Below is the story based on the actual business management case.
Case: Felice, the president of a real estate value-up company, in her youth, was fascinated with the story of the skyscraper transaction in Manhattan, New York. She got involved in the real estate agent business, worked hard and started a company with co-owner Ben. Over the time, Felice had started arguing with Ben over the operation, management and profit sharing. Alex, a real estate owner, helped Felice and founded her new company. That new company has grown rapidly and is about to get IPO but the bank was reluctant due to the major shareholder Alex’s credit.
Felice asked Mr. Inamori* what to do.
Q: What did Felice’s advisors tell her?
A: Lawyers and accountants advised Felice that she is entitled to take most of the part of the businesses. She successfully leased up many empty buildings and got them well-performing ones. Felice actually contributed to the company’s growth, so it may be sensible for Felice to take most of the company’s shares and have Alex leave the shareholder.
Q: What did Mr. Inamori advise her?
A: Completely opposite.
“Give the company to Alex. Leave everything to him.” ,said Mr. Inamori
“Listen, Felice, you said you appreciated a lot what Alex did to you as he rescued your previous company, didn’t you? “
“Yes, I did. I very much appreciate Alex’s support. “, Felice answered.
“If so, give the company to Alex. Sell your shares at the cheapest price and then you get the minimum compensation. When you leave, no employee should be taken from the company. You should start everything by yourself from the scratch. ”
Felice found Mr. Inamori’s words to be very harsh but eventually followed his advice.
Q: Why did Felice follow Inamori’s advice? Why was Felice’s position so weak?
A: This was not the issue of position. This is the matter of mind-set.
The reason why Inamori advised her as follows:
1 Becoming a giver, not a taker.
2 Staying away from the takers
3 Open up her heart and mind
4 Finding purified motivation
Let me explain one by one.
1 Becoming a giver, not a taker.
Altruism always exceeds so-called egoism. Mr.Inamori instinctively figured out Felice’s nature.
“ Felice, as you said, “I am very selfish,” and “I have a strong desire to demonstrate who I am ,” I feel you are the person who has strong determination, capability and vitality. This can be taken as selfishness, stubbornness, and egoism. Have you ever thought about why you were not able to get along with your first business partner, Ben? Think about yourself and reflect on what you have done so far, not only to your partner but also your staff, partners, and families. ”
Mr. Inamori said it like that.
I felt the same when I read this story. For example, the following expressions demonstrate Felice’s personality.
“I made a lot of money while contributing to the community.
I am the one who brought a large cash income,
I made this store the most profitable one and got greatly confident with my capability
I am wondering how come I just ended up making money only for Alex? ”
Above all, I found to be a bit arrogant, over-confidence and less humble. We Japanese value a lot of such humbleness.
2 Staying away from the takers
If you are obsessed with the idea not to be the one to be taken, people with the same mindset may gather around you.
These are the people called Takers. Someone who is willing to receive anything, but hesitant to give anything to others.
If your mind is occupied with taking something from others, the birds of feather flock together.
You may end up taking and getting robbed. In Buddhism, it is called Shurado: gladiators’ world. Or it may be described as the hell or the zombie world below gladiators’.
You will never pay attention to anything you already have and devote yourself to take as many things as possible from others. So you may spend all of your life on robbing others.
“It sounded a harsh message to give everything and go out. Lawyers and tax advisors mentioned Felice already has half of the capital. Not only that, Felice had built up all of the company’s assets, so they are supposed to belong to Felice. This is true, but if you are about to split your company, Alex could be smarter than you, Felice. If you guys argue over the share, you would never get out of such a robbing cycle. This would of course make no sense to your life, Felice. Therefore, I told you to leave everything and re-start again. ” Mr. Inamori explained Felice.
reasons No 3 and 4 will be explained in the next blog.
Further queries or doubts, please email to ytomizuka@abrilsjp.com
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