Change is inevitable. Oftentimes a change happens suddenly, faster than external circumstances or your physiology can catch up with. That’s when you enter the transition phase, a state of liminality that accompanies a change. An identity shift accompanies any transition, and during most transitions there is a liminal phase, where the old identity no longer fully exists in its old form in solidity, and the new identity has yet to be formed.

What the hell was I doing, moderating a panel discussion with two mayors of Tokyo wards, a venerable journalist, and a rep from the Viennese embassy? And in tabi boots?

Being busy isn’t a badge of honor. Or rather, let me rephrase. Being overwhelmed and overcommitted isn’t a badge of honor.

Last weekend, I attended a music festival in rural Japan with my community.

Hang on, I’ll get to how this connects to leadership in a minute.

After a soak in a local onsen and a gorgeous kaiseki breakfast, we headed out to set up our small glamping village.