Endurance and Growth

 

Sadaharu Oh, the home run king of Japanese baseball and later hailed as a great manager, once said, “When a team or a person grows, they don't just move up at a 45-degree angle. It gradually rises until you can't see it, and then takes a sharp curve in the middle. Even during those gradual stages, as a manager, it's important to be patient and keep waiting.” This concept aligns with the "learning curve" in the education field and the "growth curve" in the product life cycle of the marketing field. It necessitates a significant amount of effort and continuous ingenuity. Regarding this, Mr. Sadaharu Oh also emphasized, "Effort is always rewarded. If there is effort that goes unrewarded, it cannot truly be called effort." At first glance, these words may seem harsh. However, Sadaharu Oh, who endured many slumps in his baseball career, consistently made efforts to bridge the gap between ideals and reality, achieving his goals repeatedly. These words are a testament to his experiences. I believe it is crucial to adopt a mindset of never giving up until the very end. It is during the challenging period between ideal and reality that significant self-growth occurs, bringing you closer to your aspirations.

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