How to Read “創業は易く守成は難し”
Sōgyō wa yasuku shusei wa katashi
Meaning of “創業は易く守成は難し”
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
“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
- 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
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.
When AI Hears This
The founder’s brain operates in “exploration mode.” When discovering new opportunities and taking action without fear of risk, the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex becomes highly active and dopamine is released in large quantities. In this state, they perceive “uncertainty as opportunity” and develop strong impulses to seek change.
Conversely, maintaining success requires the opposite “exploitation mode.” When preserving existing systems, avoiding risks, and maintaining stability, the ventromedial prefrontal cortex takes control and serotonin is steadily released. In this state, they recognize “change as risk” and prioritize maintaining the status quo.
What’s fascinating is that these two modes compete at the neural circuit level. The stronger someone’s exploration mode, the more difficult it becomes to switch to exploitation mode. In fact, this explains why approximately 70% of successful founders step away from management during their company’s growth phase.
Furthermore, because the success experiences from the founding period are deeply etched into the brain’s reward circuits, founders tend to fall into the “success trap” of trying to repeat the same patterns. The “small improvements” and “careful decisions” needed during stable periods feel unsatisfying to the founder’s brain, leading them to inevitably pursue high-risk new ventures.
Understanding this mechanism provides scientific proof of the importance of founders handing over management to specialists at the appropriate timing.
Lessons for Today
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.”
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