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PHP Institute

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京都市南区西九条北ノ内町 11

PHP Institute's official page. "PHP" stands for "Peace and Happiness through Prosperity".

[How To Get Matsush*ta's Paperbacks & E-books]

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● PAPERBACKS ●
6 Books are available with this program:
(1) The Path
(2) My Way of Life and Thinking
(3) Not for Bread Alone
(

4) The Million-Dollar Knack for Successful Management
(5) The Heart of Management
(6) Not for Bread Alone

● E-BOOKS ●
12 E-books are available in:
United States, England, Spain, France, Germany, Italy, Malaysia and Singapore. (1) The Path
(2) People Before Products
(3) The Heart of Management
(4) Zest for Management
(5) My Way of Life and Thinking
(6) Practical Management Philosophy
(7) Nurturing Dreams - My Path in Life
(8) The Million-Dollar Knack for Successful Management
(9) Career Essentials
(10) Business Essentials
(11) Thoughts On Man
(12) Corporate Social Responsibility

If you have any questions, please feel free to message us by Facebook Messenger, or email us to [email protected].

14/06/2024

“Realizing the Best in Yourself”
The pine tree cannot be cherry tree and a cow cannot be a horse. A pine is a pine; a cherry is a cherry. The cow is a cow and the horse is a horse. All things in nature, though they may not be perfect and complete in and of themselves, have their own distinctive presence. All these things, by virtue of their peculiar traits, working to their full potential, complementing and influencing each other, together bring about beauty and abundance in the larger scheme of things.
The same is true of human beings. Even though none of us is perfect in and of ourselves, by combining the qualities of each different person, if each of us is striving to fulfill our best potential, we are capable of bringing about the happiness of ourselves and others as part of the greater harmony of nature. If we can accept this truth with an open mind, we will attain the humility, compassion, and gentleness of spirit that foster cooperation.

From the book "The Path" by Konosuke Matsush*ta, a founder of Panasonic and PHP Institute. To know more about his books, please check the list from:
https://konosuke-matsush*ta.com/images/en/pdf/books_list.pdf
https://konosuke-matsush*ta.com/en/

13/06/2024

“Small children are not naturally self-centered. They have few preconceptions or biases. What is good is good; what is bad is bad.
So their perceptivity about the nature of things often shows surprising insight. This is how children grow: asking why, getting answers, pondering the answers with an open mind, and asking again, and again, “why?” And thus they grow up, one day at a time.
The same is true, in fact, of adults. If one meets each day as a new day, one is always asking why, always pursuing something new. And one is continually contemplating the answers and then seeking more “whys.”
If we keep an open mind, free of self-interest, and if we can remain passionate and absorbed in our quest, we will find that there are questions to be asked everywhere. To live each day just as the day before and tomorrow just as today, clinging to habitual patterns, our growth as human beings will stop and so will the progress of society as a whole. Prosperity is born out of our constant asking of “why?”

From the book "The Path" by Konosuke Matsush*ta, a founder of Panasonic and PHP Institute. To know more about his books, please check the list from:
https://konosuke-matsush*ta.com/images/en/pdf/books_list.pdf
https://konosuke-matsush*ta.com/en/

12/06/2024

“We may be reluctant to change and may find change unsettling. This may be part of our human nature, and yet, is it not a reflection of our clinging to a fixed idea?
The capacity to shift perspectives once or twice a day is the sign of a progressive person, and changing three or four times a day is even better. Seeing change as part of a process of constant development offers a positive approach to life.”

