1 00:00:08,960 --> 00:00:13,560 Speaker 1: Hi, everybody. Welcome to Mojo Monday. I'm Carl Taylor, and 2 00:00:13,720 --> 00:00:19,919 Speaker 1: today we're going to dive into the Japanese philosophy of kaizan. Now, 3 00:00:19,960 --> 00:00:24,280 Speaker 1: many of you may be familiar with kaizan, but I 4 00:00:24,400 --> 00:00:30,080 Speaker 1: will say that this podcast may change your approach to kaizan, 5 00:00:30,280 --> 00:00:33,239 Speaker 1: and you will find out why as we go on. 6 00:00:33,520 --> 00:00:37,080 Speaker 1: But before we get into it, if you're anything like me, 7 00:00:37,680 --> 00:00:40,920 Speaker 1: you might have a big dream or a goal that 8 00:00:41,120 --> 00:00:45,360 Speaker 1: feels so huge and so daunting that you just avoid 9 00:00:45,400 --> 00:00:49,880 Speaker 1: it altogether. It's like there's this invisible barrier between you 10 00:00:50,400 --> 00:00:54,880 Speaker 1: and getting started. It's like a wall built from fear 11 00:00:55,040 --> 00:01:00,000 Speaker 1: or procrastination. And kaisan is an approach to gently breakdown 12 00:01:00,280 --> 00:01:05,840 Speaker 1: that wall without getting overwhelmed by it. So what is kaizan? 13 00:01:06,920 --> 00:01:11,479 Speaker 1: So most people have heard of kaizan as continuous improvement, 14 00:01:11,959 --> 00:01:16,800 Speaker 1: and it's a framework that's been popularized by Toyota for 15 00:01:17,120 --> 00:01:22,600 Speaker 1: productivity and processes. But through my study of Japanese psychology, 16 00:01:22,720 --> 00:01:25,880 Speaker 1: I've learnt that much like the word iki guy, which 17 00:01:25,880 --> 00:01:30,360 Speaker 1: I have spoken about before, Japanese words and phrases often 18 00:01:30,440 --> 00:01:34,440 Speaker 1: have this deeper meaning than what our Western interpretation is. 19 00:01:34,959 --> 00:01:37,640 Speaker 1: And this s applies to kaizan. So this is why 20 00:01:37,720 --> 00:01:42,880 Speaker 1: I have discovered the true meaning of kaizan isn't just 21 00:01:43,000 --> 00:01:48,080 Speaker 1: about continuous improvement. While it's been used effectively in business, 22 00:01:48,880 --> 00:01:54,480 Speaker 1: Kaisan's actually very deeply personal. It's a mindset that we 23 00:01:54,560 --> 00:01:58,840 Speaker 1: can all tap into. And this caught my attention because 24 00:01:58,960 --> 00:02:03,160 Speaker 1: anything related to understanding and strengthening the mind is very 25 00:02:03,240 --> 00:02:07,080 Speaker 1: much my passion. So kaisan is made up of two 26 00:02:07,200 --> 00:02:12,679 Speaker 1: Japanese words, Kai, meaning change, and zen meaning good, So 27 00:02:12,880 --> 00:02:17,160 Speaker 1: at its simplest, kaizan translates to good change. But it 28 00:02:17,200 --> 00:02:21,520 Speaker 1: goes even deeper than this. So in Japanese, each character 29 00:02:21,639 --> 00:02:25,600 Speaker 1: can be broken down into these smaller components, each with 30 00:02:25,720 --> 00:02:29,800 Speaker 1: its own meaning. Kai is made up of two symbols, 31 00:02:30,600 --> 00:02:35,560 Speaker 1: one meaning self and the other actually represents a whip, 32 00:02:35,800 --> 00:02:40,000 Speaker 1: and it's a visual so if you saw the characters, 33 00:02:40,080 --> 00:02:42,240 Speaker 1: you can kind of make out that it looks like 34 00:02:42,320 --> 00:02:46,200 Speaker 1: somebody whipping themselves on the back. So this may sound 35 00:02:46,280 --> 00:02:49,480 Speaker 1: a bit weird and intense, but what it really signifies 36 00:02:49,720 --> 00:02:53,239 Speaker 1: is that, or what it's really about, is self discipline. 