Of late, it has truly hit home just how much the current business environment has changed. Amidst genuinely tough hiring conditions, meanwhile, our company has managed to obtain the services of outstanding young people, albeit a limited number, in their early 20s.
Upon joining our firm, these new employees were initially startled by the corporate culture. While it is true that our company president is addressed as Shacho (“President”), all other personnel go by their own family names attached with the honorific san (Mr., Mrs., Ms), and not their official titles. Evaluations for promotions, pay hikes and bonuses are all implemented impartially and free of gender distinction. These young folks seem stunned that these practices are carried out as a natural matter of course and are perceived as normal behavior.
Examining the situation at Phile Web as they pondered where to go to work, these jobseekers report that they were struck with admiration at the enriched surroundings here, and felt highly motivated to gain employment with us. They effectively realized their aspirations.
Phile Web got its start 18 years ago in 1999. Today, the company has grown to a scale of some 1.5 million unique users and 25 million page views per month. Upon hearing those stats, these young people could only outright wonder “why and how” and otherwise yearn to fathom the secrets behind this success.
In response, I explained that the company motto (“Contributing to the constructive development of the industry”) is perceived as our most critical benchmark, and a principle to be strictly upheld in any and all situations. But even so, they appeared to have wandered into a domain that for them is “graspable but at the same time not so easy to truly wrap their minds around.”
As a personal conviction, I fully subscribe to the aforementioned corporate maxim of “Contributing to the constructive development of the industry,” putting that ideology into practice as an uncompromising spiritual quality over the years to date. Along with the words of Konosuke Matsushita that, “An industry must be the envy of other businesses,” I regard this motto as an indisputable truth that also comprises the cornerstone of my own personal endeavors.
The idea that contributing to the development of industry should benefit you alone yourself is the greatest possible drawback. What is demanded, rather, is action taken solely with the advancement of the industry itself foremost in mind. Phile Web contents are also rooted in this thinking, and there has been no change in that stance to this day. This is the very reason, in fact, that we have managed to make such progress.
he eyes of the newly hired employees glistened, and began to fall into sync with those of their workplace seniors. They expressed surprise not only at Phile Web, but also regarding the free magazine business. In 2007, at the time of the “Lehman shock” global economic recession triggered by the collapse of Lehman Brothers, I proposed placing high-caliber free magazines in stores. That was also drawn from the ethos of “Always beside the customer,” Now, 10 years later, that concept has emerged as another core pillar of our company’s business. The Sales Promotion Division, which is assigned with that area, is charting handsome growth.
The eyes of the newly hired employees glistened, and began to fall into sync with those of their workplace seniors. They expressed surprise not only at Phile Web, but also regarding the free magazine business. In 2007, at the time of the “Lehman shock” global economic recession triggered by the collapse of Lehman Brothers, I proposed placing high-caliber free magazines in stores. That was also drawn from the ethos of “Always beside the customer,” Now, 10 years later, that concept has emerged as another core pillar of our company’s business. The Sales Promotion Division, which is assigned with that area, is charting handsome growth.
It was always my view that, in the event of a grave publishing recession, publishers would slide into business slumps at breakneck speed akin to tumbling downhill, rendering it impossible to remain afloat. That trend became conspicuous from around 2010. The business framed as “Always beside the customer,” embarked upon by Phile Web in 2007, has grown hand in hand with the company to account for over 45% of our sales. As a support for that sector, we succeeded in bolstering our lineup of magazines targeting bookstore shelves.
To our new members, I stress: “It is critical to relentlessly take the lead in grasping the nature of the era, pushing ahead with the intent to succeed. Our company has steadily put that ideology into practice, envisioning creation on a horizon of five to 10 years into the future.” What has transpired up to this point is no coincidence. Such realities have struck a strong chord with these young people as well, with their eyes sparkling to a greater and greater degree.
Possessing insight, and the power to realize those concepts, will bring stability and latitude to the very essence of your business. This fact has become increasingly clear in my mind.