Meghan Lazier

photo via 

I saw myself in the news last week through the tragic story of Ann Smedinghoff, the young State Department diplomat who was raised in the Western Suburbs and killed by a suicide bomber yesterday.  Ann’s fate could have easily been mine.

The similarities between Ann and me are striking.  Like Ann, I decided to voluntarily work in Afghanistan, although in the private sector.  While we never met on the expat scene or in a professional setting, our time in Kabul overlapped by five months.  Ann had a fantastic sense of adventure, riding her bike across the US and from the Dead Sea to the Red Sea, where my affinity is for climbing mountains.  Had I ever met Ann, I believe the two of us – young, optimistic, high-achieving women raised in the Chicagoland area – would have quickly become friends.

Here’s where my story differs from Ann’s.  I came home.

Fortunately, deaths of diplomats are uncommon, but no one can work in a war zone and come away unscathed.  Ann’s untimely death forces us to look at the realities for everyone who goes to war – be it a volunteer doctor, a policy-driven diplomat or a dogged peace activist – and the challenges that face those who return.

The notorious lack of care and support for our returned military veterans is saddening and frustrating, but aid workers and other professionals who decide to work in a war zone to assist with an NGO’s mission or to rebuild in the private sector, don’t have access to even a fraction of the resources.  Nearly everyone who goes into a war zone returns with many of the same needs, like access to affordable health care and counseling or assistance finding a job or returning to school, but only certain Americans who have been to war – those in the military or an official government role – have varying access to these benefits. 

Like Ann, I’m not one to shy away from a challenge. Because I have the privilege, I’m determined to honor Ann’s spirit by rallying others to champion the rights, benefits and fair treatment of all Americans who are lucky enough to return home from war.

Is giving the secret to getting ahead? via the NYT
Journalist Susan Dominus profiles the prolific Wharton professor, Adam Grant, an organizational psychology expert who gives above and beyond what most people do.  The profile is thought provoking and will no doubt have you reflecting on your own giving behaviors and the reasons why you react the way you do and how you manage guilt.

A Million Ways to ‘Lean In’ via Parade Magazine
I usually skim Parade Magazine since it comes with the Sunday paper.  It’s usually a bit fluffy, so imangine my surprise when the back page essay stuck me at my core.  From the article: “One of my best friends, Gaylee McCracken, was a stay-at-home mom, an artist, and a high-octane volunteer. When her kids were in high school, she started medical school. She was 42. “I’m going to be 50 someday anyway,” she said. “I may as well be 50 and a doctor.” Today, at 60, Gaylee is beloved by her patients, most of whom are women. Looking back on her life so far, she can easily see a narrative unfold.”  I absolutely adore and want to embrace this attitude.  Incredibly inspiring.

Here is my eclectic selection of must-reads for self-proclaimed global citizens who are ready, willing and excited to adopt to the ways the world is changing:

The Developing World by Fredrik Haren
If you read one book on this list, read this.  It’s a bit hard to find if you don’t have a tablet, but it’s worth the cost and the wait.  I practically highlighted the entire book.  There are so many creative nuggets about culture, entrepreneurship and creativity.  The thesis boils down to this: you cannot see yourself as a developed person when we live in a developing world.  You must take on a developing mindset, which can be found in developing countries.

Generation Flux by Robert Safian
An article that originally appeared in Fast Company, generation flux chronicles is a demographic of people who embrace unprecedented change and uses our unpredictable world to their advantage.  As the intro to the aritcle sums up, “The future of business is pure chaos. Here’s how you can survive—and perhaps even thrive.” 

Bel Canto by Ann Patchett
A dramatic story showing how we’re all connected by love and human nature.  It’s the only fiction book on this list, and you’re guaranteed to want to more deeply know the characters as it’s easy to relate to their shared humanity.

