. I need a classroom to work my best ^^

Thing is I don't really know what my goals are yet.
I'm going to just keep doing what I do and see what happens.

The best post, very inspirational.. ^^

i am still at a point where i don't really know what i want but i want to find it when i enter university next month. currently i am torn between two things, learning japanese or attempt to break into the burgeoning interactive digital media industry. while one can say you can probably do both if you are really keen, i beg to differ, especially when I am unsure what is suitable for me.
being raised in a middle-income family, i must say i was fortunate enough never to have to skimp for food and i am grateful to my parents for that. I am not foolish enough to think i can depend on them forever, and neither do i think i should take the beaten path and go study business or something just because it's lucrative. I want to follow my passion and that's simply it, enough said.

as usual, great motivational post danny.

thanks Danny, i needed this. really. i read it a few times n i agree with wat u said. Sometimes u just need to read it from someone else to hv an impact on u. thanks again.

I know that this is an optimistic way to go forward in life but it doesn't necessarily convey the message to everybody. Go say the same thing to an Asian (especially those in the developing countries) and a lot will find it just simply pretty words.

The more common way people approach is to do something that they are good at, not what they necessarily like. This is due to the fact that it is more practical and more approachable than doing things you want with your ambitions.

The reason why I don't find this post going to me in an inspiring way, is probably because I see how unpleasant the society can be; I see articles on people suiciding every one day or two. I see handicapped men begging for money on the streets (be them legless, armless, or both). I see bystanders seeing others suffer; they felt they are simply too busy to care about others, or that it would get in their way. The part of the world that I live here has become of a place where people do because they have to, not because they want to.

My sister works over 12 hours a day, and she hates her supervisors and boss a lot, and complains about them as soon as she gets home. She won't quit because she knows that it's useful to know how much of an experience she would get to know how people can behave in such close and pressurised working environment once her contract is over, not because she likes it.

I hear some saying how many people start off wanting to do what they want to do, and this is what employers do not want; they don't care about what you want to do, and they just want to know what you can do for them. Many people can't even dream of what they want to do because they can barely make a living with what they have, and as soon as they are out of job, it's not easy to get back up, especially in the world of Asia. Things are not as flexible over here as they are in the Western world.

On the other hand, it is not wrong at all to find what you want to do to enjoy your life, but it happening in your career (as said by many people I heard from) being very unlikely (leave those outside your career is a better option). If you do find something enjoyable in your career, that's great. If you enjoy your career as you go forward, that's fantastic, "but that is only true to very few and exceptional cases".

I know I sound very negative in this post, and that people who reads this blog will probably disagree with me, as we may be in different environments from each other. I only say it from what I have seen and from what I have heard from people around me. That is how life is like to them and there.

Dear Danny

You've touched me with this, and you've given me hope to complete my dreams. My obstacles came in many shapes and forms, and they've let me give up on majors that I'd have done well in in the past. I've spent seven years in a community college, can you believe that? I let fear of not being good at what I decided on take control of me and make me change my mind so many times. I think I'll just work on graduating from this school and then worry about the next school. I'm going to take charge this semester and fill out the application to move on from the past, because that's practically the only thing that needed to be done for that. And I'll take up Japanese again too, and start practicing every language I've ever forgotten during my time in the English speaking world. One of my dreams was to be like Steve Mackey and beat the Japanese on Japanese soil with my Karate. Subtle injuries and lack of money to fuel my muscles has been my obstacle there, but I'm sure I'll get there now if I do everything I've wanted to do all along. It's a shame that I can't pick a major still, but maybe I'll fall back into linguistics again eventually and minor in some language that I can teach or help understand another while I live live my dreams of perfecting my body.

Currently my biggest obstacles are the tendons in my ankles and my long time girlfriend having left me for her best girlfriend... -_- Depression is a hard thing to avoid Danny, but at least I'm not homeless yet! Or worse, dead--as long as I'm not that, I'm still alive and have hope to keep working. ^_^;;

my two biggest obstacles in Japan are the language and my own lazyness in learning it.

so inspiring. this post really made me think about my life and my current situation. thanks for sharing and good luck to you in whatever you are doing.

Server went walkies and I didn't copy and paste.

Seeing the pictures alone without reading the post (which is what I typically do while at work - look at all the pictures as opposed to reading the posts) makes me want to visit Japan all the more.

I can see myself walking the streets of Japan in the wee hours of the morning with a young, LEGAL, and busty female local to show me around. Oh, yeah...

