Faith, creeds and business- Stay with your creeds and convictions –

This time, Mr. Inamori says the following under the theme of “Stay with your creeds and convictions.” What Inamori said were quoted with “”.

“ You may face various obstacles in the process towards success. How you deal with them may bring you different outcomes. When you challenge something new, you will encounter objections and various obstacles. Some people give up quickly when they find those difficulties even before tackling them. I think those who have succeeded are always ones who have committed themselves to overcome those obstacles while keeping their beliefs and creeds. It requires a lot of courage to stick to what you believe, but without it, you can’t do innovative and creative works. “

To maintain this belief and creeds, Mr. Inamori encouraged us to hold the following two attitudes.

Let me elaborate on each one.

1, Identify your missions and visions

Mr. Inamori demonstrated why American soldiers were so brave during World War II.

“ -There is no country as free as America. Thus, we must protect such freedom. – With such a belief, they fought bravely under the bullets in the war. Well, it is important whether or not you have such great creeds, for which you could even risk your lives. “

→ One of our corporate missions is to spread Japan’s excellent real estate system overseas. Through this, we can bring “harmony” and “fulfillment” to the world. This is the mission of our company. I believe that this will also benefit Japanese people in both materially and mentally. Before I started learning Inamori’s business philosophy, I had even never thought about such supreme missions. Since I joined Seiwajuku workshop and implemented what Inamori recommends, I have gradually been developing those missions and visions. I believe that this can help future generation Japanese to establish a strong self-confidence as Japanese and also allow us to bring harmony in the world.

2. Encourage yourself as well as your staff

I believe that leaders must have strong commitment and courage with which they can fight for the staff. Even though we physically look weak, we must demonstrate the fighting spirits to protect our staff. Even if you eventually have to fight with gangsters, you must demonstrate your commitment to secure your staff even for your life. I think such determination allows you to demonstrate the pressure to your opponent. I know you may get intimidated and frightened, but think about what happens to your family, staff and staff’s families. This would give you unexpected courage. For that reason, it is important to create a good management philosophy and maintain it as your creeds. Samuel Ullman also said in his poem “Youth” that the period of youth is not determined by age, but by the state of your mind. By all means, I would like all of you guys to keep this poem in mind and encourage you to work hard.”

→ I have been practicing Aikido for 11 years. When I came to Okinawa, I met Master Yamaguchi. He has been telling us almost the same thing as has Mr. Inamori. Through Aikido, I am constantly practicing taking proactive measures against the opponent’s attack: anticipating the opponents’ move, and concentrating my thoughts and energies on the opponent. Conflicts eventually lead to clashes of intention versus intention. Each one of us could never generate such strong energy to impact the world. However, once each one has harmonized with the rules of the universe, we would be able to generate enormous power to change the world. I think Inamori also encourages us to develop and maintain the mindset which synchronizes with the universe. This means how important our mindset and intentions are to change our lives. This also shows the tips on how we can get unexpected support from God. As long as we live along with the “will of the universe”, we ,sooner or later, can expect some support to complete our missions and visions.

So, to sum up, top leaders are always required to keep our creeds and beliefs. First, we identify our mission and visions, then we keep our endeavor with courage, we would be able to achieve our goals as we can expect additional support.

Just for your reference, I just copied the poem of Samuel Ullman, “ Youth”

Youth is not a time of life ;
it is a state of mind ; it is not a matter of rosy cheeks, red
lips and supple knees ;
it is a matter of the will, a quality of the imagination, a vigor of
the emotions ;
it is the freshness of the deep springs of life.

Youth means a temperamental predominance of courage over timidity of the appetite, for adventure over the love of ease.
This often exists in a man of sixty more than a boy of
twenty. Nobody grows old merely by a number of years.
We grow old by deserting our ideals.

Years may wrinkle the skin, but to give up enthusiasm wrinkles the soul.
Worry, fear, self‐distrust bows the heart and turns the spirit back to dust.

Whether sixty or sixteen, there is in every human being’s heart the lure of wonder, the unfailing child‐like appetite of what’s next,
and the joy of the game of living.
In the center of your heart and my heart there is a wireless station;
so long as it receives messages of beauty, hope, cheer, courage and power from men and from the Infinite, so long are you young.

When the aerials are down, and your spirit is　covered with snows of cynicism and the ice　of pessimism,
then you are grown old, even at　twenty,
but as long as your aerials are up, to　catch the waves of optimism,
there is hope you　may die young at eighty.

Further queries or doubts, please email to ytomizuka@abrilsjp.com

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