Kaizen

This Labor Day morning as I drove towards my favorite coffee shop to wrap up some work, I listened attentively to comedian Steve Martin narrate his book, Born Standing Up. A great read by the way.

What I love most about this book, or any now that I think about it, is the honest and authentic voice truly bold writers speak from. Martin is not shy or ashamed of sharing his setbacks, failures, successes, or even the stormy relationship between he and his father. Through transparency one gains empathy, connection, and perhaps most importantly, trust.

As I cruised past Lake Merritt in search of parking, I heard him say, "Persistence is an amazing substitute for talent." He admits to not having any discernible or innate skill for singing, acting, or even comedy. Instead, it was an ability he honed by relentlessly pounding on his craft every day for years and years on end.

It made me think of a word the Japanese like to use - Kaizen. It literally translates to, "change for better." The philosophy behind Kaizen is big results come from many small changes accumulated over time. I have found this to be a life-changing philosophy.

After several minutes of finding the perfect spot, I was able to set the parking break on a precipitous hill. As I shut the car off and began to mentally outline my day, I thought about the potent force one could be if they had both talent and the discipline to be consistent. Unstoppable, I thought. Totally unstoppable.