37 00:02:53,800 --> 00:02:57,760 Speaker 1: It's this idea that change starts with you and it's 38 00:02:57,880 --> 00:03:00,440 Speaker 1: up to you to take charge of your your own 39 00:03:00,520 --> 00:03:06,600 Speaker 1: growth and then zen, which we know there's zen Buddhism, 40 00:03:06,639 --> 00:03:10,119 Speaker 1: but this zen actually has a different meaning, and it's 41 00:03:10,200 --> 00:03:12,880 Speaker 1: made up of two symbols as well, and this is 42 00:03:12,919 --> 00:03:16,040 Speaker 1: even a bit stranger. One is sheep and the other 43 00:03:16,160 --> 00:03:21,440 Speaker 1: is old, so together it suggests sacrifice, but it's a 44 00:03:21,520 --> 00:03:25,960 Speaker 1: sacrifice for the greater good. So this brings us to 45 00:03:26,120 --> 00:03:30,119 Speaker 1: the question of how do we develop this kaisan mindset? 46 00:03:31,080 --> 00:03:35,000 Speaker 1: How do we find the discipline to make the changes 47 00:03:35,920 --> 00:03:39,760 Speaker 1: that we need and to make the sacrifices for our 48 00:03:39,840 --> 00:03:45,200 Speaker 1: own growth. And this is where intention comes in. In Japanese, 49 00:03:45,280 --> 00:03:49,200 Speaker 1: the word for intention is shiko, and when you break 50 00:03:49,240 --> 00:03:53,240 Speaker 1: that down, it means heart and direction. I love that 51 00:03:54,200 --> 00:03:57,880 Speaker 1: to live with intention is to follow your heart, to 52 00:03:58,000 --> 00:04:02,560 Speaker 1: align your actions with what truly matters to you. For me, 53 00:04:02,840 --> 00:04:07,840 Speaker 1: this means that kaizan is about personal responsibility. It's up 54 00:04:07,840 --> 00:04:11,720 Speaker 1: to you to do the work, to make the sacrifices 55 00:04:11,840 --> 00:04:16,200 Speaker 1: in pursuit of what truly matters to you or for 56 00:04:16,240 --> 00:04:20,159 Speaker 1: the greater good. And so while kaizan is often used 57 00:04:20,200 --> 00:04:24,360 Speaker 1: in business and processes, we can apply this mindset on 58 00:04:24,400 --> 00:04:28,680 Speaker 1: a personal level, and that's when intention comes in. Living 59 00:04:28,720 --> 00:04:32,680 Speaker 1: with intention, following your heart and aligning your daily actions 60 00:04:32,680 --> 00:04:37,000 Speaker 1: with your purpose. So in order to achieve Kaizan, you 61 00:04:37,120 --> 00:04:40,719 Speaker 1: really have to connect with your purpose. It's not just 62 00:04:40,800 --> 00:04:45,680 Speaker 1: about goals, it's about your why, knowing what's deeply important 63 00:04:45,680 --> 00:04:49,880 Speaker 1: to you. What sacrifices are you willing to make to 64 00:04:50,000 --> 00:04:54,719 Speaker 1: live intentionally and with purpose. And these sacrifices aren't just 65 00:04:54,880 --> 00:04:59,560 Speaker 1: the external sacrifices like skipping that third glass of wine, 66 00:05:00,000 --> 00:05:04,520 Speaker 1: but also the internal sacrifices dealing with the discomfort that 67 00:05:04,640 --> 00:05:10,200 Speaker 1: comes with change. So Kaisan goes beyond just taking small steps. 