The 'If You Don't Quit, You'll Remain' Equation for Idols and Business [What I Learned from TYPRO]
Actually, I love idol audition shows. It all started when I watched Nizi Project, where NiziU was born. At that time, I was just starting to think about starting my own business, and it was a shock to see people nearly 10 years younger than me sincerely practicing:
・
Am I good at singing?・Am I good at dancing?・So-and-so is good at managing their expressions!
・How can I get better?
Their dedication overlapped with my own situation, as I was thinking about:
・What can I do?
・What am I actually good at?・What should I polish?
・Who should I learn business from?
In audition shows, I love the human drama—seeing someone I thought
would definitely make it
get eliminated in the final round, or seeing a dark horse emerge halfway through. Every time I watch these shows, I feel like there are so many similarities to business. The audition shows I've watched so far include: ・Nizi Project ・Nizi Project 2 ・A2K (VCHA) ・I-LAND ・R U Next? ・Boys Planet ・Girls Planet 999 ・iCON Z (both male and female) ・Produce 101 Japan The Girls ・No No Girls ・TYPRO. I've watched these quite thoroughly. Looking at this list, I've watched quite a lot. lol (I might have forgotten some 😂). Besides these, I've watched a bit of Queendom, Who is Princess, BabyMonster, and XG's YouTube content. There were times when I was busy starting my business and couldn't watch some shows, but regardless, I'm the type to get hooked on audition shows. Since I don't have a TV at home, the fact that online streaming is the mainstream is a win for me. In a word, Mnet is the best. Well, simply put, I'm a survival show geek.
Where Idols and Business Overlap
'Working hard doesn't always mean things will go well'
I'm in my fourth year of running my company, and just because I worked incredibly hard doesn't mean that things will go well or that revenue will increase accordingly. That's not the case. Well, of course, it's better than not trying at all, but... Whether it's tension, luck, compatibility with the other party, or a combination of everything, I don't know what it is, but often things go well when I finally relax and a tailwind comes along. Audition shows are the same. The contestants who tense up and say,
'I'll be the leader!'
usually end up spinning their wheels, and things often don't go well from the moment they decide positions. (Many of you have probably seen this scene!) Conversely, I think it's often the case that when someone who isn't tense becomes the leader, they can manage the team better and lead the practice more effectively. This is truly similar to "working in a team". No matter how hard I try on my own, if the people around me aren't on board, nothing will go well. In survival shows, if an inexperienced candidate tries to stand out too much on their own, it doesn't work.
People follow experience and the tolerance that experience creates.
An attitude of acting while thinking about others, not just yourself, while still being meritocratic and fulfilling your role properly. The fact that it connects to such an incredibly ideal work philosophy is why I watch these shows while relating them to myself.
The 'If You Don't Quit, You'll Remain' Equation
I think this is also quite similar; as long as you don't quit, chances will come around again.
For example, let's say your favorite contestant unfortunately gets eliminated from a major audition. It's very disappointing, and at the time, it's frustrating (I even feel it for them), but because their name is already known when they challenge the next audition show, it becomes an advantage, or they might be called to join a group being formed elsewhere.
As long as you don't give up, there is a chance.
Also, even if they pass that audition, whether the debut group does well (sells) is a completely different story, and years later, there are many times when I think,
'Oh, I'm glad my favorite didn't debut here.' It's common for groups to go on hiatus immediately or for people to wonder what that audition was even for. Therefore, where your flower will bloom is largely a matter of luck, and it's meant to be that the flower will bloom in the right place
for that child. And as long as you make the right efforts and don't give up, the flower will definitely bloom in some form. (Chanmina-san said something similar, didn't she? I burst into tears during that scene 😂)
A female entrepreneur I respect also said this.
Questioner: '○○-san, why have you been able to survive in the business world this far?' Entrepreneur: 'I just kept going, and the people around me disappeared on their own.'
It's really true. Because everyone gives up and disappears on their own. The people who keep going are the ones who win in the end.
The type of person I love
What I like even more are the kids who don't give up even after failing an audition show twice. Especially with major shows, because the expectations of family and friends and the voices on social media are so loud, the fact that they
"failed" must cause a lot of mental stress. If it were me, I might not be able to endure the eyes of others. I'd worry about my age, too. Thinking, 'Maybe I'm not cut out for this.' But the fact that they can challenge it for a third time, not just once or twice, is something I really love about their
'power to believe in themselves'
and
'tenacity and grit'. In business, too, don't get discouraged just because one or two things didn't go well?! On the contrary, why do you think you should be successful enough to be satisfied after just a few tries!
Try your best one more time, me. (I say this while patting my own shoulder...)
Everyone is so young, yet they are amazing. I'll do my best too. But above all, their parents are amazing too. Parents are amazing!! I look at them with respect.
In the end, people are attracted to the story of the process, not the result.
And I can't forget Teranishi-kun from TYPRO!
I'm watching TYPRO now, and I'm sure many of you are nervous waiting for the final results to be announced on the 15th. Watching the teenage candidates, I think, 'Being young is amazing,' 'They change so fast,' and 'The potential!' while being impressed, I can't help but think,
I can't help but be interested in Teranishi-kun!
I'm probably the same age as Teranishi-kun, and I can't help but think,
'He must have had many frustrating experiences until now'. Aiming to be an idol, joining an agency, seeing his peers debut first, never forming a group himself, seeing his juniors debut, and yet still carving out his own path, continuing to persist even when there's trouble at the company... I'm not a fan who has followed Teranishi-kun for many years, so from the fans' perspective, I'm sure there is even more charm that words cannot express. (Please tell me! 🙏🏻) The important thing is, above all,
'not quitting'.
If you don't quit, the spotlight will come around at your own proper time.
I feel like Teranishi-kun knows this and is teaching it to us.
Surely, behind this audition, there are many people who couldn't debut as they wanted and quit due to various issues at the company, and I hope they are spending their time wonderfully on a different path, but if you have your own dreams and things you want to do, don't quit. If you keep going, the people around you will quit on their own. I feel this is a survival equation in a competitive society. Surely, there must have been many painful and sad things until now. And the fact that those who have experienced painful and sad things are
'kind-hearted' is also similar to business. Many people who have been successful from the start and are riding high don't understand other people's feelings. (Of course, there are kind people too!) The humanity and tolerance born from the experience of setbacks are painful when you are going through them, but looking at life in the long run, I feel they are an absolute strength. Whether you look at yourself macroscopically or microscopically. Where are you now? 'I am always in the middle of success'
I believe that having this mindset is the equation for success in both idols and business.
Summary
There are many audition shows these days, and there are quite a few similarities between idols and business perspectives, so there is a lot to learn.
Popular audition shows in particular always have clever features to make the show itself a successful business, such as being 'participatory' or 'voting-based,' and"Money gathers where people gather"is a good perspective to cultivate from these shows.
I also like watching audition shows from various perspectives, so please let me know your thoughts too...♡
Let's keep going with the things we want to achieve results in.
Everyone is prone to getting bored.
That is why I keep going.
This is the survival equation in a competitive society.
*Postscript
Congratulations, Teranishi-kun...!