You Can Become a Millionaire If You Are Considerate of the Situations of Your Peers and Respect Their Position
Takanori Nakajo, Honorary Advisor of Asahi Breweries, Ltd.
■Japan Is Losing the Altruistic Mind
The trend of self-centered people who never consider others, rules
Although intellects are concerned about this state of affairs and passionately preach the importance of altruism, there are not only small numbers of people who do not get enlightened, not only among youngsters but also among the management of large-scale companies.
The ancient words of a sage cited in “I Ching”, one of the oldest of the Chinese classic texts, preach that “what goes around comes around”, by teaching us to do lots of good for others, if you want to become happy. Such people (houses/companies) are sure to be blessed with fortune.
“The Analects of Confucius” also has a scene where one of Confucius’ disciples asks, “What is the most important thing among your teachings?” Confucius answered his question, saying, “I assume it is consideration.” In other words, he preaches that the most important thing is to have you in the opponent’s shoes and be considerate.
The same thing is underlined in modern business administration as well: You can’t win with “Product-Out” (producer/complacent mindset.) You can never win unless you are with “Market-In” (customer-centric.)
Even without theorizing like this, you can see it in the fact that the singer Haruo Minami*1, whose job totally depends on the number of his fans, shouted from the bottom of his heart, “My fans are my God.”
If you do business in a selfish way, you will end up bringing about your own ruin, like Horiemon of Livedoor*2 and Mr. Murakami of Murakami Fund*3. Even facing these incidents, people are not taking it as piercing reproach. This reality of
*1 Haruo Minami was an Enka singer famous for his message, “My fans are my God.”
*2Horiemon is a nickname of Mr. Takafumi Horie, the founder of the Internet service provider Livedoor Co. He was regarded as the icon of the new era of young entrepreneurs in
*3Mr. Murakami is the founder of Murakami Fund, which was famous as an activist fund. However, he was also arrested for insider trading in 2006 in relation to the Livedoor incident.
■Deal with Others Like a Spring Breeze
I was assigned to the role of Senior Sales Director when Asahi Breweries, Ltd.’s performance was at rock bottom. The presidents were selected from the then the Sumitomo Bank, Limited from generation to generation.
Other than those who joined the company from other companies, I was one of the top employees who had gone up the corporate ladder, and as such, I was in a position to revive the company, which hit rock bottom after being divided up into smaller companies by the American occupation forces. The world authority
During the course of this challenge, the employees tended to lose confidence. Upon such circumstances, I used to tell them the 10 important points of “You can become a millionaire if you are considerate of the situations of your peers and respect their position.” Let me share them with you.
1. The best way to understand your opponent’s feelings is with “love”
”Love” is based on considering in the opponent’s shoes. Love your customers. “Consideration” means to put your feet in the opponent’s shoes and consider their situation. Mother’s unconditional “love” that requires nothing in return is the best and pure.
2. “Courtesy” helps others as well as yourself
People can never live alone. The mind of being strongly conscious of the opponent is “benevolence.” The Chinese character of “benevolence” consists of the parts indicating “Human beings are two persons.” “Benevolence” is something that can not be seen but is rather a concept that takes form when it is revealed through “courtesy.” When you thank someone, do it quick even simple, instead of being polite but late. Using a fax machine is better than a phone.
3. Keep your promises
Just by keeping your promises, the opponent thinks that you value him or her. Promises of “nice to have someday…” are the kind of ones you have to make sure to keep. Although it might be easier to make a promise and break it later, don’t do it. Rather, have the courage to never make a promise that you can’t keep.
4. Become used to being scolded at. When you lose, you actually win
No matter how many blunders you may make, if you are used to being scolded at, you can gain favor in those who scold you. If someone scolds you, become closer to that person! Scolding you proves the fact that the person cares for you.
5. Undertake works casually, especially the ones that your opponents feel burdened with
Even a heavy work can get lighter if it is shared by two.
6. Whether or not “compliments” can reach your opponent’s heart depends on “your straight face”
You have the mouth in order to praise others. “Compliments” seriously thought out can work, even if they are not sophisticated. Focus on your peer’s virtues.
The abuse of “compliments” can have adverse effects. Be able to distinguish “praise” from “flattery.”
Nobody gets depressed by being praised. “Compliments” behind the scenes have an even more powerful effect than the “compliments” told in person.
7. Immediately put what you have leaned into use.
Make others think that you are worthy of receiving education. There is a substantial number of people who write letters to me immediately after listening to my lectures or reading my books, to tell me how much they were moved by them. I reply immediately as much as possible to encourage them.
This kind of sensitivity is equivalent to considering your peers’ feelings. It is such a simple logic that if you become humble, your peer’s position will elevate relatively.
8. Become the one to initiate
The greetings you instigate are hundreds of times more valuable than the greetings you make in response.
In
9. Those good at considering the opponent’s feelings know “the patience of time” and “the patience of preference”
The most excellent Japanese word to express the consideration of how the opponent thinks and perceives is “Sontaku (surmise).” If you pursue the heart of “benevolence”, you will reach “Sontaku.”