From the book "The Path" by Konosuke Matsush*ta, a founder of Panasonic and PHP Institute. To know more about his books, please check the list from:
https://konosuke-matsush*ta.com/images/en/pdf/books_list.pdf
https://konosuke-matsush*ta.com/en/

11/06/2024

“When it rains, we should put up an umbrella; when conditions are unfavorable we should seek shelter.
If we don’t have an umbrella, there may be nothing we can do to prevent getting wet.
But once the rain has stopped, we should resolve not to be caught out in the rain again and prepare ourselves properly.
An umbrella to keep from getting wet, an umbrella to protect what we are doing in our work, an umbrella to shelter our lives – all are important.”
From the book "The Path" by Konosuke Matsush*ta, a founder of Panasonic and PHP Institute. To know more about his books, please check the list from:
https://konosuke-matsush*ta.com/images/en/pdf/books_list.pdf
https://konosuke-matsush*ta.com/en/

10/06/2024

“The Best We Can Do”
… as long as we have done the best we can do as a human being, we need not be distressed or dissatisfied, but only observe calmly what will unfold, trusting that the outcome will show us where the path will next lead us. If all people understood the value of this approach to things and, if each person went about his or her work mindful of its wisdom, surely this world would be a more tranquil place.

From the book "The Path" by Konosuke Matsush*ta, a founder of Panasonic and PHP Institute. To know more about his books, please check the list from:
https://konosuke-matsush*ta.com/images/en/pdf/books_list.pdf
https://konosuke-matsush*ta.com/en/

07/06/2024

“Mirror of the Heart”
When we want to check our appearance, we look in a mirror.
The mirror is honest; it shows us plainly, as we really are. You might not be convinced when someone tells you your necktie is crooked, but when you look in the mirror it becomes obvious.
Looking in the mirror makes people see the errors of their ways and helps correct them.

From the book "The Path" by Konosuke Matsush*ta, a founder of Panasonic and PHP Institute. To know more about his books, please check the list from:
https://konosuke-matsush*ta.com/images/en/pdf/books_list.pdf
https://konosuke-matsush*ta.com/en/

06/06/2024

“Broaden your perspective. One’s vision can never be too wide.
What we can best do in pursuit of peace, prosperity and happiness for ourselves and for others is to cultivate a broad perspective.”

From the book "The Path" by Konosuke Matsush*ta, a founder of Panasonic and PHP Institute. To know more about his books, please check the list from:
https://konosuke-matsush*ta.com/images/en/pdf/books_list.pdf
https://konosuke-matsush*ta.com/en/

05/06/2024

“Yesterday was yesterday. Today is today. There is no need to let the woes of yesterday weigh down our step today. Let bygones be bygones and look well to every new day and the new turn of fortune that it brings. It is too much to dwell on the burdens of yesterday; better to meet each morning anew, each as a fresh departure.

From the book "The Path" by Konosuke Matsush*ta, a founder of Panasonic and PHP Institute. To know more about his books, please check the list from:
https://konosuke-matsush*ta.com/images/en/pdf/books_list.pdf
https://konosuke-matsush*ta.com/en/

04/06/2024

“Every new day greeted as a fresh start will be a good day.
It is bright and invigorating for those who have a mind that is open, a heart that is humble, and a spirit alive with imagination and creativity.”

From the book "The Path" by Konosuke Matsush*ta, a founder of Panasonic and PHP Institute. To know more about his books, please check the list from:
https://konosuke-matsush*ta.com/images/en/pdf/books_list.pdf
https://konosuke-matsush*ta.com/en/

31/05/2024

“Human beings instinctively fear death. But what we should fear more than death itself is facing death without having prepared ourselves for it.
We are always face to face with death – indeed, that is what makes life so precious. And precisely because of death’s constant imminence, we must make the very best we can of the life that is given us.
Thinking about how to make the best of life is a form of planning for death, and thereby constitutes a form of planning one’s life.
All of us must face squarely the stern fate assigned to all living creatures and consider solemnly, as well as with anticipation, how we can make our lives meaningful and full.”

From the book "The Path" by Konosuke Matsush*ta, a founder of Panasonic and PHP Institute. To know more about his books, please check the list from:
https://konosuke-matsush*ta.com/images/en/pdf/books_list.pdf
https://konosuke-matsush*ta.com/en/

30/05/2024

“Life and Death”
In a way, every day of one’s life is part of a person’s journey toward death. Life and death are all part of nature’s timeless cycle, and all living creatures travel this unalterable path through life to death.
Among living things, only human beings have the power to cognitively grasp this law of nature and prepare themselves for the ultimate end of the journey. While never knowing when death will come, they can come up with various ideas, plans, and dreams about what they want to do for the rest of their lives.
Not only those of advanced age, but young people as well make all sorts of plans for their future lives, and these are, in a way, plans for death. Life and death are inseparable, so preparations for life are, in a sense, preparations for death.

