偏向する韓国政治報道を前に:声を上げる決意

最近、ヤフーニュースなど日本のメディアで目にする韓国政治に関する記事に疑問を感じています。不正確な情報や偏向した内容が多く、特に韓国の極右勢力の主張をそのまま掲載しているように見える記事が目立ちます。

これまで、私はそうした記事や執筆者について深く考えることを避けてきました。忙しい日々を理由に、気になる内容を見過ごしていた部分もあります。実際、2年前に双子の男の子が生まれてから、育児に追われる中でスマホを触る時間も奪われることが増え、日本での韓国報道に対して意見を述べる余裕がありませんでした。

しかし、本当の理由は別のところにあったのかもしれません。どこかで「日韓友好ムードを壊すのではないか」という後ろめたさがあったのです。特に、ユン政権が誕生した際には、多くの日本の進歩派や日韓夫婦、日韓にルーツを持つ人々が日韓関係の改善を歓迎していたように見えました。それに逆らうような発言をすることをためらっていたのだと思います。

ただ、最近の韓国国内での混乱を目にして、もう黙っているべきではないと感じました。表面的な日韓関係の改善だけでは根本的な問題は解決しません。歴史的な積弊を清算しないままの友好関係は、独裁政治がいずれ崩れるのと同じように長続きしないと考えます。

もちろん、すべての人が同じように考える必要はありません。しかし、私はこれから、偏向した情報やおかしいと感じることに対して、その都度声を上げていくつもりです。これまでのように「忙しいから」「波風を立てたくないから」と無視をするのではなく、真実を追求し、意見を発信する責任を果たしたいと思います。

皆さんも、ニュースを目にしたときに「本当にこれが事実なのか」と一歩立ち止まって考えてみてはいかがでしょうか。その小さな行動が、より正確な情報を共有する社会を作る第一歩になるかもしれません。

Yahooニュース「吉永ケンジ」署名記事「【日本にとっての悪夢も】韓国・尹大統領の弾劾訴追案に示された韓国人の日本観、メディアが報じぬ非常戒厳宣布の動機とは?」を批判する。

1. 内乱被疑人の主張を無批判に掲載している

• 記事では、「不正選挙」や「北朝鮮スパイ」という主張を、ほぼ裏付けなく掲載しています。これにより、事実関係が確かでない主張が、あたかも信頼性のある情報のように読者に伝わります。特に以下の点が問題です:

不正選挙の解明が戒厳の目的であったとする推測

→ 尹大統領の戒厳宣布の動機として、「不正選挙の疑惑解明」という説を提示していますが、具体的な証拠を示していません。このような推測を無批判に受け入れることは、報道の基本原則である客観性を欠いています。

北朝鮮スパイ事件の詳細描写

→ 実際の事件が裁判で有罪とされた部分がある一方で、全ての野党や労組を「反国家勢力」と見なす主張は明らかに拡大解釈です。これにより、野党や労組全体への不信感を煽る意図があると考えられます。

2. 犯罪者の主張を正当化するような印象操作

• 内乱やスパイ事件の犯罪者の主張を引用することで、「彼らが正しい可能性もある」との印象を読者に与えています。特に、「従北」勢力が「正義の目的のためには手段を選ばない」という記述を引用していますが、これがどの程度の事実に基づくか不明です。

3. 野党の政権獲得可能性への否定的印象操作

• 記事の終盤で、「日本人は、再び混沌に陥った韓国政治がこのような野党の手に渡る可能性があることを覚悟しておかなければならない」と述べています。この主張は、野党が政権を握ることを否定的に捉えるよう読者を誘導しており、あたかも野党が政権を握ることが韓国にとっての「悪夢」であるかのような印象を与えます。

• さらに、この記述は、日本人読者に対しても、韓国の現状を一方的に危険視するよう促すもので、偏見やステレオタイプを助長しています。

4. 戒厳宣布の正当性を擁護する姿勢

• 記事全体を通じて、尹大統領の戒厳宣布を一定程度擁護する立場が見えます。「反国家勢力による大韓民国体制転覆の脅威」という言葉をほぼそのまま受け入れ、戒厳が正当な措置であったかのように論じています。しかし、戒厳という非常手段が民主主義国家でどれほど深刻な影響を及ぼすかについての検証は行っていません。

• さらに、戒厳宣布が「選挙不正疑惑の解明」に結びつくという主張は極めて疑わしく、これを無批判に伝える姿勢は問題があります。

5. 北朝鮮との関連性を過度に強調

• 記事は、北朝鮮のスパイ活動や工作活動の具体例を長々と述べていますが、これが尹大統領の戒厳宣布とどのように直接結びつくのかは不明確です。過去の事件を詳細に描くことで、現在の野党や労組が全て北朝鮮に従属しているような印象を与えています。

• 特に、「日本を舞台にした旺載山事件」などの記述は、記事全体の主題とは直接関係がなく、過去の事例を利用して不安を煽る手法です。

6. 結論の偏り

• 最後に、「北東アジアで孤立を招き、戦争の危機を誘発させた」として野党の主張を北朝鮮公式メディアと同一視しています。この結論部分は、野党全体を「反国家勢力」としてレッテル貼りする意図が明らかで、冷静な分析に欠けています。

Emotions Are Habits: A Philosophy for Facing Stress in Sales

Working in sales is tough. The pressure, the competition, and the constant need for results can create emotional turbulence. Recently, I came across a book that introduced a profound idea: “Emotions are habits.” This concept resonated deeply with me and offered a fresh perspective on how to approach my emotions and stress in a more constructive way.

