A Passion for Success: Practical, Inspirational, and Spiritual Insight from Japan's Leading Entrepreneur [Hardcover]

Kazmo Inamori (Author), Kazuo Inamori (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: May 1, 1995

This text sets forward a business wisdom, crystallized in a sentence, and supported by the author's own experience. Topics include: making the right decisions; how to enhance work; and managing a meaningful business. It aims to identify key principles for business success.

Editorial Reviews

From Booklist

When you're one of Japan's most successful entrepreneurs as well as one of the richest men in the world and you're considered a maverick visionary preaching land and tax reform, government decentralization, and deregulation, you don't have to rely on the vanity press to publish your quirky musings, admonitions, and inspirational nuggets. When you head the company that founded and it has become a worldwide leading long-distance and cellular telephone company with $3 billion in sales, and you argue that the U.S. should try harder to penetrate the Japanese market, publishing houses will vie with one another to put your thoughts into print, knowing there is a huge audience looking for the secret to success. Just remember, as Inamori says, "Be a humble leader, don't practice `small love,' and always wrestle in the center of the mat!" David Rouse

About the Author

Dr. Kazuo Inamori, whose management philosophy is shared in this book, was born in Kagoshima, southern Japan, in 1932. At age 27, he established Kyoto Ceramic Co., Ltd (now Kyocera Corporation) using $10,000 from a friend. Kyocera has since become a global leader in high-tech ceramic and eletronic products. In 1984, he also established DDI Corporation (now KDDI), the first long-distance and cellular telephone carrier company to challenge NTT, Japan's communications monopoly. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 192 pages
• Publisher: McGraw-Hill Companies (May 1, 1995)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0070317844
• ISBN-13: 978-0070317840
• Product Dimensions: 8.8 x 5.8 x 0.9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 14.4 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.2 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (6 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #651,744 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

8 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars An inspirational book with frequent bursts of wisdom, November 13, 2001

By 

James Hunt (Australia) - See all my reviews

This review is from: A Passion for Success: Practical, Inspirational, and Spiritual Insight from Japan's Leading Entrepreneur (Hardcover)

Kazuo Inamori's book is highly inspirational in its evocation of "passion" as the underpinning driver of success in life. In all fields of social endeavour, it is the most passionate individuals who stand out, and ultimately achieve success. We see this in the sporting arena (Muhammad Ali, Leyton Hewitt), in business (Richard Branson, Jack Welsh), and in politics.

Inamori's book is divided up into two parts. Part one provides a series of insights on "How to Succeed in Life", covering the following key areas: ability, effort, attitude, and success. His central thesis is that success = effort x ability x attitude. Most of us tend to see success as the result of effort and ability, but overlook the power of maintaining a positive attitude. Inamori urges the reader not to overlook the immense power that a positive attitude can have, both in terms of attracting support for our goals, and in terms of building and maintaining our own self esteem.

The second part of this book focuses on "How to Succeed in Business" and covers the following eight areas; passion, profit, ambition, sincerity, strength, innovation, optimism, and 'never give up'.

Above all else, this book contains genuine bursts of insight that will enrich the perspective of most readers. Unlike so many self-help products that promise the earth and deliver disappointment, this book is as close as the thinking person will get to "the real deal".

I would put this book on the same shelf with "The Witch Doctors" by Micklethwait & Wooldridge, and "Dangerous Company" by O'Shea & Madigan - all of these are excellent business books, and stand out as unique and valuable contributions to our understanding of the meaning of success in today's modern world of work.

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars This is THE book, May 21, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: A Passion for Success: Practical, Inspirational, and Spiritual Insight from Japan's Leading Entrepreneur (Hardcover)

I bought this book back in 1995, and after much reflection and numerous business/leadership books, I must say Mr. Inamori is still in a class of his own. Though he teaches seemingly oversimplified concepts, it is indeed the correct concepts--if there is such a thing. Correct, for example, in that you can leave the world knowing your grandchildren will be proud that you existed. If you're familiar with Maslow hierarchy of needs: when you're reading this book, you will have no doubt that the author is at or above the self actualization stage, which I must say 90% of all the so called gurus of business don't seem to be in. The concept that you should speak from your heart, not implementing certain "techniques" in public speaking rings true for me personally. I'm grateful for such a gift from Mr. Inamori.

4 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Every leader should read this book, May 29, 2001

By A Customer

This review is from: A Passion for Success: Practical, Inspirational, and Spiritual Insight from Japan's Leading Entrepreneur (Hardcover)

I've never written one of these reviews, but this is one of the treasured books in my library. I've owned it since it came out and continually refer to it for advice and council. I have also given it to many customers. Kyocera's website is also an inspiring to place to see how Mr. Inamori put his philosophy to work to bring a legacy of business success worldwide. His people-practices would change the world if practiced.