pre-modern times
It seems that the concept of identity was not born that long ago, but only after the modernization of Japan. In Japan, I think it was after the Meiji period.
If you ask a person from the Edo period, "Who are you?" what kind of answer will you get?
I'm the third son of a farmer in XX village, XX village..."
I think they would talk about birth, as in.
Before modernization, if you were born a peasant, you were a peasant until you died. It was a very inconvenient time, but one could say that there was no pressure to explain oneself, because one was never asked, "Who are you? It could be said that it was a time when there was no pressure to explain to the individual.
post-modernization
The situation changes after modernization.
What has changed since modernization is that many people have gained "freedom of choice" of occupation. When the freedom to choose one's occupation was created, one was free, but conversely, one "had" to choose one's occupation. This is where the problems arise. When you exit childhood and enter society, you have to decide who you will be and who you will enter society as. I have to worry once in my lifetime. I am good at arithmetic, so I will enter society as a banker. This once-in-a-lifetime period of worry. It is the birth of moratorium.
I began to explain myself not by birth, but by my chosen affiliation.
And I think it is safe to say that this form has continued since then.
I think the large number of "company employees" who were born in the modern era, especially those who work for indefinite periods of time, are typical of this model. They have trouble around their junior year of high school or senior year of college, but once they decide on a profession, once they decide on a company, they are stable.
identity crisis
However, I believe this model has become suspect recently. Retirement has become shorter and life expectancy has increased. Life has come to continue after company retirement, and this form of life is no longer stable.
After quitting their jobs, people in their 60s and 70s murmur, "What in the world am I? Seeing this, men and women in the generation below them also become anxious. People in their fifties, who are beginning to think about retirement, say the same thing.
The people who were the ace in the hole when I started working are now approaching the age of retirement. I actually hear them saying, "Who am I? I also see them in low spirits. It is a retirement crisis.
This crisis is not limited to people in their 50s and beyond.
I see people in my generation going through a crisis, and I see people in my younger generation going through a crisis as well.
On the same night that I heard a tweet from a senior in his late 50s asking, "Nakazawa-kun, who in the world am I?", I heard a tweet from a 20-year-old classmate (who was in college last year) asking, "Nakazawa-san, who in the world am I? It seems to be a common question for all generations.
Crisis Background
The following factors seem to be behind this change.
✓ It's not a lifetime job, that's a given.
✓ Market value pressure
✓ Activities of the same age group visualized (highlighted) on social networking sites
✓ Legendary pressure that continues into adulthood (Page Shift)
When you try to change jobs, you are not asked the name of the company you have been working for, but what market value do you have for "you"? and they will ask, "Who are you?" You will be asked "Who are you?
You will feel strong pressure to explain yourself.
In addition, as the activities of others become more visible on social networking sites, they feel pressure to become something that they can easily explain to others....
page shift
There is a transition in the "pressure to be somebody." Here. page shift I would like to call it.
Originally, a friend casually said, "Everyone used to admire Jimmy Page, but now everyone admires Larry Page. It's a Paige shift," he said something like that.
But I kept thinking that this shift was actually a big shift, and it stuck in my mind.
Jimmy Page, a prime example of an old-time admirer, is a guitarist in a legendary band called Led Zeppelin.
It doesn't matter if it was another star or Yutaka Ozaki, there used to be people who were crazy about rock stars as legends.
The characteristic of this rock star type of enthusiasm is that it can easily be organized as a "young hashka-like enthusiasm. I used to aspire to be a rock guitarist when I was a teenager, but in my twenties I got a haircut, put on a suit, and now I'm working a serious job." ...and that's how it's organized. It is the kind of existence that comes back as an exciting presence in my own retrospective coming-of-age story, but never intrudes into my life when I am working on a regular basis.
That is shifting. The archetypal example of everyone's admiration has shifted to Larry Page (founder of Google), who is admired and enthusiastic about a great entrepreneur who would go on to found Google. The characteristic of this entrepreneurial type of enthusiasm is that it is hard to organize it as a "young hashka-like enthusiasm".
Because you can start a business at any age, past your teens, in your twenties, or in your fifties. You can't confine yourself to retrospective stories of "I was so young back then," and the illusion of Larry will always intrude into your life. I can hear myself saying to myself, "I mean, you should still be working hard now.