Emotions Are Habits: Gratitude as a Lifeline

The book explains that emotions are cultivated through repetition. People who habitually feel anger will find reasons to get angry over trivial matters, while those who cultivate gratitude can find joy in the smallest things. From this, I learned an important lesson: “The greater the stress, the more we need to focus on small gratitudes to overcome it.”

Stress in Sales

• Feeling jealous of colleagues’ success and doubting my own abilities.

• Frustration about my performance, to the point of considering quitting.

• Forgetting to appreciate the small positives around me, which made me irritable over minor issues.

These unchecked emotions built up, leading to both mental and physical strain, like a “heavy weight” pressing on my mind.

Practical Strategies for Managing Stress

Just like lifting weights requires proper form to avoid injury, maintaining the “correct posture” for the mind is essential. For me, this posture is gratitude. Instead of suppressing emotions, I’ve found that acknowledging and channeling them through structured actions is more effective.

Stress-Relief Techniques

1. Cultivating Gratitude

• Keep a gratitude journal: Write down one thing you’re grateful for each day, no matter how small.

• Verbally express gratitude: Thank family, colleagues, or clients for even minor actions.

• Share gratitude: Create moments with loved ones to discuss what you’re thankful for.

2. Recharging in Nature

• Walk outdoors while soaking in the sunlight.

• Eat slowly and savor each bite to relax and center yourself.

• Spend time in green spaces to calm your mind.

3. Monitoring Stress Signals

• Identify personal signs of stress (e.g., stomachaches, irritability, or fatigue).

• When these signs arise, take immediate action to reset, such as practicing deep breathing or taking a short break.

Dealing with Jealousy and Anger

Jealousy and anger are unavoidable in the competitive world of sales. I’ve experienced moments of frustration, like seeing colleagues celebrate big wins while I struggled. These feelings often exploded in sudden outbursts, which only made things worse.

Colin Powell’s Warrior Mentality

Former U.S. Secretary of State Colin Powell famously said, “Get mad, then get over it.” This philosophy has inspired me to adopt a “warrior” mindset: rather than denying my emotions, I acknowledge them and channel them into productive actions.

1. Recognize and Accept Emotions

• When jealousy or anger arises, pause and ask, “Why do I feel this way?”

• Instead of suppressing the emotion, reflect on what it might be teaching me.

2. Turn Anger into Action

• Use the energy from these emotions to take immediate steps, such as contacting a new client or refining my sales approach.

• Develop a concrete action plan to move forward instead of dwelling on negative emotions.

3. Transform Jealousy into Growth

• Study the success of others and identify what I can learn from them.

• Reframe jealousy as a sign of my potential to grow and improve.

Conclusion: Harnessing Emotions for Self-Growth

In sales, emotional ups and downs are part of the job. However, by adopting the mindset that “emotions are habits,” we can proactively reshape how we respond to stress. Incorporating small moments of gratitude into daily life helps lighten the mental load and offers a healthier way to cope with challenges.

Furthermore, embracing a warrior mentality—acknowledging jealousy and anger, then transforming them into energy for growth—enables us to thrive, even in competitive environments. Moving forward, I aim to continue refining my stress management and emotional control strategies, ensuring that my emotions work for me, not against me.

To anyone reading this: consider how your emotions shape your habits and vice versa. There’s unlimited potential to grow when you learn to work with your emotions instead of against them!

Was mich nicht umbringt, macht mich stärker

ここ数日、私はストレスに苦しみました。しかし、今ではそのストレスに感謝します。なぜなら、ストレスが私の中の弱さを殺してくれたからです。フリードリヒ・ニーチェの「Was mich nicht umbringt, macht mich stärker」という名言は、「私を殺さないものは、私をより強くする」と訳されます。この言葉は、私たちが直面する困難や挑戦が、実は私たちの成長と強さの源泉であるという強いメッセージが込められています。

1. 文法

a. 副詞句 “nicht”

「nicht」は、否定の副詞です。動詞や形容詞、他の副詞を否定する場合に使います。

• 例文:

• Ich kann nicht kommen.(私は来られない。)

• Er ist nicht groß.(彼は背が高くない。)

• Sie spricht nicht schnell.(彼女は速く話さない。)

b. 関係代名詞 “was”

「was」は関係代名詞で、主に「こと」や「もの」を指す時に使われます。英語の “what” に相当します。

• 例文:

• Das, was du sagst, ist wichtig.(あなたが言っていることは重要だ。)

• Was ich nicht weiß, macht mich nicht heiß.(知らなければ痛くない。)

• Ich verstehe, was passiert ist.(何が起こったのか理解している。)

c. 動詞 “macht”(make/makesの意味)

「macht」は動詞「machen」の三人称単数現在形です。何かを「する」または「作る」という意味があります。

• 例文:

• Musik macht Spaß.(音楽は楽しい。)

• Er macht einen Kuchen.(彼はケーキを作る。)

• Das Wetter macht mich müde.(その天気は私を疲れさせる。)

2. 単語

a. mich(私を)

一人称単数の対格(目的格)です。自分自身を目的語として使います。

• 例文:

• Er sieht mich.(彼は私を見る。)

• Kannst du mich hören?(私を聞けますか?)

• Sie hat mich eingeladen.(彼女は私を招待した。)

b. umbringt(殺す)

「umbringt」は動詞「umbringen」の三人称単数現在形です。文字通りには「殺す」を意味し、転じて「とても困らせる」という意味も持ちます。

• 例文:

• Das Problem bringt mich um.(その問題は私を苦しめる。)

• Er droht, mich umzubringen.(彼は私を殺すと脅す。)

• Sorgen können dich umbringen.(心配事があなたを死に至らせるかもしれない。)

c. stärker(より強く)

形容詞「stark」の比較級で、「強い」の意味の「より強く」です。

• 例文:

• Dieses Medikament macht mich stärker.(この薬は私をより強くする。)

• Sie wird jeden Tag stärker.(彼女は毎日より強くなる。)

• Nach der Krankheit fühlte ich mich stärker als vorher.(病気の後、私は以前よりも強く感じた。)

結び

ニーチェの「Was mich nicht umbringt, macht mich stärker」という言葉を通して、私たちは自身の限界を試し、新たな強さを発見することができます。日々の生活の中で困難に直面した際は、この名言を思い出し、成長と発展のチャンスとして捉えることができるでしょう。

Creating a Birthday Surprise: A Heartfelt Video Message for My Wife

Birthdays are always a special occasion, but this year, I wanted to go the extra mile to show my wife just how much she means to me. With a bit of planning, creativity, and some technical help, I managed to create a memorable birthday gift: a heartfelt video message and a beautifully edited compilation of her past year’s moments. Here’s how I did it—and why it was worth every effort.

The Idea: A Personal and Emotional Gift

For this birthday, I wanted to give her something that would resonate deeply—a gift that wasn’t materialistic but rather emotional and meaningful. The idea was simple yet powerful:

1. A direct message from me: I would film myself expressing my gratitude and love, looking directly at the camera to create a personal touch.

2. A visual journey through her year: A video montage of her happiest moments from the past year, complete with music, photos, and short clips.

The Execution: Bringing the Vision to Life

Creating the videos was both challenging and rewarding. Here’s how I brought the concept to life:

Part 1: My Personal Message

For the first video, I filmed myself on my phone, speaking directly to my wife. In the video, I shared my gratitude for her unwavering love, her strength as a mother to our twin boys, and her passion for fitness and self-care. I kept the tone light and heartfelt, as if I were speaking to her in person.

To ensure the message was meaningful, I also wrote it out as a handwritten letter, matching the words in the video. This way, she could keep the letter as a physical reminder of the video.

Part 2: The Visual Montage

The second video was a montage of photos and videos from the past year. I sorted through dozens of family photos, picking out the ones that highlighted her happiest and most beautiful moments—be it family outings, quiet moments with our boys, or time spent with friends.

Using iMovie on my Mac Mini, I:

Organized the photos and videos to tell a cohesive story.

Added transitions and effects like fade-ins and fade-outs to make the flow smooth and natural.

Incorporated music that evoked happiness and warmth, sourced from the YouTube Audio Library.

Included captions to emphasize the love and joy in each moment.

The Big Reveal: Her Reaction

On her birthday, I presented the videos alongside the handwritten letter. The moment she pressed play, I saw her face light up with joy. She laughed at the funny moments, smiled at the sweet memories, and even teared up during my message. It was everything I had hoped for.

She later told me that the videos and letter made her feel incredibly loved and appreciated—not just as a wife, but also as a mother and a person. Knowing that she treasured the effort I put into creating this gift made it all worthwhile.

Why This Gift Meant So Much

This experience reminded me of the power of heartfelt gestures. In a world where material gifts are often overemphasized, taking the time to create something personal can have a far greater impact. It wasn’t about perfection—it was about showing her that I noticed and valued every little moment we shared as a family.

Reflection: What I Learned

1. Creativity can be simple yet powerful: You don’t need advanced tools or techniques—just a bit of thoughtfulness and effort.

