Recently, I have had opportunities to speak with entrepreneurs in their twenties. Listening to their business ideas was an exciting experience.
Some of their ideas filled me with enthusiasm, while others made me think, “That makes perfect sense.”
Through these conversations, I noticed several common traits among these young entrepreneurs. I would like to share them with you.
1. They Have Ambitious Visions
Young entrepreneurs tend to have ambitious visions. They look beyond surface-level problems to identify their root causes, and they feel a strong sense of urgency that things cannot continue as they are.
This sense of urgency has led some of them to think on a national scale, considering what needs to change across Japan. Others take a longer-term perspective, focusing on what they can pass on to future generations.
Looking back on my own twenties, I feel somewhat embarrassed by comparison. These young entrepreneurs have reminded me that a strong sense of purpose is a powerful driving force that inspires people to take action.
2. They Are Not Bound by Conventional Thinking
Perhaps because many started businesses while still in school or have already become company leaders at a young age, many of them are not bound by conventional business norms.
Most of our conversations took place online. Their clothing was casual, and their hairstyles reflected their individual personalities.
Since our conversations were in a B2B context, they were professional in their choice of words. At the same time, they spoke with me as equals—which is only natural—and expressed their ideas freely. I was impressed by their openness and creativity.
For young people working for established companies, it may be difficult to operate outside the norms and expectations of their organizations.
Even so, I hope they will not suppress their ability to think independently and challenge conventional assumptions.
3. They Have Their Own Unique Perspectives on Problems
People differ in the issues they consider important, and that is perfectly natural. What struck me about these young entrepreneurs was their ability to identify problems from perspectives that others might overlook.
What impressed me even more was that they did not stop at identifying problems. They explored how to solve them and, most importantly, took action to turn their ideas into reality.
There is a saying that changing your mindset changes your actions, which eventually changes your destiny: mindset → actions → habits → character → destiny.
Through these conversations, I saw firsthand how the way people perceive problems can lead to tangible changes in their behavior.
4. They Take Pride in Their Work and Believe in Their Abilities
These young entrepreneurs are pursuing work they genuinely want to do. As a result, they take pride in what they do, and that pride comes through naturally in conversation.
Their businesses may not always be going smoothly, but I could sense their confidence in their ability to see things through.
I suspect this comes from having a clear understanding of the purpose and significance of their work, along with a clear picture of the goals they want to achieve.
Today, the importance of work-life balance receives considerable attention. Some people prefer to devote more time to their personal lives than to their work, and there is nothing wrong with that.
Nevertheless, taking pride in your work and believing in what you do can undoubtedly make everyday life more fulfilling, especially when work occupies such a large part of each day.
5. They Think About Japan's Future
It is often said that the words people use reveal how they think. I found this particularly true of the young entrepreneurs I met.
Throughout our conversations, they expressed aspirations such as “I want to revitalize Japan” and “I want to make Japan a safer place where people can live with greater peace of mind.”
We often hear that if you want to achieve something, it helps to put your aspirations into words and share them with others. Perhaps these young entrepreneurs are putting that principle into practice.
I may simply not have met them yet, but I would be even more encouraged to see young entrepreneurs think beyond Japan's domestic challenges and consider Japan's role in the wider world.
I believe it would be wonderful to see them engage in more discussions and take action from a global perspective.
What kinds of issues are the younger generation in your company concerned about?
