Stop Shrinking Thinking. 5 ways to a new mindset

I read the article " Is Japan a Dying Nation" by Robin Lustig a couple days ago...and it saddened me.

Japan is like a genius child in many ways. In some areas (manufacturing, the rebuild after WW2, electronics) brilliant and to be admired and in other ways under-developed. 

I always preface when I write this way about Japan that I love the country and its people and I always will but this must be said and I know that it is just not me thinking this way or other foreigners thinking this way. Many of my Japanese friends and associates think this way too.

I am not sure though that Japan can save itself. Why do I feel this way? It is mainly frustration I guess. I think Japan is stuck and for all the talk of change and globalization, it is just not being done on a large enough scale and at the appropriate levels to really make a difference. 

Japan is a country that does not handles change very well and leaves things until they reach crisis level. Unfortunately it does not handles crisis very well either. So where does that leave them?

I remember the years that I lived in Osaka and all the talk of internationalism—‘Osaka is international’, they were always saying. Empty words. While in Osaka on business last year for 2 months, I realized that Osaka is no more international today that it was 15 years ago. No matter how many international hotel chains or amusement parks are present. Why? Why is Osaka not like Tokyo? It is because of the mindset.

Tradition has its place but you build on tradition, not have it as your only tool and use it as an excuse to not move forward. What is new today will be tomorrow's tradition.

Japan should stop playing catch-up and jump in with both feet--play their own game. Japan needs to lead, not follow. Change needs to come to Japan, just like it has to America.

How to do that? That is a good question and there is no one answer but to ask is the first step and to accept that we are in a whole new world is to be in the right mindset to start figuring it out.

I heard that a ex-high level Japanese government official in describing the current membership a Japanese organization in the U.S. said (and this is a paraphrase) "it is made up of old white men”. Not completely true but enough so. 

The same can be said of Japan-US business in general except it is old white men and old Japanese men from the 70s and 80s running business that needs to get into the 2000s.

5 Ways to a New Mindset

1.) Japan needs to think of itself in a new way—it is a global power—so its time to FULLY accept the title and run with it. Some signs of this already happening--lots of M&A activity by large and mid-sized Japanese firms in the past year or so. Now take it a step farther. Don’t just buy the companies, get up in there and run them too. Be an integral part of things.

2.)  Revamp the education system – rote learning is out. You need thinkers so start teaching the few children that people are having to think.

3.)  Adult education should become a boom business –re-educate, that is the only way that people in their 30s and 40s and 50s are going to be able to survive going forward.

4.) For all the ceos out there of Japanese companies—stop just listening to the same old same old consulting companies. Time to inject some new blood, new thinking, new ideas into your companies.

And when a smart small business owner has the guts to create something new and is trying to do something different—at least take one hour out of your busy schedule and meet with them. You never know when and where the next big idea will come from. Take a chance, please. Now more than ever it the time to try new ideas.

5.) Where do you need to be in 5 years? Figure it out now and start implementing today otherwise it will be too late. Design your company's future now but with new tools.

I will keep putting my thoughts out there on this. If you have any of good merit, write in and I will be happy to post them.

Comments

[Jay]

Japan right now is probably in a better situation than the United States. But that aside I think many businesses here in the US need to get out of that mindset as well. I have heard many because of the economic downturn just complain instead of looking for opportunities. I told many friends who lost jobs to take a chance at starting a business since they could not find a job but they said they do not want the risk. In my opinion the real risk is not trying to better your life.

[Yvonne]

Jay, thanks so much for commenting and for your thoughts.

You are absolutely right. I feel that it is especially in times like these that there is great opportunities. I will be launching a new venture soon to assist smaller Jpnse and US businesses in doing business together. I encourage all to not only think out of the ebox in these times, but to forget about the box period.

[Minneapolis Web Design]

I love the title, but I have not seen evidence that Japan is doing better that the US. All of my Japanese friends are in desperate jobs or cannot even find one.

[Yvonne]

Dear MWD,
Thanks for writing in. They are in some ways and not in others. The thing is the new conversation that needs to be happening is not on a large enough scale.

Maybe those friends won;t be able to find a job, so they are to create a nwe one for themselves or the ones in desperate jobs need to take that core skill and tweak it into something else. I feel there is no more waiting for a job--its about creation these days. That what I am doing and hoping to inspire others to do.

Thanks,
Yvonne

[ppc campaign management]

I love the arcticle! Great insights. I visited Japan a few years ago and I really enjoyed it. They still use quite a few old school techniques in society but as a whole I think the country functions great, the whole economic crisis probably changed the place dramatically but considering they are part of the economic heart they should be just fine.

[jack1]

thanks for this article,but for my point of view i thank japan can be better than usa in finding job

[Custom logo designers]

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[Jual Tanah Murah]

Good article. I agree, with Japan is a country that does not handles change very well and leaves things until they reach crisis level. Unfortunately it does not handles crisis very well either. i think, that's true!

[Yvonne]

Jual,

Thanks for writing in. As always, whatever I say is in an effort to look at what is there, say what I think AND encourage the change and actions I know Japan is capable of and to support Japanese who want to see these changes and need support.