Great motivational article Danny. I think the main obstacle that most of us face is procrastination. I have a major exam coming up the end of this year and I have yet to revise on my subjects ^^. Well, the workload I get from my teachers in the form of homework is kinda lot to bear therefore I don't really have much free time. Ask any student in my country and you will know why. Have to find time to study now... 4 more months left. After this exam, I will graduate from high school life =)

Great article Danny, really puts things into perspective. Makes me question what im doing with my life at the current moment in time.

I have only recently started to follow this blog... but I think it is now my favorite one. I love the different articles but I think today's article is the best one Ive read. Very inspirational.

The cool thing about reading this blog is that it feels like Im learning about Japan, getting tips on life, AND reading about anime and all the surrounding fandom all at the same time. Easily, the best combination possible.

Great post Danny! I have almost given up on drawing because I did see myself getting anywhere but I meet some people along the road which help me and told me that he drew like that at my age. *Sigh* I think that alot of things in life are mere coincidences. However it is our choices most likely to select the road we want. I recently also took up an interest in interview. I got to work up on my social skills, cause I can not wait to interview more famous people.

Really beautiful post..
It's funny, because I'm in the exactly same situation. I have a dream, but my friends told me, that I've no chance to match my goals.
My dream is to live/study/work in Japan. And I think, I have the chance.
I really really want to do this. It's my passion, my life, my dream ^^

That helps a lot. Lately, it seems obstacles are piling up at a very fast rate for me...
This reminds me not to look at that pile. I have to stop for a second, and take care of these problems one by one. Trying to fix everything at the same time, I'll only get crushed by the pile...

You should write a book, you know? I'd get one for my mum too, so she can stop telling me about The Secret or whatever...

im going to call you danny sensai :) your so full of wisdom and very wise and you got married that young ? thats some strong marriage :) i know this is a bit of topic and maybe shouldnt even ask (sorry if its rude in anyway) but have you ever thought about kids ? and your photos are amazing it really stands out and brings japan alive if you get what i mean. :) bye bye for now. oh im lazy so dont do anything "yet"

Great pics, it seems like their are alot of wierd little places like those scattered around tokyo.

I think you're spot on with how to handle problems. One thing that helps me is that to realize everything is going to be okay eventually. Even if things are in just pieces and your barely making any progress it's not like things can stay bad forever. If you crawl out of it just a hairs length each day you'll still make it out.

your posts lately have been very inspirational lately and have helped to keep me motivated to keep practicing japanese and my schoolwork.

Inspiring the troops again for the future otaku army I see. =)
Too bad we never crossed paths in real life Danny. Think we would of made good friends. Although I think most of my attempts to get you out of the office would be unsuccessful. ^^;;

Ah yes, obstacles. Currently, mine is selling the house in a sucky Las Vegas real-estate market. At its height in 2006-7, my home value was $360K. Since listing it at $290K in February, I've lowered my price to $257K and last month to $249K. But over the weekend, it came to crisis mode, my real-estate agent suggested lowering to $229K. After we worked out the numbers, I'd basically come out with little net cash at all, and for a smaller house in a less-than-perfect neighborhood, while keeping the same monthly payment. So finally, I told her, let's wait a week...

The original reason to sell: I told myself I needed a change of environment with more affordable payments. Someplace new with two stories, cool stairs, a loft, maybe wood or tile floors, and without the smell of the past (divorce? depression?). But now, six months later, if the payments wouldn't change, did I really need the change in location? Since then, it's like I've seen my house and community for the first time in a long time, in a new light: Compared to the rest of Vegas (at the same or lower price range, lol), they're still pretty nice. Wide streets. Palm trees. Lawns. While no second floor, still high ceilings. Not bad at all...

So instead of relocating my environment, why not remodeling or reflooring it? When I looked at the "obstacle" this way, I got excited about the "opportunity" of ripping out the old carpetting, installing new wood floors, maybe a new kitchen, and actually staying! Maybe build mini-lofts too, lol. All this might not be for a while, probably years, but still... If the goal was a change of pace, a change of scenery, I can do that where I am now, without losing the great situations I didn't realize I already had. I guess I needed to face losing them, to realize how much they really meant to me... Why'd it take me so long? Hopefully, I won't change my mind, lol...

Haven't told my agent yet, I wonder what I'll tell her, lol.

