To Scale or to Profit: The Business Philosophy of Japanese Management Master, Konosuke Matsushita, Who Built Two World 500 Companies

Author: Long Zhao
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2003-01-01
Features: As a Fortune 500 company, Kyocera Corporation is not well-known, let alone its president, Kazuo Inamori. Yet it was him who, in just 40 years, single-handedly founded two Fortune 500 companies. What Kazuo Inamori left for the world is not merely two Fortune 500 companies, but more importantly, the spiritual sustenance that allowed these two large corporate groups to succeed and continue to grow—Kyocera Philosophy. In today’s rampant materialism, the "art of making money," whether good or bad, has a broad social market. The mentality of seeking quick gains makes people indifferent to the decline of social morality and the erosion of traditional justice. The desire for sudden wealth has made people increasingly numb to the alienation of human nature and the loss of conscience. So, if you try to tell people that the success of a business requires an excellent philosophy, you may be sneered at or even laughed at. However, in a capitalism depicted as a "dog-eat-dog" money-driven system, Kazuo Inamori’s outstanding practices and achievements prove that this is not "a fairy tale." Indeed. Due to the stark contrast reflected by the harsh realities of today’s society, many people may find the philosophy advocated by Kazuo Inamori too profound and overly idealistic. To promote serious philosophical practice in the face of modern human indulgence and excess seems somewhat naive. But for Kazuo Inamori, it is precisely in this idealism and naivety that there lies a precious pursuit of belief, the elevation of pure heart, and the approach toward a fulfilling human nature—these far surpass the life of being obsessed with petty gains, indulging in sensual pleasures, being satiated with food and drink, or being intoxicated by wealth and luxury. Clearly, in a turbid and turbulent reality, adhering to the right path of humanity does not necessarily mean following the crowd. Maintaining a noble human nature requires the spirit of "remaining pure amidst filth." This applies not only to individuals but also to businesses. Kyocera Philosophy drives such a massive company forward. How profound it is—Kyocera Group and KDDI Group’s performance is proof, and it will continue to be proof. This book presents Kazuo Inamori’s arguments on business, summarizing the "Six Refinements": Strive to exert more effort than anyone else, must guard against arrogance and complacency, must reflect on oneself every day, always be grateful for life and the present, accumulate virtue, and avoid emotional troubles.