#80 Wanting to be a lightly teased middle-aged man
In this episode, Nakagawa-san and Baba-san, both approaching their 40s, have an honest discussion about their 'ideal positioning' as middle-aged men.
They discuss their longing to be 'lightly teased' in the workplace.
Nakagawa-san reveals his ideal: being a 'lightly teased middle-aged man' who is cherished and occasionally teased by those around him. Using Kashima-san, a veteran employee at his company, as an example, they talk enthusiastically about the value of having relationships where even young employees in their 20s can interact with you frankly. The charm of that delicate atmosphere, which becomes harder to achieve as you get older, really comes through.
Their mindset for avoiding becoming an 'Emperor's New Clothes' figure is impressive.
On the other hand, they also discuss the sense of crisis regarding how it becomes difficult to receive feedback from others as you build your career. There is a fear that people might just say 'yes' due to your position, regardless of what they really think. To avoid such situations, they share heartfelt thoughts on the importance of intentionally maintaining traits that make you seem 'approachable' or even slightly vulnerable.
They also touch upon the word choices unique to middle age.
They discuss the pitfalls of phrases we tend to use, such as 'Back in my day...' or 'You'll understand eventually.' They reflect on their own experiences and share insights on how to avoid words that shut down conversation. The discussion continues even deeper, so please be sure to listen to the full episode.
* This summary is generated automatically by AI and may contain errors.