Even from now on, they feel such pressure that they have to become something great (a legend).
Well, it's an extreme metaphor and I'm only half joking.
Of course, "admirers" differ from person to person, but if we imagine the Jimmy type and the Larry type as a typical example, I feel that the degree of pressure on oneself after growing up is different between the two. If you have a Larry type of admirer, I think you tend to spend your days having difficulty letting go of the pressure.
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In other words, this.
I think we are all having a hard time today. I feel that the pressure to explain oneself is getting stronger.
In the era of lifetime employment, I suspect that those who worked for a company that offered lifetime employment never had to worry about introducing themselves. If you said the name of the company, that was your explanation.
I don't feel comfortable with an identity that speaks to me in terms of affiliation.
Who are you?" When asked, "I am...", a person who works for a company typically responds, "I am X✕✕ from XX company". Self-introductions for working people usually begin with the exchange of business cards, and the natural first line of an accidental first meeting is the affiliation (company name).
But I think that people who live with market value pressure or legend pressure tend to have the problem of not being able to pin themselves down to the self that they describe in this affiliation.
Compared to the Edo period and the era of lifetime employment, the pressure on individuals is getting stronger and stronger, but at the same time, we are also becoming freer and freer, and I would like to live and savor the good things about this era.
Visionary Identity
As a way to do this, I would recommend a way to recognize your identity in the form of "I am someone who wants to do ・・・・".
This "what I want to do" formula is not entirely different from the affiliation formula. Affiliation is still an important part of one's identity.
Originally, there are many elements (many hashtags) that describe me. I was born in Kumamoto, used to play soccer, like hip-hop, like rakugo, work in sales, interested in psychology, belong to XX company... It would be good if I could explain all those many hashtags, but it is hard to tell others about them, so sometimes I need to simplify them by grouping some of my elements together. But it's hard to explain all those many hashtags to other people. The difference is what to put at the top of the list.
There are many ways, but in the end, do you explain, "I am a member of XXX company," or do you explain, "I am a person who wants to..."?
Of course, when meeting as a company member, the explanation is "I am XX of XX company," but when you want to build a relationship as an individual, you can explain that "I am a person who wants to do..." as the top priority.
In that case, you can say, "I am a person who wants to do .... And now I belong here for this reason/this desire." In this case, it would be "I am a person who wants to
Why do we recommend the "... I'm the one who wants to..." formula?
This method is recommended because of the following points.
For example, when I was excited to talk with the principal of some progressive school, I thought, "Oh, I remember that Mr. A said he wanted to innovate public education using AI, so it might be interesting to introduce this principal to Mr. A." I think it might be interesting to introduce this principal to Mr. A.
When people know that a certain person is someone who "... wants to do things," more people will want to introduce them to that person. Conversely, people who state that they are someone who "...wants to do things" are more likely to be introduced to others. In addition, the self-introduction of "I am a person who wants to do..." leads to deeper conversations and the creation of a deeper relationship even after just one meeting. In this sense, it is easy to create connections.
I also think it will make learning very efficient.
When you recognize yourself as a person who wants to do things, you can gather up information that is relevant to you, even in the daily news or in the daily interactions of various people. You can find opportunities in things that seem to flow and disappear.
I think it is also important that it is controllable for me.
You have no control over the name of the company, the department you belong to, or the job title you are assigned, and they can change or disappear at any given day, regardless of your will.
On the other hand, in the case of the "I am a person who wants to..." formula, you are not wavering yourself.
So how can we live that way?
For this reference, I would like to look at the examples of two legends. Mr. Sun and Mr. Jobs. Both are legends among business people, and many people think of them as two of their biggest idols.
Mr. Sun and Mr. Jobs
Mr. Sun always says, "Decide on a mountain to climb. He emphasizes the importance of first deciding what he intends to accomplish over the course of his life, and then deciding on this aspiration. In other words, we should think and act backward from the goal, which I think is also clear thinking. In the sense that the goal is determined first, it is deductive and top-down.
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Another legend, Mr. Jobs, gave a famous speech called "Connecting the dots" in 2005 in front of graduating students at Stanford University. In this speech, he said,
We cannot connect the dots in anticipation of the future. We can only look back and connect the dots. So you have to believe that somehow in the future the dots will be connected. Something like courage, destiny, life, karma. Whatever it is, believe in that something. It will make a big difference in your life.
