Hotel Indigo Hakone Gora The entrance of Hotel Indigo Hakone Gora - a traditional Japanese rickshaw with its vibrant red upholstery adds a touch of tradition.

A vintage-style wall phone with rotary dial.

Our room comes with a private Japanese onsen (hot spring).

Today we visited Lake Ashi (Onshi-Hakone Park), a stunning crater lake in Hakone known for its natural beauty and breathtaking views.

Lake Ashi was formed around 3,000 years ago after a volcanic eruption of Mount Hakone. It's also famous for its sightseeing cruises, where pirate-themed boats take visitors across the lake for a fun, scenic experience. We skipped the cruise this time - it was a bit chilly at 7°C and windy!

Last night, we enjoyed a Japanese onsen (hot springs) at Hotel Indigo in Hakone. This area has been a popular onsen destination since the Nara Period (710–794), drawing travellers, monks, samurai - and now us 🙈 - for its therapeutic waters.

Fun fact: Japan has over 27,000 natural hot springs, making it one of the most geothermal-rich countries in the world!

We found this tiny hole-in-the-wall restaurant (Yokohama abura soba in Tokyo) - seats a max of 8 people - with authentic Japanese food. It was absolutely delicious.

The magnificent Mount Fuji (3,776m) - Japan's tallest mountain. Though it last erupted in 1708, it is still classified as an active volcano.

We were lucky to enjoy clear skies two days in a row!

I launched the "Timeline" while on holiday in Japan. Here's why: A Return to Old-School Blogging

I went for a scenic run around the Imperial Gardens in Tokyo - a 5-kilometre loop encircling the grounds. The path follows the palace's moat, offering views of historic stone walls and traditional bridges. So good!

Everything feels small in Tokyo - apartment blocks, windows, balconies, even doors. It's so tiny that in some places, I don't quite fit!

Culture is shaped by the people within it. Sometimes, one person is all it takes to spark positive change.

An employee who offers genuine encouragement, lends a hand to solve a problem or suggests small but meaningful improvements can transform a team's energy - one action at a time.

This is the quiet yet powerful force of influence.

Amplify their voices. Support them. Elevate them.

Let their impact ripple further.

Silos.

Break them whenever you see them.

Silos keep teams from seeing the whole market picture.

Silos risk losing sight of the customer, prioritising internal goals and creating a fragmented experience.

Silos slow everything down - teams hold onto information, delaying solutions.

Silos leave teams blind to risks outside their scope.

Expertise vs open-mindedness.

Sometimes it's hard to tell if someone's perspective is genuinely the best approach or if they're just anchored in familiar thinking. What if they don't even know what “awesome” could look like?

On the other hand, knowing when to hold your ground versus when to let things go can be even trickier. What if I don't know what “awesome” feels like and am just comfortable with my usual approach?

Define who's making the call before a debate starts.

That person takes in everyone's input but in the end they own the final decision.

It cuts down on endless debates and helps the team align around a single direction - even if not everyone agrees at first.

Marathon done! ✅

What an incredible experience. Running across the Sydney Harbour Bridge and soaking in the amazing views was unforgettable. The support along the course was fantastic, with spectators holding up funny signs like "Don't be shit" that kept me laughing.

I finished in 5h 10m - not the fastest, but my goal was to finish, so I didn't push too hard.

My plan was to stay in Zone 2 for the first 15km, then stick to Zone 3 as long as possible and I managed to do just that. I hit a couple of cramps in the second half but powered through with cramp shots (disgusting, but they work).

Everything went smoothly, from pacing to nutrition, so I'm really happy with it.

Next year, now that I know what to expect, I'll be ready to push harder! 💪

A short post about unstoppable teams.