“At times our own light goes out and is rekindled by a spark from another person. Each of us has cause to think with deep gratitude of those who have lighted the flame within us.” – Albert Schweitzer
I am transforming my life, and so can you.
My journey of transformation began over 20 years ago. Like many of you, I lived comfortably, working a steady 9-to-5 job in Michigan. I had a good salary and was doing everything a responsible college graduate should do. But deep down, I wanted something more—a different life, a more significant challenge. My goal was to live and work in Japan, a dream that often felt impossible. How would I even get there? There was no clear path for me on LinkedIn or in any career manual.
But I created that path. I transformed my life. I moved to Japan, secured a job, and built a successful career. I bought a home, met my amazing wife, and became the proud father of two wonderful boys. Beyond simply living in Japan, I became a successful international IT professional, traveling to countries across the Asia Pacific: China, Korea, Thailand, Singapore, Indonesia, Malaysia, India, and Australia. My experiences in these places opened my eyes to opportunities and knowledge I could never have imagined earlier.
So why am I sharing this with you? How can I help you?
I know what it feels like to face seemingly insurmountable challenges and want something more but be unsure how to get it. My life has been a series of transformations—some planned, some forced—but through it all, I’ve learned that with discipline, courage, and persistence, you can overcome obstacles and create your desired future. That’s why I want to be the guiding light for someone like you.
This transition has given me perspective. I’ve had successes in life, but there are many things I could have done better. I still face the same doubts, hangups, fitness struggles, and motivation challenges as many of you. I’m not perfect, and I don’t claim to be. But I know that together, we can improve.
Why me?
I’m not an expert. I’m a learner, just like you. I’m constantly trying to improve and build systems of discipline and success that push me forward. My qualifications? Thirty years of management experience, deep knowledge of information technology, fluency in Japanese, and a wealth of international experience. But at the end of the day, what qualifies me most for this journey is my passion for self-improvement. My goal is to continue to better myself while helping others on their path. I believe we can all learn from each other, and together, we can grow.
Let’s start this journey together.
Let’s challenge ourselves to build more knowledge, create new skills, become healthier, and strive for wisdom and discipline in everything we do. You don’t have to go it alone—I’ll be here, sharing my insights, experiences, and struggles, all hoping that it helps guide you toward your own success.
Why is helping people important?
The funny thing about my journey is that some days, if not most days, it is challenging to help myself. My ultimate goal is to give back to others. I may not be in the top one percent of success stories, but I am happy with where I am, and as I get older, I want to position myself to spend more time giving back to others.
Being the light that guides someone’s path is a powerful way to impact the world positively, and here are a few reasons why it’s important.
Inspires Others to Grow: By being a source of encouragement, wisdom, and support, you help others navigate through difficult times, enabling them to find their strength and purpose. Your guidance can inspire others to reach their full potential and make positive life changes. When I try to help others this way, I also open myself up to self-reflection. The funny thing about helping others grow is that it also forces you to think differently about things, allowing you to grow more.
For example, early in my professional career, I was focused on getting things done by myself. I practiced the age-old saying, “If you want something done right, best to do it yourself.” I had a boss who mentored me about the importance of the people on your team being successful. He mentored me on how much further you can go in developing a successful team than doing it all alone.
The second half of my career has focused on helping my team and those working for me succeed. The funny thing is that by helping others, I became a better person, too. I learned to develop new skills I did not have earlier. Rooting for and finding joy in the success of others is a superpower.
Creates a Ripple Effect: When you mentor others, you not only help one person but potentially influence many others through them. Your support and positivity can ripple through their actions, affecting their relationships, communities, and the world.
Referencing my professional career again, I worked very hard to create a team that could be successful with or without me. One of the proudest moments in my career was mentoring one of my female team members to become the IT manager of our Japan office after I was promoted into a more prominent Asia Pacific role. Not only was she the first female manager in our Japan office, but she also implemented many of the ideas I had about making her team successful.
The other proud moment was after leaving that same company in the fall of 2019 to move to the United States. My boss, the CIO, called me soon after my return and told me what an excellent job I had done developing my team. She was apprehensive that the region would be unmanageable after I left the company. Still, the ripple effect came true because I created a team that could operate with or without me. They performed at equal or higher performance levels after I left the organization.
Strengthens Relationships: Guiding others with compassion and empathy builds deeper connections. It fosters trust and loyalty in relationships, creating a solid support system where people feel valued and understood.
I have two young boys. Some days, they can be a true test of patience.
After a busy and stressful day at work, I quickly become absorbed with “my stuff” or act impatiently about their behavior. Being open with my communication can be challenging, but this is critical for our children.
We must create an environment where open communication is the norm and where kids feel comfortable discussing their successes, struggles, and concerns. This openness ensures they seek advice when needed and build healthy communication skills.
It will strengthen your relationship with your kids.
“Communication, when open, heartfelt, and ongoing, is the key to any relationship that matters, especially the one you have with your children.” – Deborah Tannen
Gives Life Meaning: In today’s busy world, many are self-absorbed in doing what is best for themselves. We are focused solely on our accomplishments or goals.
