The Reality of New Business Development in Large Corporations #2: Willpower (WILL) and Its Types

Who should read this article

People who are even slightly interested in what new business development in large corporations is like
People who want to take on the challenge of new business in a large corporation
People who want to challenge themselves to build systems for generating new businesses within a large corporation

While the main themes of this note are "happiness" and "self-reflection," I would also like to write down what I have learned about new business development, where I have spent most of my career. This is the "Reality of New Business Development in Large Corporations" series.

In the previous article, I stated that in new business development within large corporations, theme owners are required to have the following three strengths:

1. Willpower (WILL)
2. Ability to involve others
3. Execution ability

https://note.com/lucid_rabbit6158/n/nc7f68e368333?sub_rt=share_b

First, I will explain more details about 1, Willpower (WILL), from the above.

What is Will?

When you hear "Will," what image comes to mind?
Many people might think of a strong desire to accomplish something or a noble figure pursuing an ideal.

However, in my opinion, the Will required for new business is not just that. It can be more ego-driven, or it can be a stubborn obsession, and that is totally fine. For example, I believe that even a desire that seems selfish at first glance, such as "I want to work in the forest," is sufficient. As long as that desire is strong.

Why Will is necessary

To begin with, the reason why Will is necessary for new business is that the path of new business development is truly tough, and you will hit various walls. Gathering teammates is not easy, and you may be denied by those around you. If you try to use company money, it is not uncommon for your boss to grill you, asking, "Why are you doing something like that?"

In such a situation, many people end up giving up as the desire they initially had is gradually worn away. That is precisely why a "strong Will" is needed to overcome those walls.

There are two types of Will

I believe there are broadly two types of Will.

1. Goal-oriented Will

2. Process-oriented Will

1 is a type of Will with a clear Vision, such as "I want to solve this problem" or "I want to realize this kind of world." For example, a desire like "I want to contribute to global warming countermeasures and leave nature for the next generation."

2 is a type where you don't have an obsession with a specific target, but you "want to accomplish something." For example, an orientation like "I want to launch some kind of new business within a large corporation" falls into this category.

Lion Type and Hyena Type

I call these two types "Lion-type talent" and "Hyena-type talent" respectively (you could also call them Leader-type and Supporter-type).

As the name suggests, the Lion type has strong individual power and is the type that pulls the team along. However, if a Lion type has mediocre vision-building or leadership skills, they can end up isolated, so strong skills and determination are necessary for survival.

On the other hand, while the Hyena type might be a bit unreliable on their own, they have strengths in team collaboration. In terms of a startup, this is like the position of a COO (Chief Operating Officer) supporting the CEO.

My hypothesis is that it is difficult to launch a new business without at least one Lion-type talent on the team. The Will possessed by a Lion type can include a clear vision, or it can include a strong obsession with "wanting to implement this technology in society no matter what."

Conversely, even if you build a team consisting only of process-oriented Hyena-type talent, it is often difficult to break through when hitting a wall. The reason is that many Hyena types will easily change direction if they feel that "this theme is not viable." In a sense, this is natural because Hyena-type talent places importance on the process and the experience gained from it. Of course, this can also be called flexibility, but their obsession with the vision they want to achieve is inevitably not as strong as that of the Lion type.

Since it is rare for a new business to proceed smoothly, the difficulty level increases significantly when trying to overcome obstacles if there are only Hyena types.

This is not a discussion about "which is better," but rather a discussion about the differences in types.

Action guidelines for each talent type

If you are a Lion type, it is effective to put forward a strong vision, generate empathy, and gather allies.

So, what should a Hyena-type person do when they think, "I want to do a new business!"?

It boils down to this: "don't push yourself too hard alone". I believe the best approach is to prioritize building a team from the start, and if possible, find a Lion-type person and take on a role that supports them.

You might hear voices saying, "Isn't that just running away?" but I don't think so. Even if you force yourself to act like a lion, things often don't go well. I believe that hyenas can survive longer if they choose a way of life that suits them.

In other words, if you want to try a new business, it is best to first determine which of the above types you are and take action accordingly.

In my case, I thought I was a lion, but while working on new businesses, I realized I was a hyena!

In the next article, I will discuss the power of involvement.