Steve Jobs' 2005 Stanford Commencement Address
He is saying. I think he is saying, don't plan ahead. Trust something more intuitive and act on it rather than a plausible plan that is easy to explain to others. I don't know why, but I think he is saying that one day you will look back at the past and realize that everything you have done so far is shining and connected. If I were to put it in contrast, I would say that it is bottom-up and inductive.
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The exact opposite message?
Looking only at the parts of their messages that appear in their words, both men seem to be saying the opposite of what they are saying. Of course, the difference may be in what they emphasize, and if they talk to each other, they may find as much common ground as they do differences.
But if we only look at what is expressed in the words, it is the opposite.
Many of the business people around me respect and worship Mr. Sun and Mr. Jobs equally, but few seem to point out the "upside-down" nature of both men's messages.
Both?
I cannot take the liberty of considering the feelings of both men and speak for them. However, taking inspiration from their messages and adding my own thoughts to them, I believe that both approaches can be compatible, and that this is the recommended approach for many people, including myself.
The image of compatibility is as shown in the diagram above. An image that goes back and forth between the Sun method and the Jobs method. I think this is a good idea.
What this means is that...
Let's start with language as a beta version.
First, establish your personal vision and aspirations, and verbalize them.
This approach is similar to Mr. Sun's idea of "deciding which mountain to climb.
However, this is only a "beta version" for the purposes of this section.
I think a lot of people get stuck when I tell them that it's a "mountain" where they set their vision with the intention of "over a lifetime," "I," "really," and "with the intention that this is the ultimate goal," and I want to tell them that they don't have to think that way.
If you get too hung up on being right and thinking too much, it will be difficult to make a move.
Isn't there anyone in that situation?
Whether it's been a year or two, "Now I'm thinking about the mountain I'm going to climb."; whether it's been three or four years, "I still don't know. I am thinking."
I wonder if there are people who are still in the same situation...?
I don't think I have to think that way.
I would like to tell them that a beta version is fine, and that it is fine to have a tentative version.
It is similar to the "initial hypothesis" in Internet venture product development.
First, you start out with an initial hypothesis, but as you meet, talk, and think with others, the hypothesis changes. Or, the hypothesis that you had vaguely formed will be sharpened, and what you are trying to do will become clear.
In the same way, I think it would be a good idea to start with a beta hypothesis for personal vision.
In doing so, the movement begins.
Once you verbalize and say, "I am a person who wants to ...," it begins.
Then, when you introduce yourself to people and talk to them, you will get responses from them. Then, people will start to connect with each other through empathy and so on. Specific actions are initiated. In addition, fine-tuning of the vision occurs within oneself as one listens to reactions such as empathy and criticism.
A person who at first verbalizes, "I want to revolutionize public education with AI," may, as he or she continues to talk and take action in this way, change his or her mind to "I would rather create an environment where teachers can continue to learn, and I want to create a platform service for that purpose," or "I want to study the mechanism of human understanding. Or, "I would like to research the mechanism of human understanding to find out what is difficult to understand and why different people find it difficult to understand differently. Or it may change to "I want to study the mechanism of human understanding." Or it may change to "I want to study the mechanism of human understanding." Or it may change to "I want to study the mechanism of human understanding.
It is similar to "deciding on a mountain to climb" in the sense of verbalizing the goal, but it is also similar to "connecting the dots" in the sense of not planning too much at the beginning, but acting intuitively to some extent, and then looking back at a certain point in time to review and think about the meaning of what has been done so far. In this sense, it is similar to "Connecting the dots.
I think it would be good to go back and forth between the two.
If you think about it, "Decide on a mountain to climb," which asks you to first think and decide before moving, and "Connecting the dots," which asks you to move based on your intuition without deciding at all at the beginning, are both extreme expressions.
For many people, I think it is recommended to be in between the two. It is easier to move if you have decided on some personal vision. But if you are too focused on deciding, you will not be able to start moving. That's why we start moving with a tentative (beta) version. As you do this, your personal vision will gradually change. But that's okay. Move, change, look back, connect the dots, and move again.
