Japanese hospitality, or omotenashi (おもてなし), is rooted in the idea of anticipating others’ needs and offering service with sincerity and respect. It is not performative. It is personal.

As a communicator and business owner, I wonder what would happen if every team and worker approached their work this way…not from obligation, but from genuine care for the people they serve.

When I started my business in 2019, I set a goal to be able to work for 11 months of the year. This fall I did something I hadn’t done since I was in my 20s: I took a full month away from work. Our month away gave me the time and space to breathe, and it changed how I think about leadership, communication, and creativity.