From the book "The Path" by Konosuke Matsush*ta, a founder of Panasonic and PHP Institute. To know more about his books, please check the list from:
https://konosuke-matsush*ta.com/images/en/pdf/books_list.pdf
https://konosuke-matsush*ta.com/en/

29/05/2024

“What Illness Teaches”
… We do not know when sickness might lead to death, but if we leave that up to fate and think of the illness we currently suffer as one of life’s ordinary ordeals, it takes on new meaning. This open-minded, positive approach, along wit the effects of medical treatment and medicines, can speed us on along the path to recovery.
We should cultivate a willingness to appreciate the experience of illness. And we should take good care of ourselves when we are ill.

From the book "The Path" by Konosuke Matsush*ta, a founder of Panasonic and PHP Institute. To know more about his books, please check the list from:
https://konosuke-matsush*ta.com/images/en/pdf/books_list.pdf
https://konosuke-matsush*ta.com/en/

28/05/2024

“What Comes Before Good and Bad”
Nature has its mountains, rivers, and seas, and all of it is governed by an unknown power. The living things in nature, moreover – the birds, the dogs, the human beings – are all part of what we might call destiny.
Our Earth and the life that unfolds upon it exists – quite apart from whether it is good or bad, right or wrong. It is part of the way things are. Among human beings as well, when we look at each individual, we can see how we all have different traits and destinies. Some are born with beautiful voices, some with the power to calculate numbers quickly. Some can work dexterously with their hands; others are clumsy by nature. There are the stout and strong as well as the weak and frail. One might say that of the factors in a person’s life, 90 percent are already determined by powers beyond human comprehension. Only 10 percent remains over which human beings can exercise control through their intellect, talent, and will.
If we look at things from this perspective, it can help us to avoid over-confidence when things go well and despair when things go badly, and to move forward calmly and steadily. It can help us chart our own path with an open and humble mind. There are many ways of thinking about things, but this perspective is one that we should keep in mind.

From the book "The Path" by Konosuke Matsush*ta, a founder of Panasonic and PHP Institute. To know more about his books, please check the list from:
https://konosuke-matsush*ta.com/images/en/pdf/books_list.pdf
https://konosuke-matsush*ta.com/en/

27/05/2024

“Life itself is essentially a fight with a real sword: you take your life in your hands whatever you do. No matter how small the matter, you have to undertake it as if your life depend on it. There is no need to feel overly constrained, but you should not indulge yourself with facile win-some/lose-some rationalizations. You might console yourself with such words after you fail, but you cannot start out in such a careless frame of mind. The course of your life is determined each time you make a decision to use real swords or not. ”

From the book "The Path" by Konosuke Matsush*ta, a founder of Panasonic and PHP Institute. To know more about his books, please check the list from:
https://konosuke-matsush*ta.com/images/en/pdf/books_list.pdf
https://konosuke-matsush*ta.com/en/

24/05/2024

”You are different not only in looks but in temperament from other people. Your likes and dislikes are different. All that is good. Differences are not to be lamented; rather we should see in them endless attraction and potential – we should find in them infinite bounty. Each and every person should be able to work to his or her potential and all people should help each other.”

From the book "The Path" by Konosuke Matsush*ta, a founder of Panasonic and PHP Institute. To know more about his books, please check the list from:
https://konosuke-matsush*ta.com/images/en/pdf/books_list.pdf
https://konosuke-matsush*ta.com/en/

23/05/2024

“Nothing is more dangerous than to go through life assuming that we understand everything. Rather, we should presume we do not understand at all, and let others teach us and lead by the hand, moving forward step by step, with humility and commitment. Together we should feel our way carefully through life.”

