“Continuous Improvement” using this Japanese Philosophy
Today I want to talk about Kaizen.
From the Japanese word for “change for the better”, it’s common use means…
“Continuous Improvement”
Now, originally the idea comes from a Japanese philosophy on productivity, but this doesn’t capture its full spirit…
What it really means, as explained by Masaaki Imai (the founder of the Kaizen
Institute) is…
‘A Tremendous Commitment to Self-Discipline’
One thing 2020 taught us is every day brings with it new challenges….
And with those new challenges come new opportunities to improve.
Both to improve how we approach common everyday problems that come up over and over again…
And how we deal with those bigger obstacles we may or may not see coming.
Adopting Kaizen means keeping an eye out for better more efficient ways to do things…
And it can be used not only at work, but at home too.
Doing this — figuring out better, more efficient, and more effective ways to get things done — lets you have a better sense of ownership over what you accomplish every day.
See — its this sense of accomplishment, of making progress in our personal and professional lives, that helps keep us motivated and moving forward.
It’s something that we have really worked hard at, and over time it’s become what we’re all about.
It helps us to continuously look toward the future, and it helps us get better at everything we do…
In our business — continually overdelivering on the value we provide to people like you…
With our Youth Fund — striving to help youth development through martial arts…
And as part of a tribe — helping enthusiasts tap their true potential through martial arts.
That’s the true power of Kaizen.
It’s an improvement that takes place when finding better ways to what you were working to improve yesterday.
Now, I know I went a little deep here today…
But as we take our first brave steps into this new decade…
I feel like there’s a common vibe — a feeling that things need to change, needing to be done better — that needs to not be ignored anymore.
Maybe you felt it. Maybe you haven’t.
But as you look at your goals, at your resolutions for 2021, think about how you can use the philosophy of Kaizen in your personal, professional, and martial arts ambitions.
Achieving goals and overcoming obstacles doesn’t always happen in one fell swoop of massive action…
It’s a continuous ‘change for the better’ — a commitment to self-discipline and Improvement.
Cheers to you,
