He showed up on set wearing sandals. A rookie director who defies common sense.

Here's what happened at a regular board meeting one day.

That day’s board meeting was an important gathering that also included the presidents of our partner companies. Despite the imposing atmosphere of the occasion, one foundation contractor’s president, looking absolutely terrified, shouted at the top of his lungs:

"What's up with that new supervisor!? While we were pouring concrete, he actually showed up at the site wearing flip-flops! He took a picture and then left! He's taking us for granted!"

Standing about 190 tall, with a bear-like build, hands as big as gloves, and eyes as sharp as those of a predator hunting its prey, the president of that construction company was notorious for being a real pain to deal with if you angered him. The board meeting ended without incident, but the president was furious, and that day, the entire company was abuzz with talk of the incident.

One day, my boss—who had appeared out of nowhere—murmured weakly to me.

"You've really upset the president of the general contractor, Takict... This is bad..."

That's right. The new director who made that CEO absolutely furious is, believe it or not, none other than myself (lol).

I want to apologize, but I can't meet him! My anxiety is at its peak.

Back when I was a craftsman, I used Crocs as my outdoor shoes and safety shoes as my indoor shoes.

Of course, ever since I became a director, I’ve been wearing shoes on a daily basis, but since I had a pair of Crocs in the car, I ended up switching into them out of habit when I got in the car and drove straight to the set in them.

As if that weren't bad enough, I happened to be out of business cards at the time, and since I was instructed to take a photo and return to the office immediately, I left the site without even being able to properly introduce myself. Worst of all, the president was actually working on-site that day.

Even though they are a key partner for the company, things got off to a terrible start.

After that, I visited various foundation construction sites numerous times in an attempt to apologize directly to the president, but I couldn’t seem to meet him, and time just kept passing. The only thing I kept hearing through the grapevine was that he was still very angry.

Then one day, I was put in charge of supervising the construction of a house, only to discover that the foundation work for that project was being handled by that president’s company.

"Oh no... I've got to apologize quickly..."

The more you want to put something off, the more you should just give in and take action!

Sometimes in life, there are moments when you suddenly have to steel yourself. I thought I was mentally prepared, but the “moment” I had been dreading came unexpectedly.

"That's the president. Go say hello."

My boss, who was walking around the site with me, pointed, and there—raising his voice and looking as though he could take down a bear with his bare hands—stood a massive figure reminiscent of a manga character. What’s more, he seemed to be in a particularly bad mood that day, and, if I wasn’t mistaken, he even looked bigger than usual.

Even though I’d been so eager to see this person, when I actually found myself face to face with them, I just couldn’t muster the courage. Everyone wants to avoid getting scolded—it’s something we all dread. “Maybe next time…”—thoughts like that were racing through my head.

However, in situations like that, I’ve decided to “give up.”

At first glance, this tendency might be seen as negative, but it’s actually quite useful on the job. No matter how big or small the project, problems are bound to arise. Whether it’s issues with neighbors or with customers, it’s only natural for some kind of unexpected problem to arise. If you run away when that happens, the situation will continue with the problem unresolved, and it will eventually surface as a major issue down the line.

Although the circumstances are different, I try to accept the situation and move forward in times like these.

Still, he was so huge it was scary. If he slapped me with that hand, I’d probably be sent flying far, far away, just like in a manga. With that thought in mind, I steeled myself and went over to say hello.

A willingness to sincerely accept failure

"Nice to meet you, Mr. President. I'm Takict, a new hire."

The moment he said that and handed over his business card, the president’s face turned pale before his very eyes, and he shouted with such intensity that his eyes nearly popped out of his head.

"It's you, is it?! Showing up at someone else's worksite in flip-flops while we're working—you've got some nerve for a rookie! How dare you even show your face here! All right, I'm gonna knock you out!"

His presence is intense. His face is right in my face. But I’m not backing down. If I back down now, we won’t be able to work together in the future.

"I'm very sorry about what happened back then."

I limited myself to saying just that one thing and, with all my heart, bore the president’s anger alone. I don’t remember exactly how long it lasted, but once he had finished saying everything he wanted to say, his tone softened slightly, and he accepted my business card.

"So, what brings you here today?"

It was the moment the storm had passed. Riding that momentum, I managed to successfully place the order.

The world of construction is a fiercely competitive arena—one where countless skilled professionals are working hard to prove their worth. That’s why it would be disrespectful for those in management not to approach their work with the same level of passion. This time, I got scolded for a really silly mistake I made, but by steeled my resolve and facing up to that mistake head-on, I truly feel I’ve gained a great deal from the experience.

The Future Paved by “Takict, the Sandal Guy”

On that day, after I had given up, steeled myself, and shown a willingness to go out of my way to get scolded, the president eventually started calling me “Takict in Sandals.”

Eventually, even when I asked him to do things that could be considered impossible requests or just plain selfish demands—and of course, he would yell at me and complain—he began to listen to me. I now find myself in a future I could never have imagined back when he had that demonic look on his face.

Even if they yell at me or scold me, if I maintain my composure and face them head-on with sincerity, there are times when they’ll back down (laughs). I think trust with craftsmen is born out of that kind of give-and-take.

I’d like to share this with the young construction managers who will shape the future.

In today’s world, it’s becoming increasingly rare to be seriously scolded or yelled at, so you may never get used to it. However, in the world of architecture, you’d be wise to remember that “the best days are when you’re being scolded and yelled at” and “being scolded and yelled at is an opportunity for growth.”

When someone yells at you, don’t be intimidated or run away—face it head-on with dignity. It’s only when you overcome that challenge and work together as a team to deliver excellent results that you’ll truly see the real appeal of construction management.