11 April
2012
Written by Brian Martin
I have long believed the Power of Intention is of paramount importance in creating a result, after you determine clearly, specifically and passionately what you want.
About a year and a half ago, I was appointed as the Chairman of the Japan New Zealand Business Council. I have like many others, been touched deeply by Japan, having lived and worked in Japan for two multinational companies.
The Japanese government had generously funded approximately 6000 young people under 30 years old from many countries, to go for a ten day all expenses paid trip to Japan, to be exposed to Japanese culture and Japanese industry, quite a significant investment.
Many of these young people returned from the trip and told me this was a life defining event for them. This was the most amazing experience they had ever had.
I thought WOW, if we could harness this energy, this enthusiasm, this passion, it will add impetus to our Business Council’s role of deepening relationships between Japan and New Zealand for Trade and Investment.
Japan is still the third largest economy in the world, after the US and China, and is far from being a sunset nation.
Over the last year, we have been able to harness some amazing talent, not only from our own JNZBC executive board members, but some extremely bright young future leaders who from their experiences in Japan, are committed to grow the relationships between our two countries.
It has been driven by an amazing young woman, Jeanine Begg, whose passion for making this happen has had her elected as the first youth Japan New Zealand Business Council yJNZBC Chairperson.
We recently had a party hosted by the Japan Consul General, in the Japanese Consulate to announce and introduce the yJNZBC to our JNZBC members, the Japanese Businessmen’s Association of Auckland, The Japan Society of Auckland, The Asia/New Zealand Foundation and New Zealand Japan Society.
What a party, the energy was amazing, I don’t think the Japanese Consulate will be quite the same again!
The engagement of everyone in conversation and communication was incredible, and much of the beautiful Japanese food that had been prepared was not touched. It was a special event and I am positive we can look forward to seeing the growth of the yJNZBC brand.
This surely shows the ‘Power of Intention’.