Hello, everyone.
This is Enta.
Today, I’d like to reflect a bit on my past and write about the challenges of work and personal growth.
This is something that occurred to me while talking to an HR representative at a major company.
These days, there’s a trend that views “education without anger” and “guidance without scolding” as the right approach, isn’t there?
Power harassment is unacceptable; if you scold someone, you’re immediately out; if you’re too strict, people will quit.
Yeah, I guess that's true.
Is that really true?
That's what I've always thought.
That person said something similar, and we both nodded along, like, “Uh-huh, uh-huh.” lol
Are you guys really okay, having grown up without ever being scolded?
Am I the only one who feels that you guys, who were raised without ever being scolded, will have a hard time in the future?
Do people grow when they are made aware of something?
Do people really thrive on praise?
Of course, there are people who thrive on praise. But isn’t that probably the result of their own efforts?
But you know,Just take a look at the world.
Most of the people who rise up from poverty around the world have done so while being yelled at, scolded, and beaten in the face of injustice.
Whether in Asia, Africa, or South America.
There’s a phrase called “the hunger to succeed,” but that’s not just empty talk—Things Born from a Real Environment。
People who learn the ropes while getting beaten up, grit their teeth in an unreasonable environment, and still push their way to the top.
In that environment, can the complacent Japanese really come out on top?
Is it really true that we can’t grow through hardship?
I don't really think so.
Young employees at major companies are starting to realize this
I recently had the chance to talk with some young people at a major general contractor, and they said some interesting things.
"My boss is way too lenient—if things keep going like this, I might be in trouble."
...right?
When I heard this, I was like, "Whoa!" lol
Kids who get it really do get it, don't they?
That’s why some students actually volunteer to work in demanding environments or put themselves in challenging positions.
Young people who think things are getting serious if they keep going this way, and those who don't.
Right now, opinions are completely split.
Kids who realize things are getting serious take action on their own.
Kids who don't think for themselves just keep soaking in lukewarm water. Seriously, they're like the frog in the pot!
This difference is going to really show in five or ten years.
Absolutely.
"White-collar company" sounds nice, though.
A "White Company."
It sounds good, doesn't it? lol
No overtime, no workplace harassment, and great benefits.
The sound quality is excellent.
But you know,It's become a shell of its former self, and there are no real heavyweights left.That kind of thing happens quite a bit, actually. (Even the HR folks were stumped, lol.)
Flowers grown in a greenhouse are beautiful, but they wither when you put them outside.
It's not easy to say which one is better, but,
People who work at "black companies" (meaning places with grueling working conditions) have incredibly strong skills, knowledge, and experience.。
This is an indisputable fact.
Of course, I'm not advocating for exploitative companies, am I?
My way of thinking might be old-fashioned, but,
If you’ve worked at a “black company” and then move to a “white company,” your horizons are likely to broaden. (Though some people just become a total slacker, lol.)
What about the opposite?
What happens if someone who’s only ever worked at “white companies” ends up at a “black company”?
It felt like, “Will I even make it through the summer??”—and then, a few months later...
People who have experienced challenging environments are able to perform even better in more comfortable ones.
But people who have only ever known an easy life can't do anything in a tough environment.
This is something that goes without saying, but for some reason, that common sense just doesn't seem to hold true these days.
Ages 20–39 Are the Years for Investing in Yourself
Here's what I think.
From ages 20 to 39, I work in a demanding environment, viewing it as an investment in myself.
From then on, I’ll draw on that knowledge and experience in my work.
Times may change, but people don't change that easily.
People are talking about AI, digital transformation, and work-style reforms, but human nature hasn't really changed much in the last 1,000 years, lol.
Those who work hard are rewarded, while those who slack off get what they deserve.
This is one thing that never changes, no matter the era.
A friend who did whatever he wanted when he was young, took the easy way out, and got by by changing jobs constantly.
There were quite a few of them around me, too.