The World is Flat by Thomas Friedman
‘“One mark of a great book is that it makes you see things in a new way, and Mr. Friedman certainly succeeds in that goal,’ the Nobel laureate Joseph E. Stiglitz wrote in The New York Times reviewing The World Is Flat in 2005,” starts the review of this book on Amazon.com.  Need I say more?  This book looks at global systems, changes and patterns in a fascinating way.  It breaks down the complex into concepts that will make you endlessly curious.

Need a Job? Invent it.
Also by Thomas Friedman, this article speaks for itself: “Young people who are intrinsically motivated — curious, persistent, and willing to take risks — will learn new knowledge and skills continuously. They will be able to find new opportunities or create their own — a disposition that will be increasingly important as many traditional careers disappear.”

The Spirit Catches You and You Fall Down by Ann Fadiman
This might just be the best book I have ever read.  It’s non-fiction, but it reads like a novel.  The story is dramatic, yet hopeful and sad, yet profound.  It exposes what happens when cultures clash under literal life or death events.  I wish I had the talent to have written this!

Half the Sky by Nicholas Kristoff and Sheryl WuDunn
This book lays out the definitive argument that investing in girls is key to global, economic and social change worldwide, but it’s not just theory.  The stories of the women in this book and the problems they face are gut churning and heart wrenching.  The book does offer solutions on how you can help create change, so you feel empowered after you’ve finished the last pages.  If you’re burned out on reading, this book has a complementary documentary film, website and online game.

A Whole New Mind by Daniel Pink
If you’re taking career advice from anyone who you feel doesn’t quite “get” you, you might want to seek out some other opinions. And in this case, Daniel Pink is someone I would listen to.  This book came out right after I graduated college, and I still find myself going back to reference his insights.

A Bonus Pick - Any Book that Puts You in a New Context
Some of my favorite books have put my mind or the main character in a new place.  Some of my recommendations are: My Life in France, which chronicles Julia Child’s life, the devastatingly funny Angela’s Ashes by Frank McCourt, the incredibly lyrical short novel, The Buddha in the Attic and the stunning graphic novel Persepolis.

Would love to hear if you have any thoughts on my list or titles you’d add?  Let me know on Twitter!

My mom often reminds me that I tend to overhype things.  I talk about my favorite foods, places and people with such flowery descriptions and genuine hype that people come away with recommendations that they’re sure will blow their minds.

When I mentioned to a few co-workers on the ship that I had been to Japan previously, they asked for my recommendations.  As I ticked sights off the list, I began to rave about how much I loved Japan –  the excellent food, the friendly people, the ease of the subway system and playfulness of such a visual culture – I could go on and on.

Then I wondered if I had oversold Japan?  I was hoping that I remembered Japan correctly.  In 2004, when I touched down in Tokyo for the first time, it was the first foreign country I had visited outside of Canada and Greece.  Was I really enchanted with Japan – the bright lights, the exotic foods, the friends I had made, my leisurely schedule as a student – or was my memory muddled by the experience that it was the first foreign country where I traveled alone?  I had gone to Greece with my friends for spring break, and had shared a hotel room in Tokyo that summer with another friend who studied with me, but in Japan, I got to do things on my own for the first time without any help.  I managed to make it from the airport to the hotel.  I remember gazing out the windows (of a bus or maybe a taxi?) not wanting to miss a thing – the lights flashing in the dark, the signs that I couldn’t read, a city that was full of mystery, especially at night.

My day in Tokyo and Yokhama proved I was right about Japan all along.  My memory hadn’t failed me.  I was still smitten.

Our day in Tokyo started off with Cynthia, Shira and I walking in the dark to Tsukiji Fish Market  where we missed the legendary tuna auction that occurs at 4:30am each morning.  Undeterred, we explored a bit of the market before heading to Cynthia’s recommendation – Daiwa Sushi.  Daiwa-san stood behind the counter and doled out our set menu.  Each piece of sushi was perfectly flavored by Daiwa-san himself with the right amount of soy sauce and wasabi.  I didn’t dare drag my sushi though a soy sauce bath, per usual. I had the absolute most incredible meal of my life.  No exaggeration.  A good meal calls for a good nap, and after catching up on some sleep, we headed to the subway. 

