Here is the translation of the text into English:

In this blog, I have touched on several qualities and attributes that contribute to excellence in business. A prime example of this is “openness,” where people who can humbly listen to the advice of those around them (input) and make adjustments through trial and error (output) tend to grow stronger.

Today, I would like to reflect on two other qualities I frequently think about that contribute to business excellence. The first is, “expressing gratitude and apology openly.” As we age, we start to notice that many people around our age or older struggle with this. When I was in my first year as a working adult, I was repeatedly told by my seniors about the importance of “expressing gratitude and apology openly,” but at the time, I didn’t quite understand. However, after gaining more work experience and achieving some accomplishments, I noticed that people with a certain level of pride—whether large or small—often struggle to express sincere apologies. It’s a simple thing, but those who can express gratitude and apology properly are not only attractive as businesspeople but also as human beings.

The second quality is, “being considerate.” Unlike when I was single, now that I have a family, the range of my consideration has expanded. I often think that “being considerate is an incredibly strong asset in business.” To improve the ability to be considerate, we need to enhance several other abilities that make up this quality:

• Observational skills: There are many small things around us, like noticing that a soy sauce bottle isn’t full enough or seeing garbage in front of the house, that need to be addressed. Not everyone has the observational skills to notice these small things. If you can apply observation widely across various areas—housework, childcare, family relations, work, hobbies—your observational skills will continue to improve.
• Imagination and empathy: Even if you have strong observational skills, if you are self-centered or tend to leave things to others, you might ignore what you observe or discover. For example, imagining that “if the soy sauce bottle isn’t full enough, it will be inconvenient for the next person” or “if garbage is left in front of the house, it might be blown by the wind and cause trouble for the neighbors” requires empathy and consideration for others. I think I used to be weak in this area, but after having children, I naturally started prioritizing them over myself, and now I can change my priorities and express empathy without feeling too stressed.
• Willpower and action: To continuously be considerate, you need a strong “will to value consideration.” The more focused you are on what you’re doing, the harder it becomes to shift priorities to be considerate of others. Even when mentally or physically tired, it’s important to continue acting with consideration for others. It’s important not to overdo it, but remember that others are tired too, not just you. (Laughs)

In addition, good communication and expression skills help make your consideration feel natural without burdening the other person. Personally, I believe there’s still plenty of room for improvement in this area, but I really respect people who can naturally and widely show consideration, and I’d love to learn more from them while spending time together. (Though I haven’t had such encounters recently, especially with all the online interactions). (End joke) Haha.

SOPHOLA Inc.
Founder and CEO
Masaki Iino

P.S. Son, thank you for being the best textbook!

Let me know if you need any further adjustments!