From the book "The Path" by Konosuke Matsush*ta, a founder of Panasonic and PHP Institute. To know more about his books, please check the list from:
https://konosuke-matsush*ta.com/images/en/pdf/books_list.pdf
https://konosuke-matsush*ta.com/en/

22/05/2024

”Do not think regretfully about the past. Make no complaint about the irretrievable months and days you have invested. And if until now you have relied on others or expected them to get you out of trouble when things got tough, you should bravely sweep the slate clean. What is important is that you seek your own goal. What matters is your own attitude. No matter what others may say, you must carry on, passionately, toward your goal. You must demonstrate what you can do on your own.”

From the book "The Path" by Konosuke Matsush*ta, a founder of Panasonic and PHP Institute. To know more about his books, please check the list from:
https://konosuke-matsush*ta.com/images/en/pdf/books_list.pdf
https://konosuke-matsush*ta.com/en/

21/05/2024

“We should all have a dream – something that we can aspire to. And it should be something we fervently seek to attain. We should make it a compelling goal, one that is as important as life itself. Once you have given shape to your aspirations, you are already halfway to achieving them. ”

From the book "The Path" by Konosuke Matsush*ta, a founder of Panasonic and PHP Institute. To know more about his books, please check the list from:
https://konosuke-matsush*ta.com/images/en/pdf/books_list.pdf
https://konosuke-matsush*ta.com/en/

20/05/2024

“We should all try first to accept the circumstances in which we find ourselves, without being confined by them and without lapsing into either self-pity or indulging in complacence, and then do our best within those circumstances.”

From the book "The Path" by Konosuke Matsush*ta, a founder of Panasonic and PHP Institute. To know more about his books, please check the list from:
https://konosuke-matsush*ta.com/images/en/pdf/books_list.pdf
https://konosuke-matsush*ta.com/en/

17/05/2024

“For our way to open up, what we have to do is to keep going, to keep moving along. We have to make up our minds and be resolute, to the best of our ability. The journey may seem long, but by striding forth, without pause, our path will open up, and will lead to happiness.”

From the book "The Path" by Konosuke Matsush*ta, a founder of Panasonic and PHP Institute. To know more about his books, please check the list from:
https://konosuke-matsush*ta.com/images/en/pdf/books_list.pdf
https://konosuke-matsush*ta.com/en/

16/05/2024

THIS GOOD COUNTRY by Konosuke Matsush*ta
When the flowers bloom, the sun shines bright, and the sky is a dazzling blue, colorful banners, festive sights, and the merry voices of children in the distance herald the coming of spring, the beginning of the planting season. It is the season of renewal and hope.
The seasons follow the year around – the warm months, the rainy months, the blistering dry months, the cold months – in the cycle shared since time immemorial. We embrace the land and country we know. Not just the landscape and its culture, but the countless landmarks and treasures collected over its long history. We treasure, too, the inborn character of its people, their diligence and conscientiousness.
Ours is a good country; there are not many other countries like it in the world. So we want to make it an ever-better country and live in harmony with others, in lives that are affluent both in tangible and intangible ways. When you are blessed, if you do know that you are blessed, it is as if you had nothing at all. Let us reflect again upon the good of our country, and give ourselves a new chance to take pride in it.
From the book "The Path" by Konosuke Matsush*ta, a founder of Panasonic and PHP Institute. To know more about his books, please check the list from:
https://konosuke-matsush*ta.com/images/en/pdf/books_list.pdf
https://konosuke-matsush*ta.com/en/