No matter how fun you think it is, keep your conversation less than half of the opponent’s. Even if you want to talk, hold your tongue, in order to sell Asahi beer. In other words, be a “good listener.”
10. The first step to being considerate of your peer’s feelings is to make your peer feel good
Consider your peer’s feelings even if that is your wife, child, or dog.
The Bible, which was born in the West actively teaches to “do what you want others to do unto yourself”, while the Eastern sages are a bit passive, teaching, “never do what you don’t want others to do to you.” What both have in common is the concept of “the important thing is to make the opponent feel good.”
I remember that Mr. Issai Sato*4 also preaches in his book, “Genshi-koroku*5”, to “Deal with others like a spring breeze, and watch out for yourself with rigidity like the autumn frost.” It is essential to be rigid to yourself like the autumn frost, and deal with others like a spring breeze and consider their feelings.
*4 Mr. Issai Sato (1772-1859) was a Japanese scholar who had taught around 6,000 students including those who became famous leaders later.
*5 “Genshi-koroku” is a generic name for his 4 books written in his later life over 40 years. The books are called as “the Bible for leaders” and beloved for long periods up to now.
There Are Youngsters Who Cultivate the Future of
Hidesaburo Kagiyama, Advisor of YellowHat
■The Courage of Mr. Yuji Arakawa
At 6:00am of February morning, when the sun has yet fully risen, you can see figures of youngsters, who are kindly cleaning the square before the East Exit of Shinjuku Station.
One of them has a cardboard signboard tied to his back, on which “HELP WANTED”, was written. People who gathered in response to this calling are all university students, and therefore the number of people differs, depending on the day. However, there are some students who regularly come and sweep the entire East Exit area.
Although last winter was warm, it was cold before dawn on the street, chilling fingers of people separating wet garbage.
I take off my hat to those youngsters, who are sedulous to cleaning under such circumstances. I think they are very cool, and look more attractive than those with mock gentility, who are conscious about appearances alone. Also, I can see a light in the future of Japan in the fact that this kind of youngsters have appeared.
The university student with the signboard on his back was Mr. Yuji Arakawa. I admire Mr. Arakawa’s courage, who started this effort alone in December last year. Do you have the courage to stand in public, with a cardboard signboard on your back?
Speaking of cleaning outside, just sweeping around your home or office makes you conscious of the public eye and hesitate a bit, so let alone sweeping somewhere that has nothing to do with you, exposed to public scrutiny. It is something you can’t do, unless you have such high aspiration and true courage.
This is not limited to cleaning. Whatever it is, you feel relatively at ease when you do it as one of the mass, because you rely on numbers, and also because of the ease that the public eye does not focus on you alone.
On the other hand, if you do things by yourself something that normally people don’t do, you will be exposed to the public eye, which is unbearably painful and very straightening, as everyone who has gone through this knows. Even without such experience, by just imagining maybe enough to understand how tough it is.
■Practice Before Criticism
As if trampling down the spirit and good deeds of Mr. Arakawa, who have been challenging this tough work, people who ridicule or mock him from a distance are not few.
There are even times when punks come and scatter all the garbage he had collected. People who don’t have the courage to do good and can’t practice, can only be passionate to hamper those who do good deeds.
It is no easy matter to continue the work always with a smile, despite the malice to destroy one’s good intention.
In aid of Mr. Arakawa’s fortitude, other students came to offer help, which was big, delightful news not only for Mr. Arakawa, but also for society.
If you are making blind assumptions about youngsters, saying, “Today’s youngsters are…”, please come and see the activity taking place at the East Exit
The Joy of
Takanori Nakajo, Honorary Advisor of Asahi Breweries, Ltd.
“Without reading through tons of books, how come you can be an immortal person, whose name lasts for long periods? There is no chance.”（Chichi Publishing Co., Ltd.: “Daily Word from Shoin Yoshida”）
As it is the due date for the May issue of this “Prefatory Note” of “Chichi”, it seems I was concerned about it, so I woke up earlier than usual by about 1 hour.
Taking advantage of this leeway, I explored some teachings regarding reading from “Daily Word from Shoin Yoshida.”
“You can not expect better effects from reading, unless you try reading hard at all hours of the day and night, without wasting even a short period of time.”
“The important thing in reading is to fully understand the meaning of the ‘core part’ and achieve mastery of it.”
“Please take good care of yourself for the sake of this nation. When you have time, please try to read as much as possible.”
Shoin Yoshida was a leading disciple of Shozan Sakuma*1, whose hometown is the same as mine, and was said to be an incomparable bookworm.
*1Shozan Sakuma was a Japanese politician and scholar of the
Although he passed away so young, he is such a strong influence on today’s world. There is no doubt that it is due to what he had learned from reading a large number of books including Four Books and Five Classics of Confucianism, springing forth like a fountain. It is really like Shoin that he is encouraging Kogoro Katsura*2 to read books, while talking him into serving the nation.
*2Kogoro Katsura was a Japanese politician during the Late Tokugawa shogunate and the Meiji Restoration.
n My Adolescence and
I have been living in this world for 80 years, and if I were to be proud of myself, it would be because I have always lived surrounded by many books, and have continued learning from them.