2. Gratitude strengthens relationships: Expressing love and appreciation in a tangible way can deepen your bond.

3. The process is as rewarding as the result: Planning and creating this gift made me reflect on all the wonderful moments we’ve shared, filling me with gratitude as well.

If you’re looking for a way to make your loved one feel truly special, I encourage you to try something similar. Whether it’s a video, a letter, or even a simple gesture, what matters most is the thought and heart you put into it.

This birthday project wasn’t just a gift for my wife—it was also a gift for me, reminding me to cherish every moment we have together.

Living on the 20th Floor Without an Elevator: A Family’s Challenging Routine

For the past two weeks, my family and I have been living through a unique and challenging experience: our building’s only elevator is being replaced, leaving us with only one option to go up and down—20 flights of stairs. As a family of four, including my wife and our twin babies, this situation has pushed our daily routines and physical endurance to their limits.

The Morning Routine

Each morning, my wife and I start the day by preparing to bring our babies to 어린이 집 (daycare). It’s a routine that sounds simple but has become quite an ordeal. We strap on 아기띠 (baby carriers), each of us carrying one baby, and then carefully descend down all 20 floors. The steps seem endless, and the additional weight makes every step feel like a small workout. By the time we reach the bottom, we’re both ready to catch our breath—but of course, the day has just started.

The Evening Climb

In the evening, I use a time leave to finish work an hour early so I can pick up the children from daycare around 5:30 PM. My wife and I meet at 어린이 집, collect the babies, and start the journey back up. Climbing 20 flights of stairs with babies in tow is no small feat after a full day of work. Recently, we discovered that our building’s rooftop connects to the adjacent building, where the elevator is still operational. While this helps reduce the physical strain, it’s not an easy shortcut: the rooftop is dark, dirty, and cramped. Still, we’ve adapted, taking this alternative route whenever possible.

Physical and Mental Toll

The physical demands of our routine have been immense, but the mental toll is just as significant. Last weekend, I stayed indoors with the kids, playing and lifting them for hours. By Monday, my back had given out—I had strained it to the point of injury. Now, every stair step and even passing through the dark rooftop feels like an exhausting chore.

Moreover, the need to take a daily time leave adds to my mental strain. Using up my leave gradually decreases my available days off, which adds a layer of anxiety. I worry about running out of leave, but at the same time, I feel my work performance dropping due to the lost hour every day. It’s not easy to find a solution since starting my day even earlier is simply not feasible.

Looking Forward

We still have two weeks to go until the elevator replacement is complete. Although this experience has been tiring, I’ve also found it to be a time of growth and reflection. I’ve come to appreciate the small comforts of daily life that I once took for granted. I’ve also gained a deeper respect for people who face these kinds of physical challenges every day, whether due to building conditions or other factors.

Hopefully, after these last two weeks, we can look back on this experience with a sense of accomplishment and a few stories to tell. For now, my focus is on maintaining a positive outlook and taking it one step (or, rather, twenty flights) at a time.

F4ドクトリンの実践:高速サイクルの1週間ロードマップ

営業の現場では、機動性と迅速な対応が鍵です。従来のアプローチは、変化の激しい顧客ニーズに追いつけないことが多々あります。イーロン・マスクの「高速挑戦、高速失敗、高速再挑戦」という考え方に触発され、私は「F4ドクトリン」(Fail Fast, Fix Fast:失敗しても即修正)と名付けた戦略を開発しました。

F4ドクトリンは、短期間で結果が出ないアカウントにかける時間を最小限に抑え、新しいチャンスに集中するための手法です。目標は、1週間以内に顧客と深く関わり、ニーズを引き出し、発注につなげることです。もし金曜日までに発注がなければ、次のアカウントに切り替えてサイクルを再スタートします。

この戦略の核心には、「答えは常に顧客が知っている」という信念があります。営業の役割は、顧客に語ってもらい、本音を引き出すことです。そのため、メールよりも直接対話ができる電話を優先することが、このF4ドクトリンでは重要視されています。

以下に、F4ドクトリンの1週間のタイムラインをご紹介します。

F4ドクトリンの週間ロードマップ

1. 月曜日: 初回コンタクトと本音引き出し

目標: 電話で顧客と初めての接触を図り、会話のきっかけを作る。

アクション:

電話での直接アプローチ: 自己紹介を簡潔に行い、「現在の課題」や「必要なサポート」といった質問で、顧客に語ってもらう。

積極的な傾聴: 顧客のニーズや抱えている課題について、できるだけ多くの情報を収集する。

各顧客タイプ(EMSとファブレス)によって判断基準が異なるため、それぞれのプロファイルに合わせた質問を行います。

EMS企業の場合

目的: エンド顧客が市場品を使用することに前向きかを確認する。

アプローチ: エンド顧客が市場品を使った実績や姿勢について直接尋ね、採用の可能性を探る。また、懸念があればその内容も確認する。

ファブレス企業の場合

目的: 使用しているEMS企業を特定し、対応可能性を把握する。

アプローチ: 利用しているEMS企業が特定できない場合でも、同社のニーズを理解する質問を投げかける。必要に応じて、EMS企業との連絡先の紹介を依頼することで、直接的なコミュニケーションに繋げる。