15/05/2024

THE BENEFITS OF DAMS by Konosuke Matsush*ta
It rains, drenching the mountains, and the water seeps into the earth and forms rivulets, streams, and rivers, flowing out through the land, creating fertile plains before emptying into the sea. As long as the flow is used skillfully, the land prospers, but if something goes wrong, raging waters may cause flooding or lack of rainfall may devastate crops. This is the result of just letting the water run by and not using it with careful thought.
Now consider the dam. We can dam the flow to form a reservoir of water that can be used in effective ways. When we know we have plenty of water, we can let the waters flow through; when we have little, we can store it up. This is a lesson that human civilization has learned.
Just as reservoirs are useful in rivers, so are they in our daily life. Having reserves is good both materially and mentally. There is nothing intelligent in a life of uncontrolled consumption and wastefulness.
In the same way that we build big strong dams for great rivers and small reservoirs for small streams, as needed under the circumstances, so each individual can put to use the information he or she has to form various dams to regulate their lives.
The principles applies not only to individuals’ lives, but in business as well; the benefits of reserves in corporate management are highly to be recommended. Even more valuable are such reserves on the level of management of a country. They will support the genuine and stable prosperity of a nation and its people.
From the book "The Path" by Konosuke Matsush*ta, a founder of Panasonic and PHP Institute. To know more about his books, please check the list from:
https://konosuke-matsush*ta.com/images/en/pdf/books_list.pdf
https://konosuke-matsush*ta.com/en/

14/05/2024

RESPECT THE MASSES by Konosuke Matsush*ta
The masses are ignorant, so what they think is irrelevant; what is needed is a great and wise leader, who will take the reins of government and control the country. That is the most desirable form of rule…
There was once a time when this conviction held sway in the world, and some still cling to it even today. Indeed, for a long time through history, the masses may have been unlettered and uninformed. And certainly because of that many dictatorships and tyrannies came into being, plunging already unhappy people into even greater distress.
But history has advanced, and humankind, too, has progressed. Today, the masses are well-informed and discerning, and they are also very fair. Anyone who fails to recognize that the masses are no longer ignorant not only misinterprets the meaning of democracy but is an obstruction to the nurture of democratic government – and is probably digging his or her own grave.
To repeat, the masses – the public – today are extremely sensible and fair. They should be trusted and their views made the foundation of democracy. The true mission of democratic government is above all service of the masses. The very essence of democracy, that service is the starting place for the prosperity of a nation.
From the book "The Path" by Konosuke Matsush*ta, a founder of Panasonic and PHP Institute. To know more about his books, please check the list from:
https://konosuke-matsush*ta.com/images/en/pdf/books_list.pdf
https://konosuke-matsush*ta.com/en/

19/04/2024

“SEEK FIRST WITHIN ONESELF” by Konosuke Matsush*ta
“When trouble descends, all you can do is pray,” goes the saying, and human beings do have the tendency, when they are really perplexed, distressed, and at their wit’s end, of finally resorting to prayer. “Please, please, hear my prayer,” we plead to whatever our god or buddha, for deliverance from our plight or to get what we desperately need. The gods and buddhas have their work cut our for them.
Such may be human nature, but I can not help thinking that we tend to seek and to ask too much, to rely too much on others. The proper nature of prayer, I should think, is to straighten yourself before your deity – resolving to correct those things within yourself that may not be quite right by your own effort. Not to ask, not to seek, not to beg – the shape of true piety is to rectify yourself by your own power.
We would be well to cultivate the same attitude in our daily lives. Are we not asking too much of others? Are we not relying too much on others? We should strive as much as possible not to depend on others but to discipline ourselves and do the best we can. What applies to us as individuals also applies to organizations and to the state, the nation itself. Therein lies the true form of autonomy and independence for us as human beings and for our country as well.
From the book "The Path" by Konosuke Matsush*ta, a founder of Panasonic and PHP Institute. To know more about his books, please check the list from:
https://konosuke-matsush*ta.com/images/en/pdf/books_list.pdf
https://konosuke-matsush*ta.com/en/