This seems like a serious post, but it still reminds me of something I just heard about doing something you're 'passionate' about. To be specific, you can make $500-600 per donation if you want to be a sperm donor! Yes, fapping for a living sounds sweet, but first you have to be at least 5'9" tall, have a bachelor's degree, pass the disease check and have a high sperm count. So, it seems like it may be time to go to university for me! lol

Danny, can I say you are truly amazing? Right now I was in a not-so-lovely position and I honestly felt helpless and confused. I have asked many people what to do and they all either pointed towards me, or gave me a vague answer...
Your post has somewhat gave me insight into what I CAN do with my life to reach my goals. Actually, I can see my goals pretty clear now (lately I had no idea what they were). I don't know how you do it, but your posts always help me in a way.
Thank you so much for writing in this blog, and good luck with everything you do.
On a side note....I can't ride a bicycle...I can't keep it straight and crash into trees...Lame, ne?

Great article, Danny.

Thank you for sharing these with us.

Wow Danny,your simply amazing.An all around guy that can get a good laugh in someone and be serious and to the point.Its post like these that really make a difference in someones lives.You use personal experience and use it to help people better understand and see the situation whether it be theirs or someone else's.I already found what was wrong with me in June.I had summer school and their was this poem that had such meaning to me and made me realize who I am,heres the link: http://www.kipling.org.uk/poems_if.htm
Even though it was just an assignment it meant so much more to me.It may not be about career or hobby or interest but it was more like a "What you have to do to qualify"kind thing
I found my path and my problem.My main problem is time,making it an excuse to give up was the most stupidest thing I ever done.But now I see with eyes unclouded and now devote to things a 100% :D.And to those out there who found what was wrong with them and resolved it,I advise you to help others as well,Make them realize and help them overcome whatever obstacle they face,for you would want the same if you were in a predicament,save others as you saved yourself,don't let them throw their lives away without living it to the fullest.
Thanks Danny:) and amazing photography bro;)

See how these simple little evening walks can make you think:)

It has always been this way for me. I work everyday and don't really distinguish between weekends and weekdays. If my wife didn't remind me of many things, I wouldn't know. Seriously, this is the truth for my life.

I know life would be lacking without the hard work and the sense of accomplishment that comes with it. I do admire that you get to build your own future now. I know it is still a lot of hard work. However, I admire where you have taken yourself and would like to have the same. When my wife and I return to Japan, I hope I get to meet you Danny...

I know as long as I have passion for what I'm doing, I can take the ups and downs easier.

Yes, I'm at a low point right now. Family problems are dragging me down more than usual. I never had a happy family life in the past or now. Now I'm really grateful that I have great in laws who welcome me into their family. I'm getting down about being away from my wife until I can get her residency status in the US. My wife is my strength in life. So all will be fine in the end. Maybe I shouldn't be say all these things... ^^;;

I'm not giving up! I'm just feeling the weight of everything. Too many things right now.

Anyways... I find I learn more about Japnaese -most subject as far as that goes- when studying on my own. I really don't feel I get much from the classroom environment now. I actually feel it slows me down.

Remember everyone you need to put a lot into your studies. It is true that you will only get back what you put into your studies. In the end, it is your responsibility to get all you can from each class you take. Go beyond what you learn in the class by studying and exploring on your own. You must take the initiative to do more than just go to class and get good grades.

Don't sit around and wait for your teachers and professors to teach you! It's your responsibility to get an education. You will find you make a few helpful contacts after all, many of those professors will become senior colleagues when you graduate...

I surrender the soapbox...

When I read these article by Danny, sometimes it may cheer & motivate me, yet from time to time, I still feel woe/grief & agony as in "how I wish I was/could". Danny, should God grant me a wish, I wanted to be reincarnate with your extreme will-power mindset & strong determination.

Having been in the entrepreneurship since I'm 16 years old, it's really about of "Who you know & how you may leverage on your contacts with your social/business skills" ; handling different kind of business module from retailing to real-estate investment & strike a big buck when I ventured into Forex trading which later allow me to incorporate my own private fund management company in Hong Kong & Berlis.

Yet no matter how strong is an organization/ corporation, one can not preclude the harm from internal affair/sabotage. As being the youngest shareholder(Founder) in the boards & giving order to other directors which are at least 10~20 years elder than me, subconsciously those elder people refuse to be taken order by people who were way younger than them as they place their "Experience" on top. Everyone can have experince, but most didn't realise it comes in many form, whether a person got the experience by doing what he has mastered or a person that simply sit & wait time to pass by gaining "Living-An-Unproductive-Life-Experience".






