How to start a slow business 4 – Sustainability

June 25, 2019

If you are a company employee or have experience, you will understand well that work is a marathon, not a 100m run. Few workplaces allow you to stay up all night and work too hard and miss work tomorrow. Although there may be. It is out of the question that I can't continue to work because my body is damaged. Such a workplace is called a black company.

I'm going to do my own business, but I'm not going to make a black company by myself. A company is not a matter of 1 or 2 years, but something that will continue for 10, 20, or even 100 years. It's a marathon that never ends. That's why it's important to finish in the 8th minute so that you can work happily tomorrow.

This is actually easier said than done.

First of all, there is the problem of trying too hard. In order to provide even a little better service and products, I will spare no time for dinner or sleep and work.

Then there's the problem of not being able to say "no" to your customers. This is a difficult question. Trying to meet the customer's request as much as possible (of course, it's important), I listen to all the requests. If I refuse, I worry that I won't be able to come to the store again.

Most black companies in the world are made up of this "problem of trying too hard" and "problem of not being able to say no to customers" (and the problem of throwing away employees). Here, you have to draw a line with your heart as a demon. Is it the amount of work you can do with the power of the 8th minute? Is it the amount of work that the staff will comfortably come to work tomorrow?

When Tokuko and I start something, we think about sustainability. I can do it if there are 100 orders, but can I do it even if there are 200? Can this service continue when one staff member quits? Can you repeat 50, 100, 500 times without making mistakes? Can it be continued for 1 year, 3 years, 5 years?

With that in mind, let's create a shop policy. There are many things that we have to refuse, but customers who like our products and want to support us will understand. Believe it and make a decision for your health and sustainability.

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