Author: Satoru Hirose

 

Explore your potential.
可能性を求めよう。

 

In business, we need to get permission for our work from our customers so as to get paid for it. If our work doesn’t meet their expectation, we’ll get in trouble.

But it doesn’t mean that we always need to ask our customers for permission. If we did, we most likely wouldn’t be able to “wow” our customers with our innovative and creative work. And if our customers just want us to follow their instructions, they don’t see us as a professional; what they are looking for is just an operator, someone who always do what he or she is told to do.

The same applies to our life. Our life is not a reflection of someone’s permission or expectation — unless we choose to live our life as someone’s substitute. If we choose to live our own life, it is our responsibility to develop ourselves and become capable of “wowing” others with our work. It’s definitely NOT easier than asking others for permission; but it is the only way to discover our true potential.

No one knows your true potential yet. Even you don’t recognize what you will be capable of, no matter how old you are now. Don’t limit yourself to permission or expectation of others — as well as your own one. Our life is to explore possibilities and new ways of being our true self — until the very last minute.

 

 

Be healthy.
健康でいよう。

 

I’m not feeling well since last night. I have a fever. I’m going to my doctor from now — if I got the flu or something, my schedule for this week would completely change.

Being sick reminds us of the importance of being healthy, and makes us realize that being healthy itself is an opportunity — that we often overlook.

When you get sick, don’t beat yourself. Take it as an opportunity as well. It gives you a chance to be grateful for your mind and body.

 

 

Endurance matters.
忍耐が大事。

 

Yesterday I heard one of Japanese professional wrestler said: “Your muscle and friends will not betray you.” I found his view very interesting, although I don’t fully agree with him.

Our friends would betray us, especially when we desperately need them. But our muscle — that is, the outcome of the weight training that requires your continuous effort and self-discipline for years — is something we can always rely on.

You might say, “Wait, dude. Our muscle can easily atrophy if we don’t use it, say for two weeks. How could it be something we can always count on?”

You’re right. Our muscle can easily atrophy. But the experience and confidence we gained through years of hard trainings are our intangible asset and will not easily disappear. Because of that, we can feel we can do it again — even when we lose everything, including our friends.

Don’t underestimate the value of what you have kept doing with an effort and patience. You can get stronger at every moment of every day, even while you do the job you don’t like.

 

 

Make things.
モノを創ろう。

 

If you doubt yourself, make things. Writing, cooking, singing a song, even doodling on a piece of paper — anything goes. You’ll know you are still capable of creating something from scratch.

It doesn’t matter if you’re good at it or not. After all, we’re all novices at the beginning. So is an expert. A unique talent is not given; it is to be developed from raw materials within us.

Recognize that each one of us is a creative creature — without exception. Don’t be afraid of being creative. Make things every single day.

 

 

Save yourself.
自分を救おう。

 

Let’s face it: we don’t always like our job especially if we’re employed. There is always something annoying that makes us feel drained — our boss, co-workers, abusive clients, company culture and politics, or pay level — you name it. We need to recharge our batteries before these things completely make us burned-out.

Meet your close friends, read books, go to a museum, listen to live music, get surrounded by nature — as long as it relieves and inspires you, anything goes.

If you’re too busy to do any of these things, you need to start changing something — before your job literally kills you or your mind. You can change your job, but your life is irreplaceable.