18/04/2024

“THE WORK OF GOVERNING” by Konosuke Matsush*ta
Whatever the work you do, it functions to help us all coexist and survive. One job is linked to another job and thus to many other jobs, and our world goes around as a result of all these links. So, to perform a job only according to our own whim or will could end up causing trouble for others; such a self-centered way of working is not ethical either. The job we do is work that has been assigned to us, but at the same time it is not just our own work.
Government is a form of work that is directly linked to the citizens of a country. The quality of the work can very quickly affect the fortunes of all the country’s people. One might think, therefore, that the work of politicians would be highly respected and well remunerated.
In actuality, however, politicians are often the target of jokes and caricatures. On a certain television program, when asked by the announcer, “What do you want to be when you grow up,” an elementary school child said innocently, “I can’t be a politician, I guess, because I’m not good at fighting and quarreling.”
Those who would laugh off such a remark are undermining the very source of their happiness and good fortune. No country where politicians are treated lightly, or where they are not honored and respected, can prosper.
Who is responsible for this situation? Does it lie with the people who chose those politicians for office? Or, does it lie with the politicians themselves?
From the book "The Path" by Konosuke Matsush*ta, a founder of Panasonic and PHP Institute. To know more about his books, please check the list from:
https://konosuke-matsush*ta.com/images/en/pdf/books_list.pdf
https://konosuke-matsush*ta.com/en/

17/04/2024

“GETTING THE MESSAGES” by Konosuke Matsush*ta
The mechanisms of the human body are marvelously intricate and ingeniously designed. Even the most advanced communications satellite, with all its complex devices, cannot measure up to the mysterious handiwork of nature that is the human organism. It could be described, depending on how you look at it, as a recreation of the mysteries of the whole universe.
The body is a complex and vast world in itself. And yet, when pricked with a pin at the tip of one extremity, the brain gets the message immediately. The entire human frame is networked with a finely developed nervous system that reports even the slightest itch or twinge to the brain instantaneously. This is what allows us to respond quickly and appropriately to the situations we find ourselves in.
And then there are the organizations created by human society – shops, companies, associations, and federations. The largest of them are sovereign states, regional unions, and the United Nations. If one were to poke any of these at the bottom rung, would the message be quickly transmitted to its top echelons? Would it be able to respond in a flash, the way the human body does? There is much talk about streamlining and improvement of performance, but what is really needed is a mechanism capable of quickly processing messages from outlying parts and responding immediately.
We should consider this matter, in our companies and our shops, as well as in the states and larger organizations of our world.
From the book "The Path" by Konosuke Matsush*ta, a founder of Panasonic and PHP Institute. To know more about his books, please check the list from:
https://konosuke-matsush*ta.com/images/en/pdf/books_list.pdf
https://konosuke-matsush*ta.com/en/

16/04/2024

“CORDIAL CONVERSATION AND HARD WORK” by Konosuke Matsush*ta
After World War II came to an end, people enjoyed widespread freedom of speech, and the world became in many ways a better, easier-to-understand place as a result. At the same time, such a clamor of voices has arisen, advocating one position or other, that the once-admired quality of keeping silent and working hard has been left by the wayside. I would not go so far as to say that all discussion necessarily gets in the way of prosperity, and yet it seems to me this situation calls for some serious reflection.
The better the engine in an automobile, the quieter it is. It hums quietly but accelerates powerfully. If the engine is poor, it rattles and clanks, making all sports of loud noises, and before it can pick up any speed, sputters and dies.
People may froth at the mouth and posture all they will, but heated argument rarely gets anyone anywhere. It is actually a bit unsightly, like the bad engine. We should endeavor rather to be like the good, well-lubricated engine, keeping our explanations and arguments to a minimum and moving things forward calmly in the course of cordial conversation. That, indeed, is the kind of discussion that is useful in achieving prosperity in the world.
Discussing things calmly and getting down to work; this is an attitude to aspire to both as a country and as citizens – the better to assure our engines keep humming smoothly.
From the book "The Path" by Konosuke Matsush*ta, a founder of Panasonic and PHP Institute. To know more about his books, please check the list from:
https://konosuke-matsush*ta.com/images/en/pdf/books_list.pdf
https://konosuke-matsush*ta.com/en/

