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Get a reality check.
本当かどうか確かめよう。

 

Perhaps you believe you don’t lie to yourself. What we need to check is that, however, our brain often creates a false story about others and tries to make us believe the story.

When someone smiles at you, you might think that person sneers at you. When someone says something out loud (so that you can easily hear), you might think that person yells at you.

Such a false storytelling can destroy someone’s good intent as well as a healthy relationship. Before doubting someone, doubt the story your brain creates.

 

 

Spell other’s name right.
人の名前は正しく書こう。

 

When I worked for a Japanese manufacturing company, I had a boss who always wrote my name incorrectly. My last name, Hirose, is written in Kanji as 廣世, but he wrote it as 広瀬. These Kanji characters have the same pronunciation but different meanings. He never wrote it right while I worked under him—for seven years and six months.

You may think it’s because Kanji characters are complicated (even though my ex-boss is Japanese), but people spell my name wrong in alphabet as well. When I worked for American/British companies, people in the U.S./U.K. headquarter often spelled my first name as SATURO—although SATORU is the correct spelling.

I used to feel insulted when other people spelled my name wrong. Now that I never feel that way—I just see it as a lack of interest and attention. It just tells a lot about the person who spelled other’s name wrong. And more importantly, it’s not my problem; it’s someone else’s problem. I’m busy fixing my own problems and becoming a better person day by day.

 

 

Answer strong.
力強く答えよう。

 

No one cares about you if your idea is not crazy enough.

Especially when you start your own business. Even if you’re capable of saving this world and willing to do anything for it. Everyone is busy with their own agendas, and they don’t even notice you’re there.

Challenge people’s belief, and let them pose skeptical questions. Chances are, if you stay crazy enough and answer strong, people begin to recognize you.

 

 

Always be strong.
いつも強くいよう。

 

Especially in a business environment, not everyone is supportive—even when you work really hard. Even your boss doesn’t always care about you.

That happened to me a long time ago. My boss ignored me entirely, and it really hurt me. At that time I was not mentally strong enough, and I quit the job. That was a bad decision, because I completely missed the opportunity to be much stronger during tough times.

Everything happening to you is an opportunity. Stay strong, and never give up.

 

 

Take a walk.
散歩しよう。

 

Many creative geniuses in the history loved walking outside. Taking a walk was an essential part of their creative process.

You don’t always have to be purposeful while taking a walk. Just relax, feel the air, and see everything with a fresh eye. Quite often, that’s exactly what you need.