Reinvention is the soul of business
The twentieth century saw one of the fastest and most surprising cultural and economic transformations in history. In the 1940s, Japan was still an agricultural country with an entrenched culture that closed to the world and with a mentality fruit of the monarchic system and the feudal inheritance.
This mentality was one of the reasons that led the Japanese to ally themselves with Italy and Germany which, despite different political regimes, lived “monarchies” with Hitler and Mussolini. The axis and geography of World War II was formed.
The big bang of Japan’s economic, cultural and social transformation began with an explosion. The first in Hiroshima, the second in Nagasaki, and the third aboard an American warship, when the emperor signed the terms of unconditional surrender.
From the ashes of the bombed cities, a Japan was born that opened to the world and changed the agricultural vocation by the technological and inventive vocation. It has transformed a traumatic crisis into an opportunity for structural change and reinvented itself.
From an economic model, which was still in the seventeenth century, it became the great exporter of technology and knowledge of the postwar period. By the 1970s, Japan had become larger than the dreams of feudal ancestors and is now one of the world’s greatest powers. In the end, Japan won.
Our world has experienced crises from time to time. That’s why every business and every segment must change the mindset and reinvent itself.
Many segments have already done this successfully. Brazilian fashion, for example, has reinvented itself and, like Japan, conquered the world. Previously it was focused on the domestic market and reflected essentially the mentality and aspirations of Brazilians. Because of this narcissistic and “tropical” view, it was seen out there as exotic and picturesque, that is, a product to look at, but not to buy and use.
From the 90s onwards, designers created a cosmopolitan fashion concept to fit well in any situation and place, from Rio de Janeiro to Bangkok and, especially, on the catwalks of Paris, the world’s great showcase. By reinventing Brazilian fashion, they conquered the world.
Today, we do not only export fashion. We say the pattern of beauty and the attitude towards fashion. In the list of the top 10 best paid models in the world, Brazilians are dominant presence. A reference so strong that many European models, at the beginning of their careers, try to pass as Brazilians to gain space.
In my view, what businesses need to regain growth and take off for the immediate tomorrow is to reinvent their own business. To do this, start by reinventing yourself. Get down from the power trap; Get directors out of endless meetings and tired ideas; Work with the doors open; Discourage the chronicles and convincing justifications, almost always illustrated in colorful, laborious and expendable graphics; And jump along with them the walls of the company towards the market. Go meet and greet customers in person. Your visit will be an event that will mark much more than some discounts on the next invoice.
Get involved with the community. Social visibility is often more shocking than commercial advertising. Make the child of a coworker feel proud of the father and mother because they work for your company. Do not give a job to your employee, give cause.
Remember that every revolution starts from the inside out. Reinvent yourself and open your doors to the world size you aspire to your company.
Until the next letter of the month!
Denis Mello
CEO