Here I take chance to share with all the reader of this notable blog about an article I wrote some time ago:

Long before the dawn of civilization, in any form of human working environment, there exist 2 type of Division, which are "Intelligence Division" & "Execution Division".
"Intelligence Division" is a type of individual being who are proficient in creating ideas & solutions, are the genius in brainstorm, father of all brainchild.
"Execution Division" type is the person who able to operate any given tasks given a certain timeframe, turn impossible to possible, are the expert in real-time operations.

Seldom will you find a person which proficient in both divisions. Both division have their Pros & Cons, "Intelligence Division" can generate brilliant ideas & incredible solution, but lack of physical skills to put all the brainstorming making it from blueprint into reality. "Execution Division" is those who take a blueprint & making it into a physical product of an idea, some may even able to operate in the hardness environment, yet they require definite source of ideation to be able to get started.

In any successful society or corporation, it appeared to have a balance of both division, which ideally prosper the party within & the well-being of an organization. Unbalance of these divisions will cause unnecessary perplexity & at the end bring about an internal havoc.


So which Division are you?



End of statement.




I'm derived from "Intelligence Division", as a sole founder & later structured a board of shareholders/directors, all the directors are "Execution Division", thus they had adopted my idea into work & later discarded me. Unfortunately, it is a simple yet complicated Age Discrimination & internal sabotage(in my case) that had brought once a promising corporation into bankruptcy. After this enormous downfall in my life, I barely standup on my feet to put myself back up together in one piece & restart my high-flying dreams since young.

At one time of a time I'm about to end my life, but the counsellor of Befrienders woke me up from misery. On the bright side of contrary, fate had brought me to this site (dannychoo.com) which I found out the owner/writter (Danny Choo the honorable), his quality & personality had deeply impressed me of how he live his life depart from where he begin & staying focus to get where he wanted to be & at the end achieve his paramount dreams. Knowing there is such motivated people in the right time, had indirectly save my life for I am still alive till this date.

Time fly & it has been about a year since my downfall in life, yet I'm still not able to motivate myself enough to re-enter my field & do what I best because of the various FEAR of discrimination etc.... As I determined to strike it rich & fast when I was young, I had decided to drop school at 17 & didn't complete my standard-11year of formal education, which I now think it was my greatest mistake as I'm now find it very hard to overcome this modern-compulsory law. Which I can't get into college to study the course I like because I dont have the proper graduation certificate.

The very reason I quit school before graduation is not becasue I did poorly or dislike school, I score above average in exam & had an IQ of 150, it is because I thought I can save 1 year ahead of my life to be a successful young entreprenuer. If I had at least complete my 11year education with a graduation cert, I would still have a back-up plan should I'm not able to venture in any business due to any unforseen/ unfortune event.

Well, every occurrences had it's pros & cons, that's so to speak. Had been able to retire young at 18 & partially financial-free without even have to experience a JOB previously, and now had lost everything then diagnosed with melancholia & amnesia which caused insomnia.Good thing comes in package, but don't forget Bad thing too ^^; it just dont worth all the effort I'd paid to climbed this far up & fallen down.

As my DC.com ID title show, I'm currently a Hikikomori / N.E.E.T. (Not in Employment, Education or Training) for 10 months now & living a life as it is (watching anime, playing PC/console games, basically doing what I didn't got time to do during the past 3 years giving up my schoolhood in building my business empire), waiting for my time to come to strike again or the end of the world.

Word of Wisdom from the WiseFreeman:
"Every success comes with huge price-tag, nothing comes effortlessly. Prepare oneself so that a safety-net will be lay to assure one will soon rise again.

I love this post. Your words are still as motivating and inspiring as ever, Danny. Every time I read stuff like this, I want to scream out "RAWWWWRR! I'm gonna take down the world of problems!"

Here's my bit... For most of my high school years, I was submissive to obstacles and just back down as soon as one arises. Whatever it may be. academics too hard? Drop it. difficult relationships with people? Let them do what they want while I take the hit. I couldn't really bring myself to face anything; all I could do is give in and accept my fate. Lawl I was laughable. I become depressed and clueless and mope around for months, wasting time and being unproductive.