While a great sense of accomplishment can be found in our success, helping others find their way adds special purpose and fulfillment to our lives. Being the light for someone else allows you to contribute meaningfully, adding value to the world and enriching your sense of accomplishment.
Helping others has added profound meaning to my life journey. I am trying to do more of it because it adds a profound feeling of accomplishment to my life when I think back to moments when I have shared insights or encouragement with someone who feels stuck, overwhelmed, or unsure of their path.
A few examples stand out where I would mentor young professionals or students in establishing their careers in Japan. They may need help adapting to the culture and language or getting from the United States and Japan. When you mentor people this way, you can quickly see a reflection of your journey and the same challenges and doubts that come with any significant decision.
There have been several family friends who have had kids travel to Japan on exchange programs or business trips who have reached out to me to ask me to share my experience and strategies, like building routines of discipline and success. They would ask me how to adapt to Japan’s customs and culture while staying true to their values. They would also ask me to help them understand all the red tape related to the work or student visa application process.
Helping others in this way always gives me a renewed sense of purpose. My journey has had a significant impact, reaching beyond my success.
The examples above reinforce my belief that success is not just about what we accomplish but also how we help and inspire others. Helping others gives our journey a broader purpose, especially when we can inspire others to develop discipline, commitment, and the values necessary to find success in their own lives.
By guiding others with kindness, wisdom, and empathy, you make the world brighter and better for everyone.
How Do You Help People Find Their Path?
Helping people is always easier said than done. I am sure you have all heard the saying, “You can lead a horse to water, but you cannot make it drink.”
This famous quote highlights the difficulty in guiding and advising others. You can offer support, guidance, and encouragement, but ultimately, the decision to act, make a decision, and embrace the advice you give is up to the individual you are coaching and mentoring.
It is important to note that you should not lose sleep when people do not follow your advice. It is important to remember that each person is on their unique journey and, ultimately, must make the choices that are right for them. Remember you are trying to be a “guiding light,” and guiding is not a rule. Everyone you engage with has a unique perspective, experiences, and emotions. When your advice is not followed, it is not necessarily a rejection of your wisdom or effort; it may simply mean that the person you are trying to help needs to learn through their own experiences.
I talk about this all the time. Obstacles and challenges in our lives are not to be feared. They are supposed to be the building blocks of experience we all need to become and remain successful in life. When you advise others, you should not be making decisions for them but instead empowering them with the knowledge, experiences, and courage to make their own decisions for their journey.
Being the light that guides someone’s path involves offering support, inspiration, and guidance in various ways.
Lead by Example
As mentioned above, everyone is on their journey. Your job is not to make decisions for them but to help them find the courage, discipline, and experience to decide independently.
The best way to do this and guide others is by living your values and demonstrating integrity in your own life. Your actions often speak louder than words. When people see you making decisions aligned with your principles and overcoming challenges, they are inspired to do the same.
“Example is not the main thing in influencing others. It is the only thing.” – Albert Schweitzer.
This quote emphasizes that our actions are the best way to demonstrate the behavior, discipline, or attitude we want to instill, and it is far more powerful than just telling people what to do.
When you coach people to be successful, showing them how you apply your principles and navigate challenges is more inspiring than a sit-down lecture about life’s values and decision-making process.
Offer Encouragement and Support
People often face doubts, fears, or difficulties. Be a source of encouragement, offering kind words, motivation, and reassurance that they can overcome their struggles. Your belief in them can help them believe in themselves.
“Do not pray for an easy life, pray for the strength to endure a difficult one.” – Bruce Lee
While encouragement is essential, it should not become a pity party. This quote emphasizes that true encouragement is not about making things easy but finding the strength, courage, and resilience to face challenges and make decisions.
When we encourage people, we must communicate that success comes through hard work, discipline, and commitment to take on and overcome the hard things we face in life.
To be a true guiding light to someone we are coaching or mentoring, we need to prepare them to tackle the tricky part of their journey and not shield or protect them from them.
Listen with Empathy:
Sometimes, the best way to guide someone is to listen without judgment. Empathetic listening allows people to feel heard and understood, which can provide the clarity they need to move forward. Offering a compassionate ear can be the light they need in their darkness.
“Too often we underestimate the power of a touch, a smile, a kind word, a listening ear, an honest compliment, or the smallest act of caring, all of which have the potential to turn a life around.” – Leo Buscaglia
This quote emphasizes the importance of supporting others while at the same time pointing towards the importance of action. Empathy is essential in the toolkit when you encourage people to become better versions of themselves. Genuinely listening to someone can make all the difference in the world as long as you are focused on it being a catalyst to make a change, make a decision, and become disciplined. It should be a reminder to inspire them to take action a move forward.
By actively listening to someone you are guiding down the right path, you are providing both understanding and motivation, while striking a balance between empathy and a call to action.
Conclusion
In summary, by embodying these qualities, you can be a positive force that helps others find their way, grow, and succeed.
I will publish future newsletters or training course materials to examine this topic in depth. Please share your personal experiences in this area. I would love to hear from you and learn from you.
The Day Warrior
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