2. 火曜日: 仮説に基づいた提案作成

目標: 前日の会話を基に、顧客ニーズに応じた具体的な提案を用意する。

アクション:

再度の電話: 「昨日のお話を基に、このようなソリューションをご提案します」と仮説提案をぶつけ、相手の反応を伺う。

フィードバック収集: 顧客からの意見をもとに、提案内容を微調整。

3. 水曜日: 懸念解消と信頼構築

目標: 顧客の懸念事項を解決し、信頼関係を強化する。

アクション:

懸念点の確認: 「この提案で気になる点はありますか?」と率直に尋ね、安心感を与える。

メリットの具体化: 顧客の課題と提案がどのように一致するかを強調し、価値を明確に示す。

4. 木曜日: クロージングに向けた準備

目標: 金曜日の決断に向けた流れを作る。

アクション:

緊急性とメリットの強調: 今週中の決断で得られるメリットを再確認し、緊急性を伝える。

最終確認: 残る不安や疑問がないか確認し、決断を促す。

5. 金曜日: 最終確認と振り返り

目標: 発注を確定するか、次の週への改善点を見出す。

アクション:

最終フォローアップ: 「本日が最終判断の期限ですが、いかがでしょうか?」と最終確認。

振り返りと準備: 成約に至らなかった場合は、1週間の対応を振り返り、次週のアプローチに反映する。

EMSとファブレス企業へのアプローチのカスタマイズ

EMS企業向けでは、エンド顧客が市場品に対して寛容であるかが最も重要です。そのため、最初の段階で「エンド顧客が市場品を採用した実績があるか」を尋ね、その後のアプローチを決定します。もし抵抗がある場合は、懸念を聞き出して今後の機会を探るための情報を得ます。

ファブレス企業向けの場合、利用しているEMS企業が不明確であるため、ファブレス側が求める具体的なニーズ(コスト削減や迅速な供給)を把握します。これにより、彼らのニーズに合ったEMSパートナーが市場品の採用を検討しているかを確認しやすくします。必要に応じて、EMS企業の連絡先をファブレス企業から紹介してもらい、直接の会話へ繋げます。

F4ドクトリン:機動的かつ顧客志向の営業スタイル

F4ドクトリンの強みは、その柔軟さと顧客中心のアプローチにあります。顧客から得られる情報を元に迅速に軌道修正を図り、真のニーズに近づける。この週からF4ドクトリンを始動し、どのような結果が得られるか楽しみにしています。迅速な行動、意味のあるつながり、そして貴重な洞察を得る1週間にしていきましょう!

Implementing the F4 Doctrine: A One-Week Roadmap for Fast-Paced Sales Success

In the dynamic world of sales, agility and responsiveness are critical. Traditional approaches can be too slow to keep up with rapidly shifting customer needs. Inspired by Elon Musk’s approach of rapid challenge, rapid failure, and rapid retry, I’ve developed a strategy I’m calling the F4 Doctrine – Fail Fast, Fix Fast.

F4 is designed to minimize time spent on accounts that yield no immediate results, allowing me to focus on new opportunities each week. The goal is to make meaningful connections, uncover customer needs, and secure orders within a single week. If no purchase order is achieved by Friday, it’s time to move on, rotate to a new account, and repeat the process with renewed vigor.

This philosophy aligns with my core belief that the answer is always known by the customer. Our job is simply to listen closely, giving customers the opportunity to reveal their needs and concerns. This requires a strong focus on phone conversations over emails to encourage openness and enable rapid adjustments to our approach.

Here’s how the F4 Doctrine works on a weekly timeline:

F4 Doctrine Weekly Roadmap

1. Monday: Initial Contact and Discovery

Goal: Initiate contact through a phone call and establish a foundation for open communication.

Actions:

Direct Phone Outreach: Introduce myself and ask open-ended questions to encourage the customer to share insights into their needs and pain points.

Active Listening: Focus on gathering as much information as possible about their current challenges and interests.

Since each customer type – EMS or fabless – has unique decision factors, it’s essential to tailor questions based on their specific profile.

EMS Companies

Objective: Determine if the end customer is open to using market items.

Approach: Ask questions that directly address the end customer’s openness to market items, focusing on cases where the customer has previously adopted similar solutions. Listen for any hesitation or concern that might indicate barriers to adoption.

Fabless Companies

Objective: Identify which EMS companies they partner with, as this influences the likelihood of adopting market items.

Approach: Inquire about EMS companies they typically collaborate with, showing interest in understanding the broader ecosystem. If they’re unsure, ask if there are contacts they can introduce you to within their EMS partners.

2. Tuesday: Hypothesis-Based Proposal

Goal: Based on Monday’s conversation, develop a targeted proposal to address the customer’s needs.