Many, many, many things happened up till now. I dropped out of private university because it was "too hard" and due to my lack of aim in life, quit my past job out of focus, generally deprived of morale to do anything, suicide was on my mind often... I was lost... So many problems and troubles, and I don't know what to do. Eventually, I grew sick of being depressed and feeling worthless. I saw how I'm falling behind my friends and relatives. I also saw the "real world", where i work full time and made pitiful wage money as my friends are becoming engineers. I hated this state of life... I was basically saying to myself that I've given up all chances of a better life if I continue like this... and that caused me to change my mindset almost completely. Reading articles from Danny Choo was one of many catalysts and factors of the change at the time ^_^; I know I can do better with my life...no, I know I WILL do better with my life.

Basically... I've given up on life before from hardships and thought I will just let it pass and die. Very unhealthy thinking and very bad mistake. Now I'm going back to school and working a job to just provide myself with lunch and gas money. I hope to have a college degree and an actual career within the next five years. I don't need to know where I'm going as long as I know I'm moving because then, I know I will have a chance to reach my destination...wherever/whatever that is. If I don't move, then there's no chance at all. Obstacles?

In otaku sense.. I've gone from depressed angsty teen to super robot hotblooded teen. xD
Courage + Hotblood + Effort = WIN

One of the biggest change of my mindset are "obstacles"... I wholeheartedly agree with you on them being able to improve ourselves, Danny. I've come to learn to embrace any obstacles come my way, hug it, say "@#$% you!" to it and overcome it. Obstacles show you a sign of your limit so you know what you can do better to exceed and expand that limit. This also goes for criticisms... I wonder why so many people are afraid of it? Criticisms (constructive ones) are a good thing since it also paves way for you to improve upon what you do since others see things that you don't about your own actions/work/whatever. I will happily accept criticisms from people instead of compliments (but they are nice too).

I think I've read about you talking about it in a post before but can't really remember so I'll ask... How do you handle criticisms, Danny? ^_^

Very inspirational article. :)

I think a lot of people can relate to what you said Danny. Surprisingly there are so many comments, which mean that going through hard times is a common ordeal. Reading some of the comments make me feel that my troubles are maybe not that bad after all.

As per last time I mentioned this, I was going through a bit of a dilemma and although the advice seems to be quite generic, what you said was some nice comfort and made me think outside my usual square. I am content with what I am doing now and no longer have any of those uncertainties previously.

Im sure everyone can use good advice and these articles are always a good one. It is really good to see that people that work hard get rewarded for their efforts. Keep it coming!

Really great inspirational post Danny, you've got me and my girlfriend thinking and it seems a lot of other people.

My problem is my interests change every week, I go from wanting to learn one thing, to another very quickly and I find it very hard to stay focused. I'd love to have one goal and stick to it, but I don't think I'm that kind of person. Could it be that I haven't found my true goal yet?

What do the good readers think? :)

Another great inspirational post danny. None could have said the stuff you said better. As far as challenges and problems are concerned, I always welcome them with wide open arms. Not that I'm not afraid of them, I am, but I always find myself improving after I go through these challenges and problems. Which is probably one of the reasons why I'm where I am now and also sometimes it becomes a minor problem for me. A problem simply because after I go through a challenge/problem I usually get bored afterwards if I keep on doing the same thing and I tend to look for another challenge. A good example would be with my work sometimes, some clients tend to ask for something hard then after I do what they ask I get bored with everything else since they're not as exciting to do. Some may find it weird but that is how it goes for me.

As for dreams and things I'm passionate about...I've been passionate about programming and computers since I was in 2nd grade and at the same time I've been passionate about games and the gaming industry. I've always admired the job of game show hosts where they get to meet developers and famous people in the industry and get the scoop on whats happening in the industry. I'm torned between the two actually. heheh! I need to find a way to get these two together. And of course, I need to get to Japan. :D

Thank You for a very inspirational article Danny.
I have also quoted parts of it on my blog and made a response to it in hopes of spreading word to some of my friends.

Hey Danny,
I really admire the way you can instantly lift the spirits of all these people just using words; the power words hold is something that has always fascinated me, hence the reason why I'm taking an English degree at Uni this september (I hope).

This also leads me onto something which I wanted to ask you about. Do you happen to know if there any job oppurtunities that come to mind for Students of English or people with degrees in English in Japan? I know there's the Translation side of it etc. but can you think of anything more Literary? ...Perhaps I'm being too specific, but it just seems to me that all the people who want to move there are more into the IT and engineering sides of things...

