Parental leave has ended, and it’s time for me to get back into the race called “work.”
I wanted something like a booster shot for my mindset—a textbook that could kick me back into work mode with energy and determination.
That’s when I stumbled upon Ikikata (Living Way) by Kazuo Inamori, the legendary founder of Kyocera.
I remembered seeing it years ago in a bookstore with a pop-up saying, “Inamori’s life work in one volume.” At that time, I didn’t pick it up, but something told me this was the right book for my comeback.
So… what happened? Seconds later, I had clicked “buy” on Amazon Kindle and started reading.
And my honest reaction?
“Why on earth didn’t I read this earlier?!”
■ The “Zen Monk” of Business and Life
While Konosuke Matsushita is often called the “God of Management,” I’ve decided to call Kazuo Inamori the “Zen Monk of Work and Life.” His words carry a calm yet powerful weight, like teachings from a wise master.
At first, I assumed Inamori had been walking an elite path without setbacks. But reality? His early life was full of failures:
- Failed his junior high school entrance exam
- Fell ill with tuberculosis, once considered incurable
- Rejected by his first-choice university
- Job applications rejected again and again
Finally, through a professor’s connection, he landed a job at a small ceramics company on the brink of collapse. Colleagues kept quitting one after another. Yet, instead of giving up, he dove into experiments day after day. That passion eventually led him to successfully develop fine ceramics—pioneering the field in Japan.
And Inamori reflected:
“The mountains and valleys, fortune and misfortune of life—these are all called forth by the state of one’s own heart.”
I couldn’t help but laugh at myself: here I was, always thinking about how to leave work on time or how many vacation days I could squeeze out. No wonder there’s a gap!
■ Wake-Up Call: Don’t Waste Your Days
Reading this book felt like a mirror showing me: “If you keep this up, you’ll end up with no sense of achievement at all.”
What hit me hardest was Inamori’s devotion to working wholeheartedly—bringing passion into even the toughest circumstances.
It made me realize: If I want to “achieve” anything, I must stop looking for shortcuts and instead pour my energy into making each day meaningful.
■ The Accelerator of Success: Creative Effort
Another gem from the book:
“Even if only little by little, make improvements today compared to yesterday, tomorrow compared to today.”
This idea of continuous improvement and creativity is the real accelerator toward success. You don’t have to become a genius overnight—just keep adding small upgrades daily, and momentum builds.
■ The Formula for Life
The highlight is what Inamori calls the equation of life:
Results in Life & Work = Thinking × Passion × Ability
And it’s brilliantly simple.
- No matter how much ability you have, without passion, it all equals zero.
- Even with ability and passion, if your thinking is negative, the results turn negative.
As for me? I’m not the most “able” person in the room. But if I can multiply by strong passion and positive thinking, my result won’t be too shabby. Honestly, this formula made me smile with relief.
■ My Personal Takeaway
Here’s what I want to keep as my daily compass:
- Work diligently
- Never forget gratitude
- Strive for good thoughts and righteous actions
- Always self-reflect with humility
- Keep polishing the heart and raising one’s character
It sounds simple, even obvious. But Inamori reminds us: true meaning in life lies in doing these “ordinary” things with extraordinary sincerity.
■ Final Thoughts
Ikikata is not just another self-help book. It’s a life guide that calls us back to a simple but profound question: “What is the right way to live as a human being?”
And here’s my personal reminder:
Today is the youngest day of the rest of our lives.
So, let’s commit to raising our hearts and polishing our souls, one step at a time.
If you’re feeling lost about your career, life direction, or purpose, this book is the perfect prescription. And maybe, just like me, you’ll feel a spark of hope, a little excitement, and a nudge to start moving forward again.
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