"Develop a Habit of Learning, Not Escaping: A Message for Young ProfessionalsWho Truly Want to Grow"

Hello, this is Yo. The weather is finally starting to feel like autumn in Japan. 

Recently, while having a brainstorming session with Yutaka,one of my CEO Office member who recently got assigned to this role, I felt inspired to write a message to the young professionals in their 20s and 30s who has a promising future ahead of them. So, that's the theme for today.

Yutaka is in his early 30s who has recently joined the CEO's office as an assistant. He bravely volunteered for this new internal position called "CEO Assistant," which we introduced for the first time this year.

He has a background in university rugby and spends his weekends coaching high school students.  He has strong ideas about "mentoring juniors," and our conversations have taught me a lot as well.

When I asked him about the current high school students, he said, "Since they live in an era where they have access to diverse information, they often don't know what the 'right answer' is and tend to quickly seek it from others." That made a lot of sense to me.

With so many options available, it's natural to feel confused or anxious about finding the quickest and most certain path to success. I remember searching for the right answers myself when I was younger (and to be honest, I still strive to find the right answers every day).

However, through various failures and trial-and-error experiences, I've come to realize something important. There is no absolute right answer anywhere. Or rather, there might be, but the criteria for what is considered "right" can vary and change over time. Therefore, an absolute, unchanging right answer probably doesn't exist.

Instead of constantly seeking the right answer, adopting the mindset of "making the path you choose the right one" seems to increase the likelihood of success and breakthroughs. The challenging part here is identifying "what path you want to take" and developing the skills to "make your chosen path the right one."

If you have the mindset of searching for a potentially existing right answer, you might end up making decisions based on short-term gains and losses, often opting for the easier and simpler route. Additionally, you might become overly concerned with how others perceive you, leading you to avoid facing the most crucial question: "What do I truly want to be?"

Sometimes, I see people who, with just a bit more effort and perseverance, could seize the next big opportunity right where they are. Instead, they keep changing jobs and end up stalling their growth. I often think, "What a waste!"

Especially when you're young, it might be hard to feel like you're making progress. But looking back on my own experiences, I realize that it was during the tough times, the challenging moments, and the periods when I had to grit my teeth, is when I truly grew stronger.

For instance, when I was 28, I transferred from Sony's accounting department to the CEO's office at Monex, Inc. I was inspired by the founder, Mr. Oki Matsumoto's grand vision of transforming the financial markets. At that time, Monex was a small company with only about 40 employees, and I was the sole member of the CEO's office. I knew nothing about management or finance, and every day was a struggle.

I would jot down the specialized terms used by Mr. Matsumoto and the management team, and then I would go home and look them up to keep up. Those days were exhausting, but the experience of seeing things from a CEO's perspective has been invaluable to me.

So, if I were to give advice to a young person who genuinely wants to grow, I would say, "Jump into the most challenging environment available to you." And, "Don't run away; stick it out until you achieve results."

Even if the grass seems greener on the other side and you feel like escaping, I believe you'll come out stronger after overcoming tough situations. 

In business, I’ve learned over the years that "trust" is one of the most important assets Who would you trust more: someone who only takes on easy tasks or someone who tackles difficult challenges and sees them through to the end? The answer is obvious.

To complete difficult tasks, you'll need to think creatively, seek help from others, and probably study specialized materials. This means your efforts will increase significantly, leading to natural growth. It's through this grueling process, where you struggle and strive, that you build real skills.

Moreover, those who face and overcome difficult challenges without running away earn the trust of those around them and attract even more exciting opportunities. This creates a fast-paced cycle of growth.

The skills you develop in managing stress and overcoming tough situations will also serve as invaluable tools throughout your life.

In addition to the points I've mentioned, the process of putting in effort helps you develop various essential skills such as being attuned to information, negotiation abilities, persistence, cultural knowledge, charm, and building connections. These elements collectively form a comprehensive skill set that is indispensable for achieving results in business.

I believe this comprehensive skill set is the key to solving the complex problems that arise in the business world. That's my hypothesis.

Of course, working for a toxic company is out of the question, but if you can choose an environment that allows you to stretch your abilities while also considering measures to prevent overwork, I strongly recommend you go for it.

And one more important thing! 

During tough times, it's crucial to keep laughing.

People are naturally drawn to those who laugh and seem to be enjoying themselves, and this positive energy spreads to those around them.

Especially for leaders, it's essential to keep smiling during difficult times. If a leader always has a stern face, it becomes hard for team members to share their honest opinions, and eventually, bad news stops coming their way, which blinds them to the truth.

Looking at the senior executives I respect, I notice that the more challenging the situation, the more they laugh and say, "It's tough, isn't it?" while keeping their eyes forward. 

There's a saying, "Fortune comes to a laughing gate," but I imagine that behind those smiles and laughters, they are seriously worried and anxious. Recently, a young leader who attended a meeting with external directors for the first time remarked with an impressed expression afterward, "I thought people with such extensive experience and impressive titles wouldn't have doubts, but they actually do struggle and worry." This comment left a strong impression on me.

No matter the age, the most inspiring people are always pushing themselves, learning, growing, and laughing through it all.

I hope to continue meeting such inspiring mentors and colleagues, and I aspire to be like them myself. I'll do my best to avoid anyone saying, "Tsuji, aren't you slacking off?" (laughs).