The one area where my memory definitely lapsed was the ease of using the subway system.  I have absolutely no recollection of having difficultly navigating my way anywhere in Japan.  But when Shira, Cynthia, Sarah and I descended into the station near Tsjuki Fish Market, I found myself astounded.  Tokyo has multiple rail systems, owned by different operators, requiring different tickets, and I found myself staring at the maps dumbfounded.  I knew where I needed to go, and I could find my stop on the railway map, but I had no clue which machine to use to purchase the proper ticket on the correct line.  Cynthia, who grew up in Hong Kong, helped navigate, but we parted ways during our fist ride when I went to explore my favorite neighborhood, Harajuku.

I promptly got lost leaving the station, but I hailed a cab, and my problem was quickly solved.  My driver spoke no English, but I explained I wanted to be dropped off at the Harajuku station. 

Harajuku was my favorite neighborhood back in 2004, although I’m not sure I could have articulated why back then.  A few years later, I took a required class for my sociology minor on subcultures.  I was dreading the class and didn’t want to study misfits or deviants, but the course turned out to be the highlight of my college career.  I couldn’t read enough about the Amish, Mormons, overweight women in America or nerdy gamers. I find subcultures fascinating and Harajuku is the place to see youth subculture in action. 

So, I browsed at shops where Lady Gaga has been spotted.

I ate a crepe while I people watched and managed to find the only Ben and Jerry’s in Tokyo (I have a talent for these things.

I stopped by Kiddieland, a 5-story toystore that captures and celebrates Japan’s love of kawaii (cute), and reminded me to be a little more lighthearted.

And ducked into a Shinto temple.  Instead of praying to the Gods, I just wrote my dad a little note.

I headed back early to Yokohama, where our ship, the MV Explorer was docked, in order to visit the CupNoodles Museum.

This quirky museum wouldn’t be on most people’s to-do list, yet alone on their radar.  But I have always, always enjoyed instant ramen.  Growing up, my mom refused to purchase CupNoodles, the ramen in the Styrofoam cup, but when my dad took me to the grocery store, I could stock-up and fill the cart with as many as I wanted.  I always liked the shrimp flavor, and my sister usually preferred chicken.  Even when I packed my bags for college, I brought a stockpile of CupNoodles to my dorm, purchased at Sam’s Club with my dad.  Being a ramen lover is my subculture, apparently.

I honestly had no clue what to expect when I jumped out of the cab at the museum.  And at first glance I was surprised.  The architecture was elegant and simple, bordering on sparse.

I went straight to my appointment to create my own CupNoodles creation.  After purchasing an empty ramen container out of a vending machine (of course! It’s Japan after all.), I was ushered to a table to doodle and design my cup.  Then I stood in a line, consisting of nearly all families with children in strollers, to package the noodles in my container and choose the broth and toppings, before it was sealed and shrink-wrapped as a souvenir.

Afterwards, I wandered around the museum, learning more about Momofuku Ando, the creator of instant ramen.  Other visitors might come away with the sense that Momofuku funded the museum as a temple to himself and his brilliance, but I took away something else.  I was inspired by the creativity of the museum.  The learning stations were creative.  The quotes on the walls were thought-provoking.  And Momofuku’s six steps of creativity inspired me, as well as his life story.  So much so, that I have already downloaded read a crazy memoir inspired by his life. 

I boarded the ship in Yokohama with a smile on my face.  Japan was every bit as charming as I remember.  I was able to indulge in my favorite foods and neighborhoods – and they were as delightful as ever.  

But even better, I was able to reminisce about my dad in an entirely new place.  When my dad died, I had a fear that I would start to forget things about him – the little details like how he smelled, the color of his favorite jacket and the way he made hashbrowns.  But being in Japan, a place that is so far removed from home – I know that I don’t need to worry.   I can find, recall and celebrate memories of my dad wherever I go.

Now, Japan will always be that first foreign country where I made it on my own, and the country where I got to remember my dad, in an entirely new way.  And those things can never be overhyped or oversold. 