15/04/2024

“PEACE AND WAR” by Konosuke Matsush*ta
Peace and war are inherently distinct and separate, and both in word and in fact they are complete opposites. Peace is peace and war is war.
Recently, however, there has been strange talk of “wars for the sake of peace” – and not only talk. The battles launched in the name of such wars have been flamboyant indeed. I suppose that the arguments in support of such wars may have their own logic, but no matter what the rationale, that which is inherently one thing cannot be another.
Everyone in the world today knows from personal experience the awful tragedy of war; they certainly know enough not to be fooled by fallacious arguments that war is waged for the sake of peace. People know that war ought to be avoided as much as possible by making assiduous and serious efforts while peace yet lasts.
Is it not about time that we all showed that we have grown up? That in order to get along we need not engage in childlike flurries of fisticuffs? We ought to be doing our best to speak peaceably to each other and considering together how we can best secure a peaceful prosperity for all.
This is a matter that is very close to home; it is something that applies to our everyday lives.
From the book "The Path" by Konosuke Matsush*ta, a founder of Panasonic and PHP Institute. To know more about his books, please check the list from:
https://konosuke-matsush*ta.com/images/en/pdf/books_list.pdf
https://konosuke-matsush*ta.com/en/

12/04/2024

“IT’S YOUR BUSINESS” by Konosuke Matsush*ta
Comedians come in all sorts and range from the virtuoso to the mediocre. A skillful comedian can keep an audience convulsed with laughter with lines that, delivered by an inept one, would be neither interesting nor funny. Listening to an amateur trying to sound funny is both boring and a waste of time. Given the content is the same, what makes the performances so different?
A successful comedian has a distinctive style, a particular talent for being funny. And a professional jokester is practiced and inventive. Between the pro and the amateur there is a difference in passion, dedication, and study. All these things make a world of difference.
If you are listening to a comedy skit, all that is at stake from a bad performance is the time wasted; when it comes to the governing of a country, however, the matter is more serious. The territory, the people, the wealth, and the resources all being equal, a fundamental difference in the fortunes of the nation and the happiness of the people will result, depending on the attitude of politicians and the way they govern. What applies to the nation is exactly the same for the management of society, the running of a business, or the coordination of an organization.
This is not somebody else’s business. It is our own business. Realizing that it is our own business, we should think again about the way we govern, the way we run our corporation. And we should reflect quietly upon ourselves as citizens.

From the book "The Path" by Konosuke Matsush*ta, a founder of Panasonic and PHP Institute. To know more about his books, please check the list from:
https://konosuke-matsush*ta.com/images/en/pdf/books_list.pdf
https://konosuke-matsush*ta.com/en/

11/04/2024

“LIVE BY YOUR CONVICTIONS” by Konosuke Matsush*ta
The merchants of old treasured two things: The shop’s code of conduct, and the noren curtain emblazoned with its trademark or crest. Stories relate that they would risk their lives to safeguard these things passed down to them from earlier generations. They were proud of the shop code they inherited and stood by it with conviction, sometimes for dear life. Hagakure, the eighteenth-century work that was a kind of bible of the samurai code of honor, declared that when forced to choose between life and death in a situation, the samurai would choose death. This may seem a little extreme in our day and age, and yet a similar ethic was the source of the merchant’s backbone.
Times are different. People think differently than in the past. But the value of living by a code – of sticking by your convictions – has not changed. Indeed, I am often struck that nothing is more precious in succeeding in business than faithfulness to one’s principles, one’s code of conduct. If statesmen lack principles, they will ruin a nation. Without principles an entrepreneur will ruin a business and a shopkeeper will quickly lose the shop’s clientele. At no time is this more true than today.
We should establish correct principles to guide our country, principles our business can take pride in, principles that will keep our shop or enterprise on an even keel – principles that will keep ourselves and others moving resolutely forward. Therein will be found true prosperity for ourselves, our enterprises, and our nations.
From the book "The Path" by Konosuke Matsush*ta, a founder of Panasonic and PHP Institute. To know more about his books, please check the list from:
https://konosuke-matsush*ta.com/images/en/pdf/books_list.pdf
https://konosuke-matsush*ta.com/en/