The "..." part of "I am the person who wants to do ..." will gradually change. However, if I live with the self-awareness that the way I change, the way I change, and the way I change in a way that is uniquely me, I think I will be able to live a happy life.
So, if I were consulted by a senior, peer, or junior who is in an identity crisis, or is on the verge of one, I would recommend such a way of life.
Self-identity in a dynamically changing self.
In summary,
This is what I mean. By participating in society with a strategy of verbalization of "I want to do..." and change, one can enjoy life while experiencing a sense of control over oneself to some extent. I believe that this is the way to enjoy life while experiencing a sense of self-control. I am not sure where my identity will ultimately land. However, I believe that I will be able to feel my own identity in the sense that I am changing as I make my own choices.
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The process, beginning with the individual vision of the beta version, will look like the above image.
This diagram was originally drawn around 2007 to represent the concept of an in-house social networking service, but in hindsight, it seems to be the very essence of the modern way of life.
Once you verbalize your personal vision, and then transmit it, once you transmit it and start talking about it with others, you will become aware of it in many ways, and you will also make connections. When connections are made, new actions can be taken, and one's personal vision can change a little. Then, you can start communicating again with a slightly different content. From there, awareness is born again...and so on and so forth.
Your inside is composed of several kinds of creatures.
You take a step in a certain direction,
This is due to one of them, which has a great appetite for learning.
Curiosity, that's what you are.
- Richard Buck, "Illusion," translated by Ryu Murakami
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I feel that I am changing as I am guided by my own curiosity, and I feel that I am unique, including the parts of me that are changing.
Company (team) and individual
So far, I have written about the recommendation for individuals to live their lives with a personal vision. So, what is the relationship between the vision of a company or team of people and the vision of an individual? What kind of relationship should there be?
I believe a company should have a vision. When the participating members work together as One Team, One Vision, the company or team becomes a powerful and productive team.
In front of that vision, the individual becomes a "part. All members, including the president, are to play a part in realizing the company's (team's) vision. The idea that a company should have such a vision is becoming commonplace in some companies, especially venture companies.
I would like to take the idea further from there.
All members are part of the company (team) when the company's vision is considered at the top, but at the same time, conversely, when the individual member is brought to the top and his/her personal vision is considered at the top, the relationship is that the company is part of that individual vision.
The personal vision may be a beta version, but when one is able to define in some way, "I am a person who wants to...," then one can also evaluate the meaning of belonging to this company now in the context of that personal vision.
The company's vision and the individual's vision are not perfectly aligned, but if we stand on the premise that they should be perfectly aligned, it will be difficult to stay motivated because the love-hate relationship will be reversed when things get too much at some point.
The company's vision and the individual's vision are not in perfect alignment, but when the individual has a firm meaning in his or her vision and is able to sort out why he or she is here at this company, and when he or she feels a sense of stability, he or she can work strongly, and a company composed of such members will be a strong and stable team. I believe that a company composed of such members will be a strong and stable team.
Therefore, I think it will be important for the future visionary company to not only define the company's vision, but also to support each member to verbalize his or her personal vision (even if it is a beta version), and to support them to verbalize how they can define the meaning of being in the company in their personal vision. I think it will be important to support each member to verbalize his/her personal vision (even if it is a beta version) and also to verbalize how he/she can define the meaning of being in the company in his/her personal vision. If the meaning of the company in the personal vision is understood by oneself and others, one can understand why one wants to do one's best now, and it may be easier to gain the understanding and support of other members when leaving the company in a positive way in the future, when the current situation in the personal vision has progressed.
I think myself that I would like to manage a team like that.
summary
In summary, I wrote about these ideas.
The nature of identity changes over time.
Identity that emphasizes affiliation is unstable in today's world.
Visionary Identity Recommendations
Recommendation to have a beta version of personal vision (a way of thinking that falls between the Sun and Jobs styles).
It's fun to live when you feel your identity in your dynamically changing self.
And finally, I wrote about the idea that the company should be able to support a way of life in which people enjoy their changing selves while having a beta version of their personal vision in this way.
I believe that there can be a company that encourages individuals to define the relationship between their personal vision and the company. I believe that a company composed of members who are able to define and understand the relationship between their personal vision and the company in their own way will be a relatively stable and strong company, even in this unstable world and unstable business environment.
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