You are a wonderful person Danny, I mean it, to be able to see the things you see, to do the things you do and to lead such an amazing life! You lived in a crappy area of England and so do I! To go from that and, against adversity, make a life for yourself and your wife in Japan is astounding! Not to sound like a cliché, but, it's extremely uplifting and inspirational to me! This is going to sound even more clichéd but you are very much like the big brother/mentor that I never had, even though we've never spoken or met!

It is my wish to move to Japan one day soon with my girlfriend but I'm not really sure how to make it happen ^~^ It's my birthday soon, so I'm going to buy the Learning Japanese books you mentioned in a previous post and try and buy some Japanese-language magazines/manga too to help me, since this is the way you learned =]
I don't know any Japanese people or have any japanese friends though, perhaps I might meet some in Uni =] Or at least some like minded souls =] You never know!

I will certainly try and absorb this post and take it to heart, and hopefully learn something about myself in the process!

And of course, I just wanted to, like everybody else, say thank you for a really moving post, you definitely seem to have a good grasp of the way things are =]

Thanks for the pickmeup Danny.

Much thanks, Danny. Right now, im facing a few obstacles of my own-issues at home and such, so i can definitely relate. I won't let them drag me down though; instead I will find a way to overcome them and in doing so, become an overall better person. Thx again for the inspiring words.

Good thoughtful article Danny. I've had a huge numbers of ups and downs in my 11 year otaku career. I've been made redundant twice and the dot com crash was painful. The thing is to build on these set backs - I started my own business after the dot com crash and 5 successful years later it gave me the cash to go on holiday to Japan.

Hi Danny, it's a really great and motivational post for us you have there. you are right, never give up on on your life when things going in the hard way never give up because you might learn something from it, live life to the fullest and enjoy life, also to prioritize things and willingness to sacrifice something to achieve your goals. thank you for a great post danny.

Wow - brilliant photos. Thanks for posting!

nice photos and post!

Wow this post is just awesome. Growing up I wanted to draw comic books. Gave that up when I started playing guitar and then wanted to become a musician. Life happened and then years and years later I wanted to draw comics again. Realized that it was just so competitive to get into that line of work and was already accustomed to a certain level of pay that up and comers do not earn. Changed jobs and am now in a career type position. I still want to draw my own books and am slowly putting my ideas together. The plan is to eventually self publish or pitch it to a publisher whom I have some contacts with a few of their staff. One thing that is very sad about a lot of artists that I've come across is that most are lousy business people and get blindsided by a lot of things.

So in the mean time, my goal is to keep climbing the ladder in the company that I work for and then keep up with that AND create my own books. I just need to learn to manage time properly to put out consistent amount of graphic novel goodness, run the business side of things as well as take care of the company that I'm working for.

urban night life, how nice

sigh* I wanna go back to Japan... the place I live righ now is just waste of my life...

nice little motivational post with slideshow lol. You seem to have a way with words to be admirable and inspire people.

I myself have no direction, focus, or discipline in life currently, and I think I've sunk into a serious NEET funk. I graduated almost a year ago, but have not landed a job. I tend to think on the side of what's presently real, and can't seem to build up the motivation to break through any barriers that are in the way of my future life. What you've written about in your post are things that I've heard time and time again, yet I can't bring myself to do anything to...probably even save my life. Feels like I have no "true" passion for anything, as i find my mind wandering from subject to subject. I'm not particularly passionate about the subject I majored in college (even after given two chances at education... I'll leave it up to whoever's reading to figure out what that means. Such is my life, a collection of arbitrary decisions...) and don't feel it's a direction that I event want to continue in the long term, but what can I do at the moment but suck it up until I can turn my attention towards something else? What that something else might be I don't know, but that's not what I need to focus on right now. What I need right now is to do better for myself in the now, then do better for my life later... But, like I said, this past year has left me with absolutely no direction, no drive, no motivation, no nothing to get me to do even the most mundane tasks like eating (yes...eating...). I'm in a serious funk right now, but I know that common saying that nobody can help me but myself...

I previously had much more to say, which I thought would get some weight off my shoulders, but my head is so jumbled full of thoughts and the negative feelings I've been feeling for the past number of months right now that it's sort of giving me anxiety. Plus I'm not that eloquent a person to write the rest coherently anyway lol. This is actually my second time writing this post, thinking that I would cut it down to be a shorter size, but it's still pretty long anyway lol. What's the point of spilling my despair and negative thoughts on the board? I dunno. Like I said I think I just wanted to lift some weight off my chest. Maybe it's just a cry for attention/help and I need some words of encouragement/advice to make myself feel better? I read a post above that was probably in a worse case than mine, but everybody has their own circumstances that throw their mind astray. I have a friend that was in a similar situation as he, and he's doing better than me at this point in life now, so I'm glad that he was able to find his way out of that hole he was in. Unfortunately, I'm still stuck.