Since my childhood, I have adored books so much as to be called as a “bookworm.”
I had 4 elder sisters and they were all married. When they came back to their hometown for the New Year holidays or festivals, they made it sure to bring me books such as those on lives of great men. The volume of reading seemed to have improved my power of expression, although I was still a child. I received the Minister of Education Award from Mr. Ryutaro Nagai (the then Minister of Education) at the nationwide children writing competition, and the fact was announced by the school principle to all the students in my school.
This made me exhilarated and drove me to reading even more. What I found tough during the days at the
After the World War ��, I studied at higher school under the old system of education, whose environment was exactly the opposite from that of the Japanese Army Military Academy. People of the same period include famous writers of the later days, such as Morio Kita, the author of the “Dr. Globefish” series, and Kunio Tsuji.
I devoted myself to reading, in a bachelor apartment, or in a lodging, while lying covered by a futon. I used to boast that I would deeply devote myself to reading various books, master the secret of life, and generate depth and width as a person.
“I open a book sometimes, read it, and am happy to find the supreme joy in it.”
Mr. Shoin Yoshida expresses his love for reading.
Looking at the current status of our country, it is really abundant and people have a tendency not to read. This tendency has been accelerating. I have been concerned about this, therefore established the “Nakajo Library” in each school of my hometown several years ago, and have been donating books ever since.
I receive letters of appreciation from children who felt the joy of reading one after another, and it doubles my supreme pleasure of life.
The monthly “Chichi” is available only in Japanese.For further details regarding the contents of the magazine, please refer to Chichi WEB (Japanese version).
The Importance of Working
Kazuo Inamori, Chairman Emeritus of Kyocera Corporation
■ Hardships are gifts from God
I believe we need to teach the importance of “working” to the youngsters today.
When I was young, I suffered many setbacks and experienced many troubles. However, despite such hardships, I worked positively and desperately, which led me to who I am today. I have noticed this and therefore I keenly realize the importance of working hard.
After graduating university, I somehow managed to get a job with Shofu Industries, which was at the time, nearly bankrupt. Looking at me in such a situation, people around me used to say, “What a pitiful boy Inamori is. He studied hard at university and his academic performance was good. Yet, he could only get a job with a shabby company. What will happen to his life?”
However, in hindsight, that was the greatest “gift” from God. God made me get a job only with a deficit-ridden company, left me no other choice but to devote myself to research and development of fine ceramics, which put an end to my setback-ridden life and opened the door to a new life.
I focused and devoted myself single-mindedly to the research of fine ceramics materials, which were not common yet at that time, in a lab with inadequate infrastructure. Because of that, I could make wonderful achievements, including success in the development of new materials. However, I had a fight with my boss over a new technological development, and it was best for me to leave the company.
People who supported me during such a state of affairs, helped me establish Kyocera Corporation. Having said that, you never know when a newly founded company could go bankrupt. I had no other choice but to work even harder than before, in order to keep the employees from being thrown out onto the street.
People around me at that time made comments like;
“The guy gets no luck. At the age of 27, he is leading a company whose future is uncertain, and putting his nose to the grindstone. Will his efforts ever pay off?”
In fact, the hard efforts did pay off. Kyocera Corporation continued to expand, and it has now grown to a company with sales of over one trillion yen. At the same time, thanks to the support of many people, my life has become wonderful beyond imagination.
This is not only about me. The same thing can be said about everyone who worked with me together desperately with the starting up of Kyocera and shared troubles together. They entered Kyocera, which was a micro enterprise whose future was uncertain, and they worked hard together from morning until night. Their parents may have given advice like; “You don’t have to work that hard. Leave the job, otherwise you will ruin your health.” Yet, the employees never spared efforts.
Some people left, but the remaining employees worked with determination and dedication overcoming troubles, without complaining, and with bright hope. Such devotion to work has nurtured their wonderful personalities. The then everyday, ordinary youngsters, who experienced troubles together, grew to become outstanding leaders, and supported the company’s development thereafter. Thanks to their effort, many people live happy lives now.
■ Consider the work given to you as your calling
Working hard has led our lives to be wonderful ones. Working is exactly like a “cure-all” medicine, which can overcome challenges in your life and even adversities. By making efforts second to none and working with dedication, you can even change your destiny positively and dynamically.
People tend to consider the work given to them as boring and complain, even when they are in a gifted environment. However, it won’t do any good for your destiny to get better. What you are supposed to do instead is to consider the work given to you as your calling, make efforts to love the work, and devote yourself to it.
In the meantime, complaints will disappear and your work will begin to go smoothly. If you continue working even harder, you can master wonderful mentalities and personalities. As a result of that, you can live a rich life, both physically and spiritually.
Looking at modern youngsters, there seems to be a wide-spread trend to work just to gain money, and there seems to be an increase in the number of people who think it is meaningless to endure or to make efforts. This kind of mindset has probably led to an increase of NEETs (Not in Employment, Education or Training) and part-time employees.
Whatever difficulties you may face, by making efforts second to none, and by always working hard enthusiastically and positively, your life is sure to become rich and fruitful. It is our responsibility as role models in life to tell this to the youngsters who live in the present.
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