Conceive optimistically, plan pessimistically, and execute optimistically [Kazuo Inamori #QuoteNote 58]

The quote I would like to introduce this time is as follows!

• Conceive optimistically:

When taking on something new, it is important to first set goals optimistically with dreams and hopes of how you want things to be.

• Plan pessimistically:

At the planning stage, you must anticipate every possible problem and think through countermeasures carefully.

• Execute optimistically:

At the execution stage, you are required to proceed with confidence, optimism, and a positive attitude.

Who said it

Kazuo Inamori was a Japanese businessman and engineer born in 1932. He passed away in 2022 at the age of 90. His life and achievements were wide-ranging, and he is referred to as the "God of Management."

What kind of person was he?

Kazuo Inamori's life can truly be described as "eventful." However, each time he faced challenges, he kept the universal question of "what is the right thing to do as a human being" in his heart, and he continued to work sincerely and diligently. The unique management philosophy born from that experience continues to provide guidance to many people even today.

• Childhood to Student Days (1932–1955)

  • 1932 (Showa 7): Born in Kagoshima City. The second son of seven children.

  • Childhood: Although he had a crybaby personality, he became a ringleader after entering elementary school and learned leadership within the children's society.

  • Failed Middle School Entrance Exam: He took the entrance exam for Kagoshima First Middle School, considered the most prestigious in Kagoshima, but failed. From this time on, a "life of continuous setbacks" began.

  • Illness and Reading: He contracted pulmonary infiltration, an early symptom of tuberculosis, and while in his sickbed, he read "The Reality of Life" by Masaharu Taniguchi, the founder of Seicho-no-Ie, which had a major influence on his outlook on life.

  • Family Home Burned Down in Air Raid: His family home was burned down during an air raid in World War II.

  • Working Through School and Peddling: To help the family finances, he experienced peddling paper bags manufactured by his father.

  • University Education and Job Scarcity: He graduated from the Department of Applied Chemistry, Faculty of Engineering at Kagoshima University. It was a time of job scarcity, and it was particularly difficult for graduates of newly established universities.

• Early Career to Founding Kyocera (1955–1959)

  • 1955: Joined Matsukaze Kogyo, an insulator manufacturer in Kyoto.

  • Difficult environment: The company was in an unstable management situation due to labor disputes. He felt dissatisfied with an environment far from his ideals, including delayed salary payments.

  • Considering a career change to the Self-Defense Forces: He briefly considered joining the Self-Defense Forces, but gave up on the idea due to his brother's opposition.

  • Immersion in research: Even in an underprivileged environment, he forgot to eat and sleep while immersing himself in the research of ceramics he was assigned. During this time, as a fine ceramics engineer, he achieved significant results, such as being the first in Japan to succeed in synthesizing forsterite.

  • Conflict over policy and resignation: Clashed with his supervisor over technical development policy.

  • 1959: Resigned from Matsukaze Kogyo, taking colleagues with him. With the support of his former supervisor and acquaintances, he established **Kyoto Ceramic Co., Ltd. (now Kyocera Corporation)** with a capital of 3 million yen. He was 27 years old at the time of founding.

• Growth of Kyocera and the Establishment of Amoeba Management (1959–1980s)

  • 1961: Following collective bargaining by high school graduate employees, he keenly realized the importance of establishing a management philosophy.

  • Establishment of Amoeba Management: Devised and implemented "Amoeba Management," in which the company is divided into small groups, each operating under an independent accounting system. This instilled a management mindset in every employee and drove Kyocera's phenomenal growth.

  • Becoming a World-Class Leading Company: With fine ceramics as the core, he expanded the business into semiconductors, electronic components, finished products, and systems, developing the company into one of the world's leading enterprises.

• Founding of DDI (now KDDI) and Social Activities (1980s–)

  • 1983: Established "Seiwajyuku," a private school aimed at fostering young entrepreneurs. He served as the school principal without compensation, influencing many business leaders.

  • 1984: Upon the liberalization of the telecommunications industry, he founded **DDI (now KDDI)**. He contributed to the development of telecommunications infrastructure in Japan.

  • 1984: Invested his personal assets to establish the Inamori Foundation. He created the "Kyoto Prize," an international award honoring those who have contributed to the development of science, technology, and spiritual civilization.

• Reconstruction of Japan Airlines (JAL) and later years (2010s–2022)

  • 2010: At the government's request, he assumed the position of Chairman of the bankrupt Japan Airlines (JAL) without compensation.

  • The JAL Miracle: He successfully reconstructed JAL in just three years, leading it to re-list on the stock exchange in 2012.

  • 2015: Appointed as Honorary Advisor to JAL.

  • 2019: Seiwajyuku closed.

  • August 24, 2022: Passed away at the age of 90.

Summary

The quote I introduced this time was this one!

I often see this used as a slogan in the form of "Long-term optimism, short-term pessimism".

In the workplace, for big concepts like projects, people tend to say, "Let's take on the challenge with a positive attitude!" but when it comes to actual work, they often say, "Let's check carefully to avoid mistakes!"

I have always thought... "Should I go boldly or handle things carefully? Aren't both correct in the end?" but I found clarity after encountering this quote by Kazuo Inamori.

Yes, pessimistic planning (caution at the practical level) and optimistic action (boldness at the conception and execution stages) are completely different things. It is often said that work is "80% preparation, 20% execution," and I think it is correct to interpret this as: spend 80% of the preparation stage carefully crafting things to ensure there are no mistakes, and once it's time for the presentation or execution, just act boldly!

Conversely, if you prepare half-heartedly with an optimistic "it'll work out somehow" spirit, and then execute pessimistically thinking "I prepared this half-heartedly, will it be okay...", it seems like you would fail even if things were going well...

• Pessimism and optimism coexist in work. In fact, they must.

• Be pessimistic in the short term, and optimistic in the long term

I thought this was a wonderful guideline that can be applied to anyone, whether you are naturally an optimistic type or a pessimistic type at heart. It is a mindset I want to keep in mind at all times in my future work.

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