I do admire the way you live your life Danny and how you came to be where you are now. I can only wish now that my life could have turned out as well as yours has. Looking back now I could have made much better decisions, and thought of what I wanted to do in my life earlier on, instead of letting my life bounce around as it has. At this point, the way i've lived, the way I've grown up, the way I've learned, it's all affected me immensely in shaping me who I am now, and trying to change now seems nigh impossible (due to clashing trains of thoughts that refuse to leave the station lol). What I need now is to do better for myself in this moment, and take the rest of my life slowly one at a time. It'll probably be easier said than done, but such is the way of life hm?

danny ur so wize. very inspirational aswell as motivational:)
am planing studying japanese in japan in about 1,5 years:) i know it will be difficult, but in the end am sure it is worth it.

Thanks again Danny. Reading this post, together with the one on asking, tells me I am on the right track. Whilst trying to get over a break-up, I have also taken steps to make my dream of one day working in Tokyo come true. I have started Japanese classes, and I have sent out my CV to 8 executive search firms to alert them that I am looking for work experience in Tokyo. I will be in Tokyo very soon, hopefully for a round of interviews. I have set goals - that by March next year, I will be living and working in Tokyo. It doesn't matter that the job or salary is less... If I can make it here, I'll make it anywhere, as the song goes! Thank you for your posts.

Danny Choo eh? I would have never thought that a crazy guy like you would open my eyes about life in an instant.

My life so far was misserable in short. Living in a small community where i feel like i dont fit in is harsh. Hurts even more when my father does not approve of my passions. Heck, my passions are socialy rejected in a way. I'm a gamer, i love playing video games (it feels natural just like breathing to play games), that labels me as a looser and immature guy back home.
Then when i first made contact with anime and manga, i spend hours reading manga online, saving to buy my originals issues aswell. And about a month ago, after leaving the army and finaly going to Uni, i said "Hell, what's it like in Japan anyway?" (Note- Travelled half of Europe and been to the states aswell so far. Didn't like much of the countries xcept NY lifestyle.) A few clicks away i ended up here. A portal right into japan (and in English aswell!Yay smile).
I did some research on your backround. A fascinating story alltogether :)
At that time, i was also reading "666 Satan" series. A main theme of the story was "What is your dream?" - The answer was "To conquer the world". Few days later i realised: "Danny's dream , he is living it. He made it happen."
Naturaly I popped the question. “What is MY dream? Do I even have a dream? Am I just living a passive life?” The answer devastated me. I was 20 years old in University and had no purpose in life than to just exist.
So, what is happening now is that I am looking for that dream. What do I want to do that will make me happy. On my quest to find “Happiness”, since finding your dream is the first step towards happiness, I decided to learn Japanese, travel to Japan in 2-3 years time and maybe discover there a world where I’d “fit” in. Kinda hard at the moment to combine teaching English and working in Japan but that’s just going too far :)
This article confirmed most of my troubling thoughts. A man without a dream is like a pot plant. He just exists, nothing more. I will search for a dream and I will do my best to realize it. Do or do not, there is no try. So said wise Master Yoda.
Maybe this is what being an adult is all about. No matter the outcome of this thing though, I’m sure I’ll never forget the name “Danny Choo”, a man who showed me a path in life I did not see.

Thanks a lot Danny.

(If I sound emo please say so. I hate it when I get too emotional ;p )

Thank you very much on giving such wonderful point of view about life....pretty much what u talked about is how i live my life.....but sometimes it's nice to just hear it from someone else and remind myself what i have to do to get what i want.....having something that one is passionate about is an incredible thing......and having a career job that is your interest could be hard....but as you said....find out what the blah is and overcome the blah!!haha~~

thanks so much for the reminder!!~~i guess i'll go back to studying japanese and hopefully one day i could go to japan and study interior design!!~~

peace out!~

Beautiful photos !

"Life is too short to spend your life doing something that hurts you physically and mentally and its definitely too short to spend it doing something you dislike." Amen to that.

That was a great motivational and wise writeup buddy, I'm pretty sure that a handful people coming here to see it will give the text some thought.

