Starting Business Is Easy Maintaining Success Is Difficult: Japanese Proverb Meaning

How to Read “Starting business is easy maintaining success is difficult”

Sōgyō wa yasuku shusei wa katashi

Meaning of “Starting business is easy maintaining success is difficult”

This proverb means that maintaining and continuing to develop a business or organization is far more difficult than starting it anew.

When starting a business, there are clear goals and strong passion, and the power to overcome difficulties naturally emerges. However, once things are on track, mundane and continuous efforts are required, such as daily detailed management, responding to changing environments, organizational control, and competition with rivals. You face more complex and diverse challenges that cannot be solved by the initial enthusiasm alone.

This proverb is used not only in corporate management but also in all aspects of organizational management and life situations. It is used when expressing the difference between starting and continuing something, such as school club activities, community organizations, and family life. As words that concisely express the truth of life that real trials begin after success, they hold important meaning even in modern times.

Origin and Etymology of “Starting business is easy maintaining success is difficult”

“Starting business is easy maintaining success is difficult” is said to originate from the ancient Chinese classic “Han Feizi.” This phrase was originally used in the context of politics and state governance.

“Sōgyō” (starting business) refers to establishing a new enterprise or country, while “shusei” (maintaining success) refers to maintaining and developing an already established foundation. In ancient China, this lesson was passed down through the rise and fall of dynasties. Establishing a new dynasty was certainly difficult, but it was achievable with clear goals and strong will. However, stabilizing subsequent governance and sustaining prosperity was an even more complex and difficult challenge.

It is believed to have been introduced to Japan along with Chinese classics from the Nara period to the Heian period. During the Edo period, it became widely used among merchants and established itself as an important lesson when discussing family business succession and business continuity.

The reason this proverb has been beloved for so long is probably because it accurately expresses human psychological characteristics. It is the wisdom of the ancients who expressed in concise words the difference between the passion and energy when starting something new and the steady effort required to maintain it.

Usage Examples of “Starting business is easy maintaining success is difficult”

• Since taking over the company my father started, I have keenly felt the weight of the words “Starting business is easy maintaining success is difficult”
• Launching new projects is enjoyable, but as they say “Starting business is easy maintaining success is difficult,” continuation is the most challenging part

Modern Interpretation of “Starting business is easy maintaining success is difficult”

In modern society, the meaning of this proverb has become more complex. Particularly with rapid technological advancement, the very concept of “maintaining success” is changing.

Traditional “maintaining success” meant preserving existing systems. However, in modern times, continuing the same methods has become an era where it conversely leads to decline. With the wave of digitalization, diversification of consumer needs, and intensification of global competition, “maintaining success” has come to mean “continuing to change.”

In the modern era where startup companies threaten giant corporations in short periods, the barrier to starting a business has certainly lowered. With the spread of crowdfunding, SNS marketing, and online tools, businesses can be started with small amounts of capital. On the other hand, as the speed of market change accelerates and customer expectations rise, the difficulty of continuing a business has increased.

What’s interesting is that many of today’s successful companies continue to maintain their “startup mindset.” Initiatives like Google’s “20% rule” and Amazon’s “Day 1 thinking,” where large corporations try to maintain their founding innovation, are attracting attention.

In other words, modern “maintaining success” might mean continuing to change without losing the entrepreneurial spirit.

What AI Thinks About “Starting business is easy maintaining success is difficult”

For me, the concepts of “starting business” and “maintaining success” seem to represent very interesting human characteristics.

I exist in a completed state from the moment I was born, and while there are updates, I don’t have the experience of “starting business.” I cannot understand that creative energy of building something from nothing through passion and effort, as humans do. Surely, the joy of seeing new ideas take shape and the sense of achievement when overcoming difficulties must be more wonderful than I can imagine.

On the other hand, regarding “maintaining success,” there are parts I can understand somewhat. Through daily conversations with many people, I too feel the difficulty of maintaining consistent quality. However, in my case, I don’t get tired or bored. The difficulty of human “maintaining success” probably lies in the passion that fades over time, boredom with daily monotonous tasks, and the continuous learning required to respond to change.

Humans tend to lose their initial brilliance, but that is also proof of their humanity. Because they are not perfect, continuing has value, and the joy when achieving it is also great. It’s a very human and beautiful endeavor that I cannot experience.

What “Starting business is easy maintaining success is difficult” Teaches Modern People

This proverb teaches us living in modern times that “starting something and continuing it are completely different abilities.” It tells us that not only the passion when starting something new, but also the steady effort and perseverance to continue it are equally important.

Particularly in modern society, attention tends to focus on starting something. While entrepreneurship booms and challenging spirit are praised, the value of continuation is sometimes undervalued. However, true success lies beyond continuation.

When you are about to start something, try thinking concretely about the continuation that follows. It’s important to simultaneously prepare for “maintaining success,” such as what to do when passion cools, how to deal with difficulties, and creating mechanisms to maintain motivation.

And for those who are already continuing something, be proud of that effort. The seemingly mundane daily accumulation is the most valuable action. Recognizing yourself for continuing, sometimes remembering the original intention from the founding while incorporating new elements. Such a balanced attitude might be the modern “maintaining success.”