It's a total disaster right now. (I can't say that out loud, though.)
There are a few people who live from day to day.
By the time you reach your 40s and 50s, you have no skills, no knowledge, and no certifications, and your physical strength is starting to decline.
If you ask, “What can I do?”... well, the real world is tough!
I'm not joking—this is for real.
While my friends were playing, they were laughing at me.
Speaking of those days, while my friends were out having a blast, I was working my butt off on set, barely getting any sleep.
Well, even now, the senior I still hang out with was a workaholic back then, too.
It could just be that I thought that was normal, though.
People around me were laughing at me.
"What are you doing?"
"Just quit that grueling job."
"Quit your job and come back home."
I was asked out over and over again.
To be honest, there were times when I wavered.
Seeing everyone having fun, I wondered, "What am I even doing here?"
I wake up at 5 a.m., go to the job site, work on paperwork until midnight, and don't get to sleep until 2 or 3 a.m.
Even though I'm supposed to be in management, I ended up laying mats, setting up formwork using the lath method, and doing spray application with that senior colleague, lol.
On top of that, I had to manage the construction while transporting leftover materials to the next site... It was super tough lol
Meanwhile, my friend goes to the pachinko parlor, hangs out with classmates over drinks on the weekends, works part-time, and says, “I’m really enjoying life!”
Plus, since I was away from home, I felt even more envious, you know?
But I didn't go home.
Why?
Quite simply,"I thought that was normal, and I enjoyed my busy days."From.
There really wasn't any basis for that, lol.
It just means I was stupid.
I was just a vague, foolish person, so I was too busy getting through the tasks right in front of me to have any time to think.
And now, looking back, I realize that being so busy back then was the right choice.
I think a lot of the friends I used to hang out with back then are going through a pretty rough time right now. (I don’t know for sure since I haven’t been in touch with them lately.)
Thanks to the efforts I put in back then, I now have my own company, do work I love, run in the mountains whenever I want, and get to work in the countries I love.
Here are the results.
That said, being a business owner is a total pain in the ass, lol.
I think this is a job only a true masochist could do...
Strictness isn't a bad thing.
I'm not saying you should "hit" or "yell," mind you.
I never said a word about engaging in workplace harassment.
However,The Right Amount of Discipline Helps People GrowThat's the thing.
People don't grow just by hearing "It's okay" when they fail.
"Why did that happen? What should we do next?"
It's because there are people who push us to think that we start to think.
We grow because we’re made to realize things.
People who have been raised solely on kindness crumble when they hit a wall.
People who have experienced hardship know how to overcome obstacles when they encounter them.
This difference comes up time and time again throughout life.
I, myself, have been yelled at like crazy by quite a few senior colleagues and bosses in the past.
There were a lot of unfair things, too. (I still really hate that jerk of a boss, lol.)
There have been countless times when I’ve thought, “Why does this always happen to me?”
But you know,Looking back now, it’s because of that strictness that I am who I am today.That's what I think.
If it weren't for the people who scolded me back then, I wonder what would have become of me by now.
I might have ended up following the same path as the friends I used to play with back then.
Maybe my way of thinking is outdated.
Maybe it's just out of step with the times.
But you know,The essence of human growth has remained unchanged throughout history.That's what I think.
Toughened by adversity, overcoming injustice—the strength you gain from these experiences will last a lifetime.
Time spent in lukewarm water leaves nothing behind.
Kids between the ages of 20 and 39
"The environment you find challenging right now is the best investment you can make in your future self."That's the thing.
For those who came after that, this is the result of what has happened so far. Accept it and make an effort to build on it!
It's easy to run away.
It's easy to quit, too.
But what lies ahead?
The fact that you're gritting your teeth and doing your best right now will definitely help you 10 or 20 years from now.
I've experienced this firsthand.
That's why I can say this with confidence.
Don't run away from hardship.
That hardship will make you a person with a spirit that no one can match.
See you later.