Harry S. Truman said "The only thing new in the world is the history you don't know". I think looking at how some of the most successful businessmen grew and built their wealth is the way to understand how to do it ourselves. It wasn't college, school, their family, but them alone, who made it all possible. In the same fashion, people who grew up in already wealthy families and didn't abide by those standards, lost the inherited wealth.

If you are able to foresee and understand how people surrounding you think and behave, the rest is a piece of cake. The only boundary is your imagination. Keep it real, but aim for a higher achievement after every small conquest.

"I'm under no illusion that I'm going to live until old age which is why I always live as if it was my last day. That does not mean I ignore the responsibilities I have though ^^"
-I think you are right, but I fail to lead a lifestly like that.

i love japanese culture, my drawback is being deaf. For a deaf person to learn japanese its a very big obstacle, very big obstacle.

Just recently that I've started to explore around your site. Not that I'm having a hard time doing with what I'm doing, but being able to reflect on what you have done is a great way of putting things in perspective.

Hmmm, I want to learn Japanese and I look at it from time to time but I get distracted and go about doing something else. I should focus more... ;;

What advice would any of the Japanese speakers here suggest as far as learning Japanese with other people. I don't know anyone that speaks it and I live in Texas, USA where there is no such thing as a mini tokyo area or anything of the sorts. I think if I had a friend or two that spoke Japanese as well, things would be much more interesting and fun! Any suggestions?

Also, beautiful pictures! Im starting to get into amateur photography and Im learning my manual but the effects of the lights streaking are from a very slow shutter speed, right?

nice pics japan looks BEUTIFUL cant wait

to go to tokyo over the summer..

Thanks Danny for the motivating post. Here's my situation: Perhaps I'm being too sensitive about it but did/does anyone here get a lot of criticism for not behaving as others believe they should. Okay what I mean is I'm Asian American, I'm Laotian AMerican and there's always been a small, VERY vocal group of people who are always criticizing other people for not being 'asian' enough or not being 'laotian' enough -whatever that is. I know I should just ignore them since nationalism and racism are disgusting but I can't help feeling as if I somehow don't measure up. You know what I mean? I'm wondering how anyone got over that or successfully ignored those people or if they have any good retorts I can use.

Thanks everyone for reading my rant.

Danny's peptalk is motivating but if you follow what he has written there is a lot of useful information on how to become successful in your own career. Danny's history is a good case study for how to achieve your career goals. What I am about to write probably repeats what Danny has already written elsewhere but it is a worthwhile summary.

As Danny has already pointed out, language skills can be a major competitive advantage especially in a country with a somewhat obscure language such as Japan. Being functionally fluent in Japanese, English and a third language gives one much more employable especially in large multinational English based companies such as Amazon.

Danny has excellent interpersonal skills that are important to advancement and working in multi person workgroups. If you are a wallflower, it is important to try and overcome this and be more outgoing.

Networking skills are also important, it provides you an advantage in getting your foot into the door. Even within a single company, it is valuable to get to know different persons throughout the company outside of your own department. I suspect Danny might have picked up this skill at an early age because of his father's business. He has been been able to leverage his notoriety in anime and his portal to establish business contacts. Online social networks are big nowadays and this has been very beneficial to his business.

Try to find a mentor within your company who can help you with advancing your career and helping you with overcoming obstacles you may face at work.

If you are able to learn different parts of the company's business it can make you more valuable as an employee especially if you are involved in projects that integrates or involves many business functions.

Like Danny, I learned HTML in the mid 90s at first to build a personal web site to exhibit my photographs. At my next job I was able to use this knowledge to build an intranet to post reports useful to management. The funny thing is that I did this initially to satisfy my own curiosity and not for external usage. This really elevated my visibility within the company. If you work you a company that does not appreciate such initiative you should look to work for a company that does.

Obviously there is an element of luck to Danny's success but sometimes you can manufacture some of your own luck.

This past little while, i've been in kinda a rut. i'm a pretty avid runner, and got 3rd at nationals in 2007. since then i've had injuries and non-training-conducive jobs and the start of university. It kinda seemed like i was happier before university started, and i was doing school more for my parents. Since reading your blogs, they've helped reinforce my persistent nature that has been on the weaker side as of late. I'm currently taking japanese lessons and have bought some japanese books to learn off of in my own time. My plan is to get my PhD in molecular exercise physiology, and possible get a job in japan related to that.
Thanks for your words Danny. They're really helping me keep my head on straight.
Good luck with the business and keep doing what your doing. Your really making a difference.