Work as if you are playing, set precedents, and provide the unexpected [Book: The New Elite: People Who Create New Value to Change the World]

An era of change comparable to the Industrial Revolution: The future of 'work'

We are currently living in an era of significant change, comparable to the Industrial Revolution.

The core of future work will be the era of the creative economy where people who create new value from scratch thrive. In this era, it is not just diligence or the amount of knowledge that is required, but passion, creativity, and initiative.

The changes in how we work can be summarized as follows:
Work 1.0 (Production Economy): Diligence and obedience
Work 2.0 (Knowledge Economy): Intelligence and expertise
Work 3.0 (Creative Economy): Passion, creativity, and initiative

From now on, whether you are a bureaucrat or a company employee, everyone will need to possess an 'entrepreneurial spirit.' It is an era that demands not just fulfilling assigned roles, but also the attitude of raising questions yourself and creating value.

Furthermore, it will be a world where 'what you want to achieve' comes before 'where you belong.' It is an era where you decide where to work and where to belong based on what you want to do.

For example, in Estonia, the digitalization of government and private sectors has advanced to the point where even foreigners can become virtual residents through online applications alone, allowing them to establish companies and proceed with various procedures. The very nature of the state is changing.

The talent that leads the era is the person who creates the 'world they want to see' themselves. For instance, Google Arts & Culture is an extension of the ideas born from the culture of the '20% rule,' where employees can use a portion of their working hours for free projects.

The soil of Japan and work as self-realization

Japan is a developed country and also a nation with a market capable of turning cultural activities into income.

Even if they are not necessarily producers or artisans, there are people whose jobs involve critiquing Kabuki or kimonos and conveying culture. Work related to culture has the power to reach people's hearts and souls and create 'inspiration.'

Perhaps Japanese society originally possessed a culture that made it easy to achieve self-realization in daily life. Could it be that this was just temporarily obscured by a career perspective centered on large corporations?

It seems that Japan is heading once again toward a 'society that pursues self-realization in daily life.'

In that sense, isn't an ideal job one that: ・Allows you to feel elements of self-realization ・Allows you to take pride in your output ・Allows you to enjoy the process itself

is work?

Ultimately, regardless of whether you earn money or not, any 'act of providing value to the world' is work. Having the value you provided accepted and appreciated by someone leads to self-realization.

Common traits of people who create value

People who will hold value from now on are those who: ・Can solve major problems ・Can build communities ・Provide value to society ・Have many sympathizers and supporters

What is important is the attitude of wishing to make the 'value you give' greater than the 'value you receive'.

A single book can change a person's life. That is precisely why it is important to adopt an attitude of sharing knowledge and experience rather than hoarding them.

When learning from others, do not just engage in small talk; ask deep, probing questions as if you were conducting an interview.

"Why did you start that job?" "Childhood experiences," "Values," "Setbacks," and "Mission"—dig deep into the background that shapes a life.

When meeting successful people, do not just ask "what they did," but also ask "why they made those decisions" and "why they failed."

Furthermore, people who continue to learn have common traits:
• Striving to ensure that meeting you is a learning experience for the other person
• Sharing what you have learned instead of keeping it to yourself
• Taking on the role of connecting people

Solving the world's problems creates the next economy

From now on, it will be an era where not only nations but also private companies solve global issues.

For example, SpaceX significantly changed space development, which was once led by the state. Since 2006, while building a cooperative relationship with NASA, they realized reusable rockets and dramatically reduced launch costs.

What is important is not just technical capability, but overwhelming speed in decision-making.
An era has begun where solving global issues drives human progress.

Refine your intuition and decide based on your own values

Important life decisions cannot be made by logic alone.

Whether in love or work, you rarely "fall in love because you analyzed it." Sometimes, your intuition tells you what is truly the right choice for you.

However, final decisions should be made in a "calm state." Decisions made under stress or fatigue often lead to errors in judgment.

To improve the accuracy of your intuition, accumulate small failures. And increase the stimulation in your daily life.

For example:
• Try keeping foreign books around
• Display paintings
• Go to new places

Such small changes nurture your sensibilities.

Toward an era where "those who enjoy working win"

In future work, the "feeling of utilizing your abilities" will become important.
Achieving results in areas outside your main job, such as side businesses, hobbies, or creative activities, brings confidence to your main job as well.

People who create value by crossing boundaries rather than separating work and hobbies are strong.
Reinvest your hobbies into your business, and reinvest the lessons learned in business into your hobbies.

It is an era where "people who play seriously" will, as a result, be less likely to be weeded out in their work.

The Future of Leadership and Teams

True leadership is not about intimidation or management, but about being attentive and drawing out the strengths of others so they can work comfortably.

High-quality small talk is born from high-quality questions. And self-disclosure builds trust within a team.

For people to work happily, the following process is necessary.

1. Self-awareness
2. Self-disclosure
3. Self-expression
4. Self-actualization
5. Self-efficacy

Companies, too, need to shift their thinking from "employees exist for the sake of the company" to "the company exists for the sake of the employees' self-actualization."

To envision the world of 2050

Finally, I would like to ask myself these questions.

1. What is your passion?
2. What is the world you want to see (Vision)?
3. What is your mission?
4. What is your ambition?
5. Who are the people who support you (Supporters)?

And,
- What do I want to gain through my work?
- Why is that important?
- What is "good work" to me?
- Why did I choose my current job?
- What are my strengths?
- How can those around me support me?
Re-examine these questions.

You cannot see the future without looking back at the past. You need to organize what you feel and learn each day while painting the future you truly want to see.