Why We Work: The First Question You Should Be Asking Yourself Right Now (Hardcover)

Author Kazuo Inamori · Publisher Dasan Books · Published 2021-04-12 · ISBN 9791130637037

About the Book

"The success or failure of work begins not with 'how,' but with 'why'!"
The secret to how I, a graduate of a local university and a small business, became CEO of a company with 16 trillion won in annual sales

'How long do I have to spend my life on work I don't even like?'
'I work frantically all day, but I feel like nothing is building up inside me.'
'I don't even know why I'm working so hard.'
Kazuo Inamori was no different from modern people living today. After graduating with mediocre grades from an unknown local university that he entered after failing entrance exams once, he began his career by taking a job at a small business on the verge of bankruptcy, recommended by his professor. His peers moved on to better companies day after day, but he was given no such opportunities. Yet, he diligently devoted himself to his work in one place, and now, for over 60 years, he has been one of Japan's most influential business leaders. What made him the most respected CEO and a great professional? The one question he held in his heart for over half a century was: "Why do I do this work?" And the answer he found was this: "I work to train myself, to refine my mind, and to discover the value of life. That is all."
As an author who has managed companies and focused on one field for over 60 years, his perspective on work is unique. If you have applied so-called 'Silicon Valley work methods' imported from overseas to your work and management but have not achieved results or 'substantial satisfaction' from your work, then pay attention to Kazuo Inamori's advice, which is based on Eastern philosophy that views work not merely as a result but as a tool for execution. By following his unique ideas on work, such as "Conceive optimistically, plan pessimistically, and execute optimistically," "Don't avoid the whirlpool, jump into its center," and "Compete with today, not an unknown 5 years from now," you will find yourself seriously contemplating a 'better way of working' that is perfect for you and your organization.

"Have you ever been fiercely and meticulously obsessed with work, even for a single day?"
The most burning question for those who dream of success

At a Samsung Group employee book fair in 2014, one book garnered fervent attention among executives of affiliated companies: 『Why We Work』. Although it had been published several years prior, it became widely talked about with the epithet, 'a must-read for office workers who dream of success.' On that day, Kim Shin, the former CEO of Samsung C&T, had his copy of 『Why We Work』 auctioned off at the highest price among economic and business books. In an era where the value of work is increasingly depreciated, why did experienced office workers react so passionately to a book that asks about the meaning of 'work'? Perhaps it is because this book reminded us of the possibilities and meaning of work that we had momentarily forgotten.
This book is not a guide that tells you 'how to work better.' It does not lecture you with 'that's not how you should work,' nor does it console you with 'you've done enough, you can rest now.' It simply tells the honest confession of an ordinary man who, by not escaping life and burning brightly on his own, became the best, along with his struggles. If you are someone who works hard but cannot easily answer why, if you have ever been overwhelmed by a sudden void on your subway commute home after exhausting work, or if you feel powerless due to the rapidly widening wealth gap despite living diligently, then before it's too late, I hope you encounter the most important question in life through this book.
For the past 10 years, this book has been adorned with titles such as 'Samsung employees' most recommended book,' 'a book executives always gift to employees at the start of a new year,' and 'the book with the most reviews from businesspeople,' and it continues to be widely discussed. This newly released Korean edition is a revised version, with a new design to enhance its collectible value, and the translation and writing have been refined to improve the completeness of the text. After reading all 40 chapters, which are imbued with the master's perspective on work refined over 60 years in one place, you will confirm that your life and work, in which you have lived each day to the fullest with the pure desire to 'do better,' were never wrong.

Table of Contents

Prologue
To live a truly valuable life / If you dream of a happier self tomorrow

Chapter 1 Why We Work
Building a house thinking 1000 years ahead / The meaning of work learned on New Britain Island / Desperate immersion changes life / Until God extends a hand / There is no free happiness / Work tames anger

Chapter 2 Do You Love Your Work?
Change your mindset first / If you want to be loved, love first / Be greatly moved by small things / With enough affection to embrace the product / Listen to the product's cries / Become someone who burns themselves out

Chapter 3 What Do You Dream Of?
No one dreams of being second / Resolve earnestly to achieve it / Opportunity comes when you reach the subconscious / Have you fulfilled your duties as a human being? / You can't arrive first by running at the same speed / With the vigor of a weed sprouting even from a rock crevice

Chapter 4 Do You Sustain Your Effort?
The power of perseverance that transforms the ordinary into the extraordinary / Move one step further than yesterday / Kyocera doesn't look 10 years ahead / There's nothing you can't do, only things you don't do / The moment you want to give up is a new starting point / Neither hardship nor fortune lasts forever / Confront difficult tasks head-on / The steeper the mountain, the closer the summit

Chapter 5 Are You Satisfied with the Present?
If you're going to do it, do it perfectly / 99% is not enough / Mistakes cannot be erased with an eraser / Be more careful with trivial things / Work so perfectly that your hands get cut / The more vividly you draw it, the closer your dream comes / Hone your delicate senses / Dream of perfection, not just being the best

Chapter 6 Do You Work Creatively?
Take the road less traveled / Today cannot be the same as yesterday / Why non-experts succeed more than experts / Is your motive pure and selfless? / Think brightly, plan meticulously / The surest path to innovation

Epilogue
The life equation that opens tomorrow