Ep 109 - Kane Nakamura, Managing Director at Kane & Partners LLC - Be the Protagonist of Your Story: Keys to Overcoming Obstacles and Setbacks

Learn more about Michael Wenderoth, Executive Coach: www.changwenderoth.com

What does today’s guest have in common with a Japanese manga hero and a world wide wrestler – besides sharing the same name? In this episode of 97% Effective, host Michael Wenderoth talks with Kane Nakamura, the lifelong learner, about overcoming career obstacles and setbacks. They discuss how Kane convinced Softbank to send him to the USA; how he landed a dream job at Udemy; and why he was unfazed about getting laid off. Kane shares the power of voicing what you want, when and how to break rules – and the benefits of being a community builder, connector and selfless blogger. Kane will get you thinking about what is really holding you back – and the courage and steps you need to take to forge ahead, and become the protagonist of your own story.

SHOW NOTES:

• How 28 moves in 20 cities in 4 countries shaped Kane’s identity
• Kane’s Obstacle/Setback #1: Getting a position in the US when he worked at Softbank
• Powered by purpose, how Kane broke the rules and protocol
• Don’t assume people know what you want – and when to voice what you want
• Kane’s Obstacle/Setback #2: Staying in the US
• The single question that helped Kane get out of his comfort zone to build a network in Silicon Valley
• Finding his dream job = Luck + People Connection + Timing
• How Kane became a connector
• How blogging about his learning in executive education fueled him – and benefited him
• Kane’s Obstacle/Setback #3: Getting laid off
• Japanese vs US reactions to Kane getting laid off
• The benefits from posting on social media
• Does Kane’s generosity get taken advantage of it?
• Kane’s advice to those who feel that “putting yourself out there” is too risky
• “Let the world discover you”: vulnerability and the power of voicing
• On the difference between talking, envisioning and scheduling
• What Kane wants you, and especially his Japanese listeners, to know about risk and failure
• What happens when you Google “Kane Nakamura”

 

BIO AND LINKS:

Kane Nakamura is a Builder of a “Culture of Learning” whose personal and career journey embodies the transformative power of proactive decisions. Hailing from Japan and the USA, Kane spent his career in business development at Cable & Wireless, Softbank, and Udemy. He holds a BA in International and Comparative Law from Rikkyo University, a MBA from UNC’s Kenan-Flagler Business School, and is completing his Doctor in Education at the University of Pennsylvania. A lifelonger learner, Kane credits Stanford’s executive education LEAD program for fueling his continued transformation and personal growth. He shares his insights on the LinkedIn newsletter “Why I Keep Learning.”

 

• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kane2008/
• Kane’s newsletter, “Why I keep learning (僕が学び続ける理由)”(most posts are in English): https://tinyurl.com/mr2z74tv
• Kane’s announcement that he got laid off: https://tinyurl.com/27a2z8fx
• Kane featured by Stanford’s LEAD program: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6V-4rpcCOI4
• Harvard Business Review article: “Do You Find Networking Stressful? Try Being a Connector Instead”: https://tinyurl.com/ypf4wady
• Michael’s book, Get Promoted: What Your Really Missing at Work That’s Holding You Back https://tinyurl.com/453txk74

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