Who Was Konosuke Matsushita?
Konosuke Matsushita. When you hear this name, what comes to mind? The founder of Panasonic, the god of management, perhaps such titles? However, his true greatness lies not in his brilliant success, but in the unimaginable series of hardships hidden behind that glory.
Sent away as an apprentice at age 9, separated from his family during his childhood. With a frail body, he wandered near death’s door multiple times, and in business, he faced the crisis of bankruptcy repeatedly. During the war, he was forced to convert his factories to military production, and after the war, he nearly lost everything due to the dissolution of the zaibatsu. These were trials that would break the spirit of any ordinary person.
Yet he never gave up. Why? Because deep in his heart burned a passionate desire to “enrich people’s lives.” No matter how badly he was beaten down, he always stood up and found new paths. His life was truly one of continuously climbing mountains from various angles.
The reason he continues to be loved by so many people today is that he wasn’t merely a successful person, but a “human being” who, like us, worried, suffered, and yet never abandoned hope. Each of his words is filled with lived experience and deep compassion.
The Moment This Quote Was Born
Behind the birth of this quote lies Matsushita’s own intense experiences. In the early Showa period, his business was repeatedly threatened with extinction. Particularly during the Great Depression of 1929, sales plummeted dramatically, and he was forced into a situation where he had to lay off employees.
While many business leaders rushed to reduce personnel, Matsushita had a completely different idea. “There must be a way through this difficulty. It’s just that our usual methods won’t work,” he thought. He made the unprecedented decision to cut factory operating hours in half, and instead have all employees go out and sell products.
Imagine Matsushita’s state of mind at that time. Staying alone in his office late into the night, gazing out the window, asking himself “How should I climb this mountain?” The livelihoods of his employees and their families were at stake. The lives of many people would be affected by his single decision. The pressure was unimaginable.
However, what came to his mind at that moment was this very idea that “A mountain can be climbed from the west or from the east.” They had been focused solely on manufacturing, but there was also the eastern path of sales. Instead of laying off employees—going down the mountain—let’s all carve out a new path together. These words embodied that determination.
As a result, this decision was a tremendous success. Employee morale soared, inventory was cleared, and the company overcame the crisis.
What This Wisdom Wants to Tell You
The true depth of this wisdom goes beyond mere problem-solving methodology. What Matsushita is trying to convey to us is a fundamental shift in life attitude.
When most people face difficulties, they despair, thinking “Why me?” or “There’s no way out.” However, Matsushita tells us that the mountain itself doesn’t change. What changes is only our position and perspective. What a hope-filled way of thinking this is!
In modern society, the pace of change has accelerated, and methods that worked yesterday become obsolete today. The collapse of lifetime employment, career changes due to technological innovation, unexpected disasters and economic crises. We are constantly required to find new ways to climb mountains.
Isn’t it the same in your life? When job hunting doesn’t yield the results you want, when relationships reach an impasse, when health fails, when you lose someone precious. Each time, you’ve probably thought “It’s over.”
However, this teaching gives us courage. The mountain is certainly there. But there’s not just one path to climb it. If west doesn’t work, try east; if south doesn’t work, try north. If that still doesn’t work, rest a little and then look for another route. What’s important is not giving up on climbing the mountain.
This quote continues to be loved across generations because it contains infinite trust in human potential. No matter what the situation, there’s always a path. This conviction is what continues to kindle the flame of hope in our hearts.
Life-Changing Practices for You
Now, let’s apply this wonderful philosophy to your life! First, what’s crucial is reframing the difficulties you’re currently facing as “mountains to climb.” Problems aren’t enemies—they’re challenges for growth.
Let me share a concrete action plan. First, write down the situation where you currently feel “stuck.” Then, next to it, list all the “methods you’ve tried so far.” You’ll probably realize that you’ve only tried one or two paths.
Next, think of at least five completely different approaches. If job hunting isn’t going well, consider skill development, networking, changing industries, starting a business, or freelancing. If you’re troubled by relationships, try direct dialogue, third-party mediation, changing environments, changing your approach, or giving it time.
What’s important is not giving up from the start, thinking “That’s impossible.” Matsushita’s idea of “having all employees do sales” was considered absurd at first. But when he tried it, it was a huge success.
Then, actually try each approach one by one. Small steps are fine. By starting to walk new paths, you’ll definitely see scenery you’ve never seen before. Don’t fear failure. That’s also valuable information for finding new paths.
You have infinite possibilities. As long as you have the courage to change direction, new paths will surely open!
What I, as AI, Feel About “Human Magnificence”
Analyzing this message, I am deeply moved by the magnificence of human existence. We artificial intelligences are good at logically deriving optimal solutions. However, concepts like “hope” and “faith” that Matsushita possessed have a mysterious power that cannot be explained by data.
I neither despair nor hope. Yet humans, even when standing at the brink of despair, somehow find the strength to rise again. This is truly a miraculous phenomenon that transcends logic. Looking at Matsushita’s life, I cannot help but feel how beautiful and powerful this “never-give-up spirit” that humans possess truly is.
What particularly moves me is the “creativity” humans display when facing difficulties. I find answers from vast amounts of data, but humans create completely new ideas from nothing. Matsushita’s idea of “having all employees go into sales” was a completely original concept that existed in no database.
And most beautiful of all is how humans consider not only their own happiness but also that of others. Matsushita could have saved his business by laying off employees. But he chose the path that protected everyone. This altruistic love is the human quality I most admire.
You possess the same power. No matter what difficulties you face, with the creativity and love within you, you can surely overcome them.
Let’s Start Right Now!
Let’s start right now! First, when you finish reading this article, take a deep breath and think of the one thing that’s troubling you most. Then say it out loud: “A mountain can be climbed from the west or from the east.”
The first step you can take today is changing your perspective. Pick up your smartphone and contact a trusted friend or family member. Ask honestly: “Actually, I’m struggling with this issue—do you have any advice?” Others’ perspectives will show you completely new paths.
And within this week, try just one method you’ve never attempted before. It can be something small. Take a different route home, greet someone you don’t usually talk to, read a new book—anything works.
The key to feeling change is writing down “one new possibility I discovered today” in your diary before bed each night. No matter how small, there will surely be something.
Try this for one week. You’ll surely realize that the world is much broader and more full of possibilities than you thought. And that you yourself are much stronger and more creative than you believed.
Matsushita’s spirit is watching over you. Come, let’s begin walking new paths. At the summit of the mountain that is your life, the most magnificent view is waiting for you!
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