Actions:

Second Call: Reach out with a preliminary proposal tailored to their pain points, asking if it aligns with their needs.

Gather Feedback: Listen carefully to any adjustments or additional considerations the customer may mention.

This step is about testing a hypothesis and iterating based on feedback. Adjusting the proposal early in the week ensures it’s both relevant and valuable.

3. Wednesday: Addressing Objections and Building Trust

Goal: Resolve any concerns and build a relationship based on transparency and responsiveness.

Actions:

Proactively Address Concerns: Ask directly if they have any doubts or concerns regarding the proposal, ensuring they feel heard.

Demonstrate Clear Benefits: Reinforce how my proposal specifically aligns with their challenges and goals.

By addressing any objections head-on, the goal is to solidify trust and strengthen their interest in the proposed solution.

4. Thursday: Paving the Way to a Decision

Goal: Create a clear path to a decision by Friday.

Actions:

Restate Key Benefits and Urgency: Emphasize the immediate value of committing to the proposal by week’s end.

Final Check-In: Confirm there are no remaining issues or concerns that could prevent a decision.

This step reinforces urgency and ensures all questions have been addressed, positioning the proposal as a straightforward choice.

5. Friday: Final Confirmation and Reflection

Goal: Secure a commitment or conclude the cycle with learnings for future improvement.

Actions:

Final Follow-Up: Make a brief call to confirm if they’re ready to proceed, clarifying any last-minute questions.

Reflect and Prepare: If the proposal is not accepted, analyze the week’s interactions for insights and adjust the approach for the following week’s new account.

Whether or not an order is secured, every week brings lessons that can inform future interactions.

F4 in Action: Tailoring Approaches for EMS and Fabless Companies

For EMS companies, the key to success lies in understanding the end customer’s stance on market items. Without their approval, no sale can move forward. This means asking the EMS decision-maker directly if their end customers have adopted market items in the past or are open to the concept. If there’s resistance, uncovering the reason can help us identify future opportunities or address potential concerns.

For fabless companies, the challenge is different: they may not know which EMS companies they work with are willing to adopt market items. In this case, understanding the fabless customer’s priorities is essential – are they seeking a quick solution, lower costs, or something specific? Through this, we can guide them to investigate whether their EMS partners align with these goals and potentially introduce us to the relevant contacts.

F4 Doctrine: Fast-Paced, Customer-Centric Sales

The F4 Doctrine’s strength lies in its adaptability and customer-centric nature. By focusing on what the customer reveals through open conversation, we can pivot quickly and move closer to true alignment with their needs. This week marks the start of my journey with the F4 Doctrine, and I’m excited to see where it leads. Here’s to a week of rapid action, meaningful connections, and valuable insights!

Embracing Success to Defy Capitalism: The Anti-Capitalist Sales Philosophy

In a world where sales and success are often equated with the accumulation of wealth, a new philosophy is emerging—a philosophy that embraces financial success as a necessary step toward defying the very system that creates it. This approach challenges traditional capitalism from within, using the tools of success to build a framework that questions the assumptions and values of the capitalist machine itself. This philosophy recognizes that to initiate real change, one must first succeed on capitalism’s terms, only to turn those gains against it. Here’s how this anti-capitalist sales philosophy unfolds.

Step 1: Acknowledging the Chains of Capital

The first step in this philosophy is an honest acknowledgment: we are, in many ways, slaves to capital. As salespeople, we exist within the structures of profit and loss, targets and quotas, all designed to extract the maximum possible value from our efforts. However, rather than passively accepting this role, we approach it with critical awareness. We see ourselves as conscious participants in the capitalist system, understanding its mechanisms while intentionally seeking ways to disrupt and critique it from within.

Actionable Insight: Salespeople adopting this mindset treat financial results not as personal victories but as leverage for something greater. Profit is seen as a byproduct—a tool, not an end in itself.

Step 2: Preventing Wealth Accumulation, Not Gaining Wealth

In a society where wealth is hoarded and concentrated, the anti-capitalist salesperson instead seeks to prevent this accumulation, even while succeeding financially. This is not a contradiction; it is a recognition that one’s personal gains can be used to challenge the structures that otherwise enable wealth concentration. By adopting a distribution-focused approach, success is not about amassing riches but about ensuring that financial gains lead to broader, more accessible value.

Actionable Insight: This approach might mean selling products at lower margins to make them accessible, focusing on long-term, sustainable relationships with clients, or investing time in educating clients on the realities of wealth concentration and market manipulation. Profit remains important but is directed towards decentralizing economic power rather than reinforcing it.

Step 3: Using Sales as a Revolutionary Tool

Sales is often considered a mechanism of capitalism, pushing consumption and fueling the very system that enables it. However, in this philosophy, sales becomes a revolutionary tool. By selling products that make clients question their consumption patterns and the nature of the capitalist market, the anti-capitalist salesperson disrupts the system from within. Each transaction becomes an opportunity to sow seeds of doubt about the value of consumerism.

