I watched "If I'm Not Melancholy, It's Not Work": All roads lead to me

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If there is no special explanation, when you see the title of this book “[If you are not depressed, it is not a job: Success techniques in the workplace that you must know] (https://www.businessweekly.com.tw/careers/blog/6111)”, you will probably think that this is a sensational headline killing method, right?

——No matter what your attitude towards work is, whether you want to pursue achievement motivation or just want to live a stable life, how can work be related to depression? Do you have to make yourself depressed to be successful in the workplace?

I have to say that the title of this book is one thing, it expresses an attitude towards work and life, but what is even more important is the business philosophy from the two authors.

Work is inherently caused by the accumulation of melancholy and worries. Relaxed work will not achieve much. Only those who move forward in melancholy every day can create new value.

The conversation between the two entrepreneurs was not just about talking about high points, but also about a lot of life experiences, successes and failures, which was very impressive. From the second half of 2010 to March 11, 2011, they met at regular intervals every week to discuss the production of the book. Although each unit in this book is not long, there is always something to gain from chewing it carefully.

This book “[Melancholy でなければ, 事事じゃない]” published by Kodansha (https://www.amazon.co.jp/%E6%86%8 2%E9%AC%B1%E3%81%A7%E3%81%AA%E3%81%91%E3%82%8C%E3%81%B0%E3%80 %81%E4%BB%95%E4%BA%8B%E3%81%98%E3%82%83%E3%81%AA%E3%81%84-%E8%A6%8B%E5%9F%8E-%E5%BE%B9/dp/4062170027)”, I have read it many times at Kinokuniya Japanese Bookstore. Indeed, a sharp title will always attract people to take a second look.

Previously, I introduced Mr. Mishiro’s saying “If you’re not melancholy, it’s not work” on Twitter, which caused widespread discussion. Work is meaningful precisely because it is melancholy. This quote inspired many people. When I look back on my own life, it’s usually with a lot of melancholy when I feel like I’ve grown. By Susumu Fujita

Friends in the Internet circle may have heard of Susumu Fujita (https://ja.wikipedia.org/wiki/%E8%97%A4%E7%94%B0%E6%99%8B). He founded CyberAgent Company and became the youngest chairman of a listed company in Japanese history at the age of 26. And Mianjo Tetsu is a well-known publisher in Japan. In 1993, he established the publishing house Gentosha. He is known as the “God of Japanese bestsellers” for his intelligence and domineering style.

These two leading workplace warriors, the former (Toru Mijo) is subjectively confident and radical in style, while the latter (Shin Fujita) has a soft personality and the courage to try. They also have a high degree of enthusiasm for work, but in terms of their behavior style and attitude towards life, they represent different generations and can also be regarded as two completely different types.

“[If you’re not depressed, it’s not work: Success techniques in the workplace that you must know] (https://www.businessweekly.com.tw/careers/blog/6111)” There are many things in this book that impressed me deeply. The chapters engraved on it, such as the two entrepreneurs’ different views on business cards (Toru Mitsuru values the etiquette of exchanging business cards, while Susumu Fujita advocates the convenience of online connections), also reminded me of a friend who mentioned the importance of business cards and job titles a few days ago, and I can get some reflections while reading the book.

In addition, I also benefited a lot from what Toru Mitsuru mentioned, “You should worry about small things” and “Don’t ask people out for dinner without saying what you mean.” Think about it, I seem to often invite friends, but do I sincerely invite and talk to them every time? I think there are too many details here, and we really need to review them carefully. I also like the sentence “as tenacious as an angel, as delicate as a devil”. It sounds a bit romantic when read, but it makes some sense if you think about it more deeply. Mian Chengteru deserves to be a senior publisher. Every subscript in the book is sonorous and powerful to read, but it is worth savoring carefully.

Closing the book, I stood up slowly, looked out the window at the blue sky after the rain, and showed a rare smile. Because I discovered that “all roads lead to you” is true - as long as you have the right mentality and the right way to do things, then even the most complex and difficult tasks can be solved.

I like the following two sentences very much, and I would like to share them with you:

The body that puts aside successful experience at the moment of success is the most beautiful. Success is just a certain point in the process, and you must immediately return to the starting point. By Jian Chengte

When a person has faith, no matter how great the difficulties are, he will remain unmoved; no matter where he faces strong pressure, he will not be at a loss. By Susumu Fujita

★ Featured Image Source: Zac Durant on Unsplash

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Further reading

• I read “The Yield of Thinking”: Strengthen the four thinking skills and develop business thinking
• I read “First-class people read, where do they draw the line?” : Deep Thinking Techniques for Elite Reading: Don’t draw lines on existing beliefs, but absorb the unknown
• I read “Narrative Arc: Pulitzer Prize judges teach you to write good and popular interview reports”: My review of the interview writing career

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