2019.7.22
「このようにして、人の模倣ではなく、自分で考えて自分で行うと言うことが、いつの間にか京セラの伝統になりました。いわゆる独創性を重んじて、誰にも教わらないし、教わることもできない、自分の道を歩むことが習い性になったのです。。。。高い目標と一歩一歩の積み重ねから未来は開かれる。。。実際には、朝一番に出社して昨日の残りの仕事を片付ける、その後、約束をした注文の品物を作るために必死に働く、と言う毎日でした。明日の事などとても考えられませんから、その日一日だけを一生懸命生きたのです。「戦略的に長期プランを立ててということを評論家や経営コンサルタントの方々はみんな言っておられます」けれどもあくまでも高い目標を立てながらも、生き方は一歩一歩、足元を見ながら堅実に歩くことが肝心なのです。高く掲げた目標を潜在意識にしまっておいて、1日1日を着実に歩み続けると、とてつもないところまで歩いていけるものなのです。
→これもとても納得できる内容です。私の尊敬する、カウンセリングの師匠の高橋ゆり子さんがこのようにおっしゃっています。
「「なれるか、なれないか」
「向いてるか向いてないか」
「使命とは何か」
こういうことを考えてるうちは、
新しい何かを探そうとするのではなくて、今やっているお仕事(役割)を丁寧に取り組むことに集中した方がいい。なぜなら、こういう質問が出る場合は、現状からの逃げである可能性が高いから。」
今の自分に「うちあたい」するメッセージでした。私の尊敬する上司も、私が仕事がうまくいかないと愚痴をこぼしたときに、すぐメールでこのようなメッセージをくれました。「carpe diem カルペディエム」これはラテン語で、毎日毎日、その日の収穫をしろということです。稲盛氏も、私の師匠も、もと上司も言っている事は全て同じで、先の事やストラテジー計画性など色々と悩む前に、目の前のことをしっかりやれ!!と言ってるのだと思いました。本当に毎日毎日、必要なメッセージが降りてくると思いました。ありがとうございます。
これを英語にしてみたいと思います!
Long term strategy VS Carpe diem
In Kyocera philosophy instruction, Mr. Inamori* challenged a sort of “Long term business strategy” or “Business planning”, which strategic consultancies persuade business leaders to look at. This time, I would like to digest Mr. Inamori’s approach by highlighting two positions, to demonstrate how he had dealt with this theme and to analyze the results.
Q: What are the long-term business strategies, which Mr. Inamori referred in Kyocera philosophy introduction?
A: Many business consultants or advisors have encouraged top managements to develop a long term plan: how would they like to develop their business in a certain time frame, growth model, visions and objectives, then they should take the goal oriented approaches according to those consultants advice. Their advices also include the identification of the bottle necks in their status-quo as well as the approaches to be taken and the conclusions. Mr. Inamori refers those opinions simply as consultants’ views towards the business success.
Q: On the other hand, what is the “Carpe Diem” approach?
A: This is the words my former supervisor emailed me when I complained about my tough time. My former boss simply referred those Latin words ; used to urge someone to make the most of the present time and give little thought to the future. (by google translation) In my interpretation “Carpe Diem” means cultivate your land and harvest what you can do now, in other words, to work hard what you are supposed to do today. Mr. Inamori also mentioned “Even though those external professionals stressed me to build up a long term strategy and conduct management according to the plan, in Kyocera’s growing stage, all we could do was completing everyday’s assignment and there was actually no surplus time and energy to think about tomorrow.” With all our soul, sprits and energy, we worked very hard to finish what we had to do that day. Therefore, I can say this approach means daily fulfillment driven approach rather than strategy oriented view.
Q: How do you assess those two positions and analyze the result?
A: I feel the “Carpe Diem” approach looks more efficient and worked. Mr. Inamori never said that they don’t need to pursue the long-term goal. Rather, he encouraged people to set up a very challenging objective. However, those ultimate goals had been passed to his employees during communication occasions like casual drinking after work. Thus, those ultimate objectives had gradually been placed under unconscious level of each employee’s mind, according to Mr. Inamori. Once the long-term goal has been absorbed by each one’s depth in his/ her mind, all we have to do is to strive ourselves to complete daily responsibilities. If we are occupied with long term goals/ objectives sometimes those objectives so overwhelm us that we could not concentrate on our daily work. So objective should be placed somewhere in my mind and we can do our best to what we are supposed to do today. This is the best way to grow the company, as Mr. Inamori said.
Q: Can you justify the “Carpe Diem” approach is right ?
A: Of course, there is no justification of this idea: “Carpe Diem”. However, sometimes long-term strategy might be used for escaping from the reality. The solutions and keys to success should not be sought in our future but be found in our daily lives. Therefore, what we have been struggling now is the best material to think of and facing with those issues with sincere and straight-forward attitudes would be the short cut to bring you to the ultimate goal. Mr. Inamori also said that daily struggle and striving will eventually lead you to the goal you have been dreaming of. I have found them as the necessary messages to me as of today.
* Mr. Kazuo Inamori, the founder of Kyocera, KDDI (one of the top tele communication companies in Japan) and the top of revitalization project of JAL. As a well-known Japanese entrepreneur, he has been sharing his experiences and management know-how with managements of small to middle companies in Japan.