68 00:05:10,560 --> 00:05:13,880 Speaker 1: It's about how you show up, how you spend your time, 69 00:05:14,560 --> 00:05:17,400 Speaker 1: and how you use your purpose as a compass to 70 00:05:17,520 --> 00:05:21,800 Speaker 1: move forward and grow. And a really effective tool that 71 00:05:21,839 --> 00:05:24,520 Speaker 1: you can use to help you live with a Kaisan 72 00:05:24,640 --> 00:05:29,160 Speaker 1: mindset is a ritual board. So to create your own 73 00:05:29,240 --> 00:05:33,360 Speaker 1: ritual board, you start by drawing a table. So you 74 00:05:33,400 --> 00:05:36,000 Speaker 1: can use a whiteboard, or you can put it up 75 00:05:36,040 --> 00:05:38,960 Speaker 1: on your computer or a piece of paper, or you 76 00:05:38,960 --> 00:05:41,919 Speaker 1: can even get a whiteboard marker and put it on 77 00:05:41,960 --> 00:05:44,560 Speaker 1: your bathroom mirror. Whatever works for you as long as 78 00:05:44,560 --> 00:05:47,800 Speaker 1: you can see it every single day. So across the 79 00:05:47,800 --> 00:05:49,720 Speaker 1: top of the ritual board you write the days of 80 00:05:49,760 --> 00:05:52,960 Speaker 1: the week, just the first letters fine, and then down 81 00:05:52,960 --> 00:05:55,920 Speaker 1: the side you're going to list all your actions or 82 00:05:55,960 --> 00:05:58,960 Speaker 1: your behaviors, or what we're calling rituals that you're going 83 00:05:59,000 --> 00:06:02,800 Speaker 1: to commit to each day. At the very top of 84 00:06:02,839 --> 00:06:06,760 Speaker 1: the table, write down your purpose. This is your why. 85 00:06:07,240 --> 00:06:10,120 Speaker 1: Now this is different to a goal. Your why is 86 00:06:10,160 --> 00:06:13,240 Speaker 1: your north star, the thing that keeps you heading in 87 00:06:13,320 --> 00:06:17,120 Speaker 1: the right direction. So, for example, why do you want 88 00:06:17,160 --> 00:06:19,560 Speaker 1: to make these changes? Do you want to be a 89 00:06:19,720 --> 00:06:22,800 Speaker 1: good example for your kids? Do you want to make 90 00:06:22,839 --> 00:06:25,479 Speaker 1: a difference in your little corner of the world. Do 91 00:06:25,520 --> 00:06:30,200 Speaker 1: you want to live authentically? So think about your daily 92 00:06:30,279 --> 00:06:35,200 Speaker 1: habits now do they align with this purpose? What do 93 00:06:35,240 --> 00:06:38,919 Speaker 1: you need to start to do every day that moves 94 00:06:38,960 --> 00:06:44,400 Speaker 1: you towards your north star? What sacrifices are you willing 95 00:06:44,520 --> 00:06:47,760 Speaker 1: to make to do this? Write these down in the 96 00:06:47,880 --> 00:06:51,599 Speaker 1: left hand column. It's not a to do list, it's 97 00:06:51,720 --> 00:06:56,800 Speaker 1: daily rituals. So they can include, for example, the fundamentals 98 00:06:56,800 --> 00:06:59,960 Speaker 1: of health. These are your non negotiables because when you 99 00:07:00,080 --> 00:07:02,840 Speaker 1: are fit and healthy, you have the energy and the 100 00:07:02,880 --> 00:07:06,640 Speaker 1: focus to pursue your goals. The fundamentals are like setting 101 00:07:06,680 --> 00:07:11,360 Speaker 1: that foundation. So for example, on my ritual board, I 102 00:07:11,400 --> 00:07:15,480 Speaker 1: have a cold shower, so I'm sacrificing comfort there. Cold 103 00:07:15,480 --> 00:07:18,360 Speaker 1: showers can be really hard, especially in the middle of winter, 104 00:07:18,480 --> 00:07:22,480 Speaker 1: so there's a sacrifice there. Eighty twenty days, so eighty 105 00:07:22,520 --> 00:07:27,560 Speaker 1: percent of my food is real whole foods and twenty 106 00:07:27,560 --> 00:07:30,720 Speaker 1: percent is my treat So I'm trading off one thing 107 00:07:30,800 --> 00:07:33,160 Speaker 1: for another, or maybe I've got an urge to have, 108 00:07:33,320 --> 00:07:35,680 Speaker 1: you know, that extra piece of chocolate, so I'm making 109 00:07:35,720 --> 00:07:39,360 Speaker 1: that sacrifice. I do CrossFit three times a week, so 110 00:07:39,400 --> 00:07:41,640 Speaker 1: I can tick that off, and let's face it, CrossFit 111 00:07:41,840 --> 00:07:45,600 Speaker 1: is hard. I do yoga. I have alcohol free days, 112 00:07:45,640 --> 00:07:48,360 Speaker 1: so you get what I mean. So you put those 113 00:07:48,440 --> 00:07:51,360 Speaker 1: down on the left hand side, and then you can 114 00:07:51,440 --> 00:07:55,160 Speaker 1: add small rituals relating to other areas of your life. 115 00:07:55,480 --> 00:07:58,200 Speaker 1: So it could be connecting with others, you know, making 116 00:07:58,200 --> 00:08:01,600 Speaker 1: sure you phone your mum and your dad once a week, 117 00:08:01,680 --> 00:08:05,840 Speaker 1: or honoring a boundary that you've set around time, or 118 00:08:05,880 --> 00:08:10,320 Speaker 1: including deep work time with no distractions, which always helps 119 00:08:10,360 --> 00:08:12,440 Speaker 1: you move towards what you want to achieve on a 120 00:08:12,480 --> 00:08:16,680 Speaker 1: business level. So that's the ritual board. But I also 121 00:08:17,000 --> 00:08:20,320 Speaker 1: encourage my clients to journal each day, and this is 122 00:08:20,400 --> 00:08:25,200 Speaker 1: to develop their self awareness. It's to increase that self awareness. 123 00:08:25,360 --> 00:08:29,760 Speaker 1: Notice their thinking, notice the habits that they're doing currently doing, 124 00:08:30,200 --> 00:08:34,559 Speaker 1: and helps them to live intentionally. So if you've got 125 00:08:34,600 --> 00:08:38,280 Speaker 1: this dream like I do, and it's aligned with your purpose, 126 00:08:39,040 --> 00:08:41,960 Speaker 1: write that dream and purpose in your journal every day 127 00:08:42,960 --> 00:08:46,920 Speaker 1: and accept the inner struggle that often comes with it, 128 00:08:47,000 --> 00:08:52,040 Speaker 1: because achieving any dream isn't easy, and have the discipline 129 00:08:52,160 --> 00:08:56,280 Speaker 1: to do something each day. Tick those rituals off that 130 00:08:56,559 --> 00:09:01,200 Speaker 1: moves you towards that dream. So KI is more than 131 00:09:01,400 --> 00:09:06,760 Speaker 1: just productivity and processes. It's about personal growth. It's about 132 00:09:06,800 --> 00:09:12,120 Speaker 1: acceptance and having the courage to show up every day. 133 00:09:13,200 --> 00:09:18,240 Speaker 1: So I hope this has been helpful. I encourage everyone 134 00:09:18,240 --> 00:09:21,560 Speaker 1: to have a ritual board. We've found that it really 135 00:09:21,720 --> 00:09:26,319 Speaker 1: helps you keep accountable as well. Just having those ticks 136 00:09:26,400 --> 00:09:30,000 Speaker 1: every single day, you get that little dopamine hit and 137 00:09:30,040 --> 00:09:34,560 Speaker 1: it's a little push for motivation. So thank you for 138 00:09:34,679 --> 00:09:37,280 Speaker 1: joining me, and have a great week and I will 139 00:09:37,320 --> 00:09:38,320 Speaker 1: see you next week.