Actionable Insight: Rather than focusing on closing deals for the sake of a commission, the salesperson integrates subtle but powerful critiques of consumption into their messaging. For example, asking questions like, “Do you truly need this, or is this simply an impulse created by the system?” encourages clients to think critically about their role as consumers.

Step 4: Using Financial Success as a Means, Not an End

To challenge capitalism effectively, one must play by its rules, at least temporarily. The anti-capitalist salesperson seeks financial success not for personal enrichment but as a means to finance revolutionary action. The goal is to attain financial freedom, not as an endpoint but as the start of a larger mission to break free of the capitalist cycle.

Actionable Insight: The financial gains are seen as the foundation for a counter-capitalist cycle. Earnings can be reinvested in ways that critique or destabilize traditional capitalist norms—supporting community initiatives, promoting non-profit causes, or investing in projects that encourage economic decentralization and empowerment of underserved communities.

Step 5: Initiating the Capitalist Cycle to Disrupt It

At its core, this philosophy recognizes a paradox: to critique capitalism effectively, one must first succeed within it. Without financial success, one lacks the influence to challenge the structures that bind society. Therefore, financial gain is pursued with the explicit intention of undermining the capitalist cycle—starting from a position of strength within the system to wield it against itself. This is a philosophy of “revolutionary capitalism,” where success is a calculated, subversive step toward eventual disruption.

Actionable Insight: Sales success is intentionally positioned as the foundation for revolutionary aims. For example, profits are seen as “revolutionary capital,” the fuel for a transformative mission. The salesperson strategically accumulates resources, with each gain marking a step closer to undermining the capitalist structures.

Building a New Future: The Vision of an Anti-Capitalist Salesperson

This anti-capitalist philosophy does not naively seek to “tear down the system” without a plan. Instead, it advocates for an approach where one masters the capitalist game only to rewrite its rules. The ultimate goal is to use the resources and influence gained through financial success to critique capitalism effectively and eventually build alternative structures that challenge its inherent inequities.

In this framework, success is not a surrender to capitalism but a powerful critique. It is the deliberate positioning of oneself within the system to reveal its flaws and injustices from a place of firsthand knowledge. By excelling in sales, the anti-capitalist salesperson attains both the means and the moral authority to disrupt, dismantle, and redefine what it means to thrive in a capitalist society.

Through these steps, the anti-capitalist salesperson embarks on a unique journey—a path where success is neither abandoned nor fully embraced, but used as a springboard to transcend capitalism’s limitations. This journey is not easy; it requires constant vigilance, deep reflection, and a relentless commitment to principles. But for those seeking both personal success and social transformation, it is a path worth pursuing.

Embracing Change and Growth Through Self-Responsibility and Gratitude

Today, a significant change occurred within my team. A colleague with whom I had worked closely for the past two and a half years transferred to a different department. She joined our company as a salesperson, just like me, and I was part of her initial training. Today, she moved to the purchasing department, and while it benefits me professionally, the day has left me with mixed emotions.

On one hand, her transfer allows me to take on her accounts and reduces the chance of comparison in our office, as we were the only two handling the Japanese market. This change brings opportunities, but I also feel a hint of loneliness. Watching her welcomed warmly by her new team stirred a little envy within me. As I reflected on this, I found myself confronting not only the absence of my colleague but also feelings of inadequacy in my own sales performance.

In moments like these, self-responsibility, comes into play. Embracing this philosophy means taking full ownership of all that unfolds in life—both positive and challenging. Today’s transition was an invitation for me to consider how I can grow from my current position. Why do I feel envy? What steps can I take to strengthen my work so that I, too, can feel fulfilled in my contributions?

Self-responsibility allows me to view this situation as a chance to develop independence and resilience. Rather than comparing myself with others, I can focus on my own growth and take concrete steps to improve my results. By owning my current circumstances, I empower myself to act, adapt, and improve.

The other side of this coin is gratitude. I’m grateful that my colleague has found a new opportunity within our company, and grateful for the accounts and responsibilities I’ve inherited. These changes allow me to test my abilities, take risks, and ultimately redefine my value within the team. Furthermore, observing her progress motivates me to reflect on my own journey and recommit to achieving my personal and professional goals.

Through self-responsibility and gratitude, I am learning to navigate the highs and lows of my career. Today, I am reminded that even in challenging times, I have the power to shape my path forward. Each day presents a new opportunity to grow, learn, and appreciate all that I have.

How I’m Using Technology to Read English Books with Ease: A Journey with “UNIT X”

Reading English books has always been a challenging yet rewarding endeavor, especially when delving into complex subjects that lack Japanese translations. Recently, I’ve discovered a method that makes this process not only manageable but incredibly enjoyable. With a combination of Kindle, ChatGPT, and my Mac, I’ve been able to navigate difficult English texts and immerse myself in their unique worldviews, even for books that have yet to be translated. Here’s a breakdown of how I’m reading UNIT X: How the Pentagon and Silicon Valley Are Transforming the Future of War and why this method feels like the future of language learning.

