Today’s Quote
The secret to success is tenacity. Whether it takes five or ten years, you must keep that tenacity burning.
— Daisuke Kobayashi (Former President and Chairman of Fujitsu)
Who was Daisuke Kobayashi?
He was a former President and Chairman of Fujitsu and one of the leaders who supported the company’s growth starting in the 1930s. He promoted the fusion of technology and management, leading Fujitsu to become a globally representative Japanese company. As an executive, he adhered to a “hands-on” approach (Gemba-shugi), prioritizing long-term management decisions even in harsh market environments. His words, “The secret to success is tenacity,” reflect his exceptional perseverance and passion for achieving goals, and he continues to influence many business professionals.
My Perspective
Good morning. Are you pouring your heart into something right now? Or have you tried and given up on things several times?
When we start something new, we are filled with anticipation. We think, “This time, I want to see results,” or “This project must be a success.” However, once we hit the walls of reality, that enthusiasm often cools down surprisingly quickly.
- “Maybe I don’t have the talent.”
- “It’s taking longer than I thought.”
Thinking this way, we go off to look for the next new thing. Everyone has likely experienced this at least once or twice. But the key to opening the door to success isn’t talent or circumstances—it’s actually hidden in much more gritty, down-to-earth places.
Daisuke Kobayashi, former President and Chairman of Fujitsu, asserts:
The secret to success is tenacity. Whether it takes five or ten years, you must keep that tenacity burning.
Some may be moved by these words, while others may feel they talk about a world far removed from their own. However, when we unravel the true meaning of this “tenacity,” the reason why we have “given up so easily” in the past becomes clear.
Tenacity is Not “Obsession,” but “Commitment to a Purpose”
The word “tenacity” might sound a bit intense or restrictive. However, here it doesn’t mean just staying in the same place.
For instance, when I used to publish an email newsletter, there were days when it wasn’t read at all. The thought, “If there’s no response, maybe I should just quit,” crossed my mind many times. But I never let go of the purpose: “This must be useful to someone,” and I steadily repeated improvements.
As a result, when I finally sold a newsletter, I was convinced: “Tenacity” is the very ability to continue, repeating small adjustments tenaciously until results appear.
Those who give up easily cannot endure the “windless state” before results show. However, those who continue to run for 5 or 10 years understand that “results will follow later” and calmly focus on what needs to be done.
Three Steps to Sharpen Your Tenacity
1. Set the time span to “10 years”
Instead of lamenting, “I didn’t get results in a year,” try thinking, “It’s only been one year.” If you commit to a 10-year project, you will worry less about today’s results. By making time your ally, you create a sense of ease.
2. Defend “today’s step”
While looking at the big goal 10 years ahead, focus your feet only on “what to do today.” While keeping the big dream as a dream, what you should actually be doing is the humdrum work right in front of you. This accumulation will eventually turn into a “tenacity” that no one else can imitate.
3. Value the “reason for continuing” more than the reasons to quit
Moments where you want to give up will surely come. At those times, return to your starting point: “Why did I start this?” If that reason is strong enough, you can overcome even periods of stagnation as “adjustment periods.”
Conclusion: Tenacity Sleeps Within Everyone
There is no need to belittle yourself by saying, “I don’t have talent.” In this day and age, everyone wants immediate results and tends to jump at things that are easily acquired. In the midst of that, just by continuing to burn with tenacity for one thing for 5 or 10 years, it becomes an “overwhelming strength” that no one else can copy.
Tenacity is not a magic power that only special people possess. Today, do not let your hand stop when you are about to give up; take one more step forward. That accumulation is the only path to opening up your life.
Five years from now. Ten years from now.
What kind of scenery do you want to be looking at?
Let’s continue to move forward toward that view, calmly yet with passion, today as well.