I decided to write down at least three things I have been learning each day while surrounded by the incredible community that is Unreasonable at Sea.  Nearly a month in, I haven’t kept my daily resolution, in part, because I’m learning so much that it’s taking longer to process that I would have expected.

But here are some key takeaways, quotes and reminders from the last month, in no particular order:

·      “We can invent any future we want…I think the future is going to be amazing.” – Hunter Lovins

·      When conducting a brainstorm, have everyone write down their ideas first to themselves and then have everyone share their idea with the group.  You’ll have more ideas to choose from if everyone has time and space to think on their own first.

·      Point of view is user + need + insight

an you increase emotion?  Does your need have a deeper meaning?

Increase the unexpectedness of your insight

“Insight is that thing you can’t know by sitting in your office.” – George Kembel

 If you don’t have a need, you don’t have a company

Consumer = someone who is delighted by what you d

How can you rapidly prototype public policy?

·      Always start with empathy

·      Storytelling is applicable to everything we do.

·      Ask for feedback using the format, “I like” and “I wish” to create a space where people feel comfortable complimenting and critiquing

·      Use a story tilt to capture your audience’s attention.  Guide your listeners so they see where you are headed with your story, and then surprise them with a tilt that changes the storyline and shakes up the predictability.

·      “If you ask why five times, you might be getting some real answers.” – Hunter Lovins

·      It’s incredibly important to understand all the talent in the room and ways to utilize it.

·      “You have this opportunity now for the next 100 days.  What skills exist on this ship?  Do you know?  Maybe we could do this together…maybe we could play together.  And when you start asking those questions, that’s when you’ll find happiness.” – Hunter Lovins

·      When traveling, it’s best not to do things in really huge groups that are unplanned.  I like to do my own thing or in a small group of 2-3 people, and that’s what works for me.

·      Fish tacos in Mexico are really good.

·      Arch’s energy is incredible.  Just being in his presence makes me feel like I’m radiating.  I want to do that for others.

·      “If it’s hard to tell who is the teacher in the room, then we’re probably doing things right.” - George Kembel, first all-in Unreasonable meeting at the house, talking about the combination of people involved in the learning process and onboard class for students

·      The concept of a pop-up team

·      Always learn by doing

·      Figure out how to avoid “death by chocolate” - too many opportunities to choose from

·      There was a period of time in January where we gained an hour everyday!

How can we foster creative bravery?

When an incredible opportunity presents itself – it’s OK to scrap your existing plans for the unexpected – work be damned.   That’s the travel lesson I’m taking away from Hawaii.

In Hilo, George and Daniel hosted a design workshop at the University of Hawaii at Manoa.  But first, we had official business to attend to.  The new governor of Hawaii, Neil Abercrombie, declared January 15th, Unreasonable at Sea Day!  He even sent a representative, Wendy, to read the proclamation about the day to kickoff the workshop. 

 After celebrating with the group about our special day, Shira, Laura, Taylor and I decided to head to the nearest Starbucks to get some work done.  As we were leaving, Wendy inquired as to where we were going, and she offered to give us a ride to Starbucks.  On the way, she showed us around the university and pointed out plants unique to the island and their Hawaiian names.  “Do you want me to show you around the island?” she asked.  “But only after we get Starbucks.  I need my coffee!”

 Wendy made a fabulous tour guide.  As we leisurely cruised around in her SUV, we got our bearings of the island, the places where tourists go and where it’s locals only.  We got a sense of how connected the island community is, where to buy the best chocolates, how the homesteaders are viewed and the best dishes at Pesto Café, where we had reservations that night. 

Per our request, Wendy ended our island tour at Wal-Mart, so we could stock up on snacks and office supplies for the next leg of the trip. 

When I travel, I’m constantly relying on the kindness of strangers, but often, while traveling in America, I forget that I’m still in a place that is still new and somewhat foreign.  The best way to travel is to see a place through the eyes of a local, even if he or she is a fellow American!