Step 1: Choosing the Book on Kindle

The first step is selecting an English book that captivates me. I decided on UNIT X, a thought-provoking book that explores the intersection of technology and modern warfare, mainly because it touches on themes relevant to our technological age and has yet to be translated into Japanese. Reading it in English offers me a direct view into this topic without waiting for a translation.

Step 2: Setting Up Kindle and ChatGPT on My Mac

With Kindle and ChatGPT open side by side on my Mac, I can work seamlessly between reading and understanding. Kindle provides the text, while ChatGPT serves as my personal translator and guide. It’s the ideal setup for tackling books that might otherwise feel daunting.

Step 3: Screenshot and Translate

As I progress through the book, I take screenshots of the pages and share them with ChatGPT, following a specific routine that’s been incredibly helpful:

  • Detailed Typing: ChatGPT types out the English text, highlighting any advanced vocabulary or phrases.
  • Bilingual Glossary: For challenging expressions, ChatGPT includes Japanese explanations in parentheses, making it easier to understand and retain new vocabulary.
  • Chapter Summaries: For the first three chapters, I also get Japanese summaries, giving me a clearer understanding of each section before moving forward.

Why Focus on the First Three Chapters?

The introductory chapters of any book tend to be the most challenging. They set the stage, introduce complex concepts, and often include technical jargon. By using ChatGPT to work through these sections, I can establish a solid foundation that allows me to read faster and with more confidence as I progress.

Embracing Technology for a More Enjoyable Reading Experience

Reading English books no longer feels like a struggle. Instead, it has become an empowering journey where technology bridges the gap between languages. Thanks to this method, I can approach even untranslated books with enthusiasm, knowing that I have the tools to make sense of them.

In the age of digital innovation, this approach to language learning is a glimpse of what’s possible. With every book I read, I feel one step closer to mastering English and expanding my knowledge on topics that intrigue me. UNIT X is just the beginning – with Kindle, ChatGPT, and a bit of determination, there’s no limit to the books I can explore.

I’m especially looking forward to reviewing this book once I’ve finished – stay tuned for a full breakdown and my thoughts on UNIT X!

Reflections at 39: Reexamining My Life’s Priorities

As I reach the age of 39, I find myself reflecting on the path I’ve taken, and I realize that what I once considered my strengths may have, in some ways, been a burden. Growing up, my primary goal was to enter the University of Tokyo, the most prestigious institution in Japan. To achieve this, I dedicated myself to the study of the humanities, pouring my energy into preparing for the highly competitive entrance exams. But looking back, I think I might have underestimated my own nature; I’m naturally more suited to the life of a practical, business-minded person. What if, instead of aiming for the pinnacle of academia, I had chosen a simpler path—a private university, perhaps, with a focus on commerce? Maybe I could have joined an English club, started my sales career early, and had a more carefree youth.

In my late thirties, I made a major career shift, entering the world of commission-based sales. For the first time, I had the freedom to shape my financial success, and in doing so, I built a 7-figure portfolio. This journey opened my eyes to my true passion: the pursuit of financial freedom. Academia and intellectual pursuits, while valuable, took a backseat to this new priority. As I reflect now, I realize that this priority—achieving economic independence—has always been a part of me, even if it was buried under years of conditioning to value traditional academic success.

During my teenage years, the Japanese education system emphasized rigorous, unrelenting focus on entrance exams. My mantra became, “Get into the University of Tokyo, no matter what.” In retrospect, I think I forced myself into a mold that didn’t fully fit. I did get into the University of Tokyo, but only into the easiest humanities course—Liberal Arts Division III. My time there was enjoyable, especially when I immersed myself in language studies, particularly Chinese. I made friends from China and South Korea, found joy in cultural exchanges, and relished those interactions. Yet, in my early career, there was a nagging feeling of inadequacy; many of my University of Tokyo peers went on to become bureaucrats, finance professionals, or consultants. I, on the other hand, joined a manufacturing company. There was an undeniable gap between my path and those of my peers, and that contrast gnawed at me.

Today, those past insecurities feel trivial. If I achieve true financial freedom, these differences lose their significance. Yet, as I watch my university classmates reach remarkable heights—some, like my former classmate Kaoru Fukuda, have even entered the Japanese House of Representatives—I can’t help but reevaluate my own journey. The path I’ve taken has been unconventional, and at times I’ve struggled with doubt and regret. But I also recognize the valuable lessons I’ve learned along the way.

Financial freedom has given me a new lens through which to view success, one that isn’t tethered to social status or traditional prestige. My journey has shown me that everyone has their own unique priorities, strengths, and paths. For me, economic independence wasn’t just a goal; it was a realization of my true self, buried under layers of social expectations. Perhaps the essence of personal success isn’t in competing with others but in knowing oneself and having the courage to follow an authentic path—even if it means questioning what you once believed to be your strengths.