Hello, everyone.
This is Enta.
The other day, the Kagoshima Jitsugyo Alumni Association held a reunion in Nagoya.
As always, there are a lot of baseball club members, lol.
While I was there, I spoke with a former Chunichi Dragons teammate and a current Chunichi Dragons player.
Since I was on the swim team—which is strictly an individual sport—I asked him all sorts of questions about the challenges of team play and how athletes can improve.
And while I was there, I heard a really interesting story!
Where should we place the peak?
This was an insanely funny story lol
If you excel at Koshien, there’s a good chance your baseball career will end there.
That's what they say.
Conversely, if you develop that talent in college, your chances of turning pro increase.
It seems that what’s important for educators is how to prevent students from “blooming” too early...
That's a really profound way of thinking, isn't it?
High School or College: Where Will You Bloom?
From a financial standpoint, high schools attract more people when they send teams to Koshien.
It will raise the school's profile and increase the number of applicants.
But,When I think about that child's life, that's not the right place.That's right!
If you really have that kid's best interests at heart, it would be better for him to come into his own in college or adult league baseball.
It seems that it’s rare for players who have performed exceptionally well at Koshien to go on to play professionally and succeed.
On the other hand, there are tons of pro players who never even made it to the Koshien Tournament in high school!
That's a real eye-opener, isn't it!?
Isn't it the same at work, too!?
So, when I heard that, I thought to myself...
In a company setting, what would that correspond to?
Company Growth and Personal Growth.
The Growth of Artisans and the Growth of Supervisors.
Isn't that exactly the same composition?
The Growth Curve of a Craftsman
As a craftsman, it usually takes about three years to become proficient.
In about five years, you'll be able to handle just about anything (in that industry).
After that, you'll be able to try your hand at all sorts of different types of work, right?
A Director's Growth Curve
It’s said that in this field, it takes a project manager five years to get a grasp of the big picture, while it takes a site representative ten years to truly come into their own.
This takes a while, too, doesn't it?
But the important thing here is"Where to Have It Bloom"What?!
Is this what you'd call the peak of my life?!?
Company Profits vs. Personal Growth
This is where it gets tricky.
As a company,I hope he'll become self-sufficient and start earning his own living soon.。
We need someone who can hit the ground running!
However, when it comes to personal growth, it’s often better to take your time and nurture it.
To use a baseball analogy,
- Bloomed in High School → It may benefit the school, but there’s a chance the student will struggle (or get injured)
- Blooming in College and the Working World → The potential to bring out the best in the individual
In the construction industry, for example,
- Ready to contribute in just three years → It may benefit the company, but doesn't it hinder the development of practical skills? (Do mistakes stand out?)
- Developed over 10 years → Bringing out the best in each person
Which one will you choose!?
That's a really tough problem, isn't it?
My Answer
To be honest,It's important to strike a balance between the twoThat's what I think.
The company's profits are important, too.
But personal growth is important, too.
How do you strike that balance?
I think this is where business owners and managers really get to show what they're made of. (That said, it's super tough...)
Specifically?
For example,
- By the third year, be able to handle all standard tasks (for the company's profit)
- However, starting in the fifth year, we’ll have them try their hand at various types of work (to foster personal growth and identify their strengths and weaknesses).
- An environment where you can be appointed as a field representative early on and grow alongside your senior colleagues while providing behind-the-scenes support (beneficial to both parties)
Something like this,Nurture it step by stepI think that might be the best option.
Actually, the current site representative for the general contractor took on the role early on, and the supervising engineer is quite experienced, isn't he?
The government is backing that, too.
I think the current training method probably makes sense.
I meant to write the kanji as “skills,” “experience,” and “network” lol
Why Players Who Didn't Make It to Koshien Go On to Succeed in the Pros
My senior mentioned this, too, but,
Players who didn't make it to Koshien carry that sense of regret with them forever.That's right, lol. (Well, I'd like to make it to the national tournament, wouldn't I?)
That frustration serves as motivation, driving me to work my absolute hardest in college and in the working world.
As a result, they go on to become professional athletes.
And apparently, there’s actually an advantage to not wearing your body out!
On the other hand, it’s said that many players who burn out at Koshien end up feeling satisfied with that achievement.
It’s also said that many people push themselves too hard in high school and then struggle with injuries afterward.
Well, I guess that’s bound to happen when you’re working that hard...
Isn't it the same in the construction industry?
Do people who are entrusted with major projects at a young age and succeed end up hitting a plateau later on? (Like those branch managers at big companies who act all high and mighty because of their weird career paths?)
On the other hand, people who’ve spent a long time working their way up often blossom all at once later on. (There are some people who’ve earned tremendous trust from government agencies, right?)
You see this kind of thing all the time on the job, don't you!?
Well, not everyone is like that, though lol
But,Where to place the peakI think that way of thinking is really important.
After hearing about the world of baseball this time, I realized that it applies to the construction industry as well.
Which should take priority: the company's growth or personal growth?
This is quite a difficult topic, isn't it?
Unless a company grows to a certain extent, its employees’ growth will also stall. (Taking on big or challenging projects really helps people grow, doesn’t it?)
There isn't just one answer.
There is a parenting style that suits each individual.
The important thing is,Bringing out the best in a person。
And,Striking a balance with the company's profits。
I think companies that can do this are the ones that will survive in the years to come.
How about your company?
How do you develop your young employees?
It was a day where I heard some great stories that really got me thinking ^^
Also, I had a drinking party with some old classmates for the first time in a while, and I drank way too much—it was crazy lol.
See you later.
