Yoshihito Ota served as Inamori's secretary during his time at Kyocera, and was on the front lines of the rebuilding of JAL when it fell into a management crisis. He served as Inamori's close aide for nearly 30 years. The author jotted down the words and teachings of this legendary business leader, as well as his own insights, in his own notebooks. A total of 60 volumes are included. These notes, written in the author's own words, describe how Inamori responded, inspired his employees, and developed his organization, sometimes while slurping down udon noodles for lunch, sometimes during conversations with executives, and sometimes when he was struggling to lead a meeting and asked for advice. "How can you discipline others when you can't discipline yourself?"
"Humility is a talisman."
"Serving others means receiving others."
"A grateful heart leads to virtue."
"Thoughts become systems."
"What's the point of living if I'm doing the same thing I did last year?"
This book meticulously captures the hidden side of this master businessman, who, amidst his struggles and anguish as a human being, sublimated his experiences and practices into a philosophy—a true image that only the author could know.
Further master businessman Shigenobu Nagamori also recommended this book, saying, "It was as if I could hear the words of my respected colleague, Mr. Inamori, right there in the present."
This is truly a textbook on work and life.
Table of Contents
Chapter 1: How to Live
1. How to Live
2. How to Think
3. The Principles of Growth
Chapter 2: What a Leader Should Be
1. How to Be a Leader
2. What a Leader Should Be
3. The Role of a Leader
4. The Leader's Mindset
5. What Leaders Should Pay Attention to
6. The Most Important Job of a Leader
Chapter 3: The Essentials of Management
1. Manage Your Business Properly
2. Manage with the Right Numbers
3. Start New Businesses
4. Grow Your Business
5. Create a Bright Workplace
6. Have Great Love
Chapter 4: For a Bright Future
1. Believe in a Bright Future
2. Think of Good Things
3. Cultivate Your Heart
