Embracing the Unfamiliar
Lessons learned watching anime with my daughter.
When I was a kid, I used to think it was hilarious when the late Bill Keane let his perpetually 7-year-old son draw the cartoon and give his dad a break, like this example from Father’s Day 2001:
At our house, we also celebrate Fathers’ Day (note the proper placement of the apostrophe for families with two gay dads). In that tradition, my daughter Roma, on the cusp of her 11th birthday, has taken over the video portion of today’s Communication Matters.
She introduced me to a show I never would have found on my own, and now she provides all of you a clear and compelling argument about why you need to check out the Japanese anime series Komi Can’t Communicate, found on Netflix. This provocative show is cinematically beautiful with engaging content about teens dealing with crippling social anxiety. Fortunately, the Japanese has been dubbed in English, which makes this an accessible experience here in the States.
The video of Roma you just watched was the recreation of a conversation we had when I asked her, “Why should others watch Komi?” She was so articulate and clear in her response that I thought she should deliver this week’s message, not me. She credits Ms. Yamamoto, her fifth-grade teacher, for a segment she recently delivered on how to craft a clear oral argument. She delivered all of this with only 3 notes in front of her: friends, struggles, and differences.
For a bite-sized taste of this provocative and powerful show check out the brief clip below. To get the real impact of the show’s blend of artistry and insight, I hope you will watch an entire episode, or more.
This week, I challenge you to embrace something unfamiliar and see what you can learn and how that lesson can help you expand your own communication mastery.
(A note from Roma: Hi everyone, I just want to say thank you all for letting me be in my dad’s newsletter. I’m so happy to be here. Thank you all, I want to say that one more time. It took us eight tries to do this and I’m so happy it's done. Love, Roma)
Register for my last Spring Author Series: Training Zen by Truett Black
Tuesday, June 23 at 10 AM PT I will chat with my lifelong friend and former Kaplan Learning colleague Truett Black on his newly released book, Training Zen: How to Build and Sustain a Rewarding Career in Corporate Training and Facilitation.
What separates ordinary training sessions from true learning experiences that awaken awareness, expand thinking, and fuel professional growth long after the event ends? When you’re designing and leading a workshop, how do you make it a valuable experience for everyone involved? Join us for a conversation about the mindset, beliefs, skills, and practices that consistently bring outstanding results to training workshops.
You can catch my conversation with Data Inspired author Sebastian Wernicke here. His book was released on June 2. My chat with Ken Daigle, author of Unapologetic Manifestation, can be found here.
Let’s Play Together in Santa Fe, September 10 to 13
Have you ever hit a plateau or transition and tried to think your way to the next chapter? It rarely works. But there is a way to access what you need to move forward: through play. Consider joining my colleague Kristine Michie and me as we present The Power of Play: Unblock Your Story and Purpose for What’s Next. Spend 3 days with us in Santa Fe, where we will playfully and powerfully help you unblock your narrative and open what might be next for you. We’ve been invited to serve as guest faculty for MEA, the world’s first midlife wisdom school. This offering is unlike anything they’ve presented before. Join us to explore, develop, and, most of all, play with intention.
Talk of the Week
As summer begins and I continue to honor my kids this month, today's Talk of the Week comes from Play@TED. In this engaging talk, Harlem Globetrotter Maxwell Pearce reminds us of the value of play, creativity, and the occasional willingness to bend the rules in service of learning and growth.
JD’s Recommendations: What I’m Reading, Hearing, and Viewing
Reading: Just for fun, aren’t you glad you weren’t the customer service rep who mishandled the Pope’s change of address.
Hearing: Ryan Holiday highlights the need for all of us, parents or not, to embrace self-care in “It’s Not Selfish. It’s Essential.”
Viewing: I’m a new fan of The Best One Yet (TBOY) a high-energy daily “pop-biz” video podcast with 3 business news items to start each day with a smile.
However you celebrate the passage from spring to summer, I hope you have time to enjoy some good old-fashioned play in the process.
All the best,
jds
It was heartwarming to hear Roma speak so clearly about what she loves in the cartoon. Her straightforward expression was especially meaningful, as it reflected her empathy and awareness of those who may find communication more challenging.
She's so articulate. What a gift, to have such a brilliant, insightful child call you dad.