Book title: "The Spirit of Craftsman"

Subtitle: 30 Rules for Cultivating First-Class Talents

Publisher: CITIC Publishing House

Publication date: November 10, 2015

In a previous article, I mentioned a point that it is easy to read but difficult to choose a book. How to choose the first book in 2017 is a problem. I have been thinking about a question for a long time, why can Japanese handicraft workshops, restaurants, and enterprises be passed down for hundreds of years, but what about China? There is an old saying that best explains the problem, that is, "Thirty years to the east of the river, thirty years to the west of the river." The world has experienced ups and downs, and most of them have not been passed down and have gradually been lost and disappeared. I found the answer from the book "Craftsman Spirit": rather than a skill inherited by those excellent century-old shops, it is more accurate to say that what they first inherit is the temperament of the craftsman - the mentality of calm persistence and excellence! This book uses successful practices as examples to teach you how to temper your mind and develop yourself.

The book "The Spirit of Craftsman" is the masterpiece of the Japanese wood industry legend Akiyama Toshiki. The custom-made furniture of "Akiyama Woodworking" founded by him is commonly seen in the Imperial Household Agency, the State Guest House, the National Assembly Hall, etc. Mr. Akiyama emphasizes the principles of "virtue first, skills second" and "oneself is accomplished, then everything is accomplished", which is consistent with our traditional spirit. Mr. Akiyama created a set of rules for cultivating first-class talents - "30 Tips for Craftsmen" to effectively hone your character and character, and cultivate yourself to develop a first-class spirit.

In Japan, such craftsmanship can be found everywhere. The most impressive one is Ono Jiro in "The God of Sushi". The bright red tuna is placed on vinegar rice. Ono Jiro uses a rigorous attitude to Nigiri sushi and presented to customers. He watches his customers carefully and adjusts the size of the sushi according to gender. He will carefully remember the seating order of the guests, remember the left-handedness of the guests, and adjust the sushi placement preferences. He only makes sushi from beginning to end, without bringing drinks, allowing customers to fully appreciate the beauty of sushi. During the production process, he seemed extremely calm and serious, and his movements had a sense of solemnity like a ritual. Although the per capita consumption reached US$400, all the diners interviewed expressed their indescribable and wonderful feelings. This documentary of less than an hour and a half records Jiro Ono's attitude towards his career from a simple and unpretentious perspective. The characteristics of craftsmen are similar: they are serious about improving their skills, stubborn, insistent, and finally passionate, they are perfectionists. Ono Jiro will find the best ingredients and process them in his own way. Don't care about money and costs, just do your best. Jiro Ono said: "Repeat one thing to make it better, but it will never end!"

"No one knows where the real peak is." Their success has transcended the technical level and has been It is endowed with more spiritual meaning. They spend their whole life or even the investment of more than ten generations to do only one thing. How can they not be good at it!

Mr. Toki Akiyama’s method goes straight back to the origin of human relations: tempering one’s character and educating people with filial piety. This is exactly the same as the filial piety and the way of teaching that have been inherited from China for five thousand years. In order to train young apprentices into first-class craftsmen, "Akiyama Woodworking" has developed a unique talent training system that lasts for eight years to train apprentices in correct life attitudes, basic training, work planning, knowledge and techniques, etc. Among his disciples, More than 50 people have become famous craftsmen in Japan. Compared to his carpentry works, his methods of cultivating people are more favored by all walks of life!

"Akiyama Woodworking" has formulated a unique "craftsman training system." Anyone who wants to become a furniture craftsman must complete a one-year apprenticeship course at Akiyama School to cultivate the students' mentality and basic living habits to become craftsmen. Only after the one-year apprenticeship period is over, can one be hired as a formal apprentice, and then begin four years of basic training, work planning and craftsman instructions. After four years of training, only those who have matured in technology and character can be recognized as craftsmen. Akiyama school apprenticeship lasts one year, apprenticeship lasts four years, and craftsman lasts three years. In these eight years, the students have continuously sharpened their character, walked steadily and calmly on the road of "cultivating both morality and art", and mastered all the qualities that a qualified craftsman should have, so that he can start his career and carry forward Akiyama's skills and spirit.

As long as you practice repeatedly, anyone can master a skill, but the cultivation of mind is difficult, and the apprenticeship system can make up for this shortcoming.

Everyone has the potential to become a first-class talent, and they also need the guidance and guidance of famous teachers. Akiyama Toshiki warned young people: If you want to become a first-class craftsman, you must put aside your self-esteem and fully accept the knowledge given by the masters, otherwise you will not be able to grow. At the same time, you also need to improve your character and learn to be grateful. Without honesty and gratitude, people cannot grow. Only by experiencing collective life can we cultivate consideration for others, care for others, and gratitude. The master-disciple transmission and collective life of the apprenticeship system improve the mind of the apprentice. With an almost Zen-like practice, if they devote themselves wholeheartedly, they will eventually achieve positive results. Just as Akiyama Toshiki firmly believes: if you have a first-class mind, you must have first-class technology.

Those who want to enter Akiyama School must first undergo ten days of various trainings and pass the exam before they can enter. Why would Toshiki Akiyama have such a request?

1. Those who cannot introduce themselves correctly and completely will not be admitted.

2. Apprentices admitted to Akiyama School, regardless of gender, must have bald heads. The purpose of shaving one's head is to allow apprentices to make up their mind and devote themselves to school. If they are not determined enough, they may not be able to persist to the end.

3. The use of mobile phones is prohibited and only correspondence is allowed. Writing is also a very good training. If you can't even write a thank-you letter to a customer, how can you be competent at your job? While mobile phones provide simplicity and convenience, they actually damage people's writing ability.

4. You can only see your family during the Bon Festival in August and the New Year holidays. In this way, they can focus more on their studies and not become slack.

5. It is prohibited to accept living expenses and pocket money from parents. Only when you use the money you have earned through hard work to buy tools that are called "craftsmen's lives" will you cherish them.

6. During the training period, it is absolutely forbidden to fall in love. Anyone who has ever been in love can probably understand the feeling of being in a trance and thinking like crazy, which makes people unable to concentrate on their studies.

7. Start with running in the morning. Running for 15 minutes every morning can exercise the body, cheer up the spirit, and also cultivate collective consciousness.

8. Everyone cooks together and no picky eaters are allowed. Picky eaters tend to be picky about jobs and people, so it's also important to overcome the foods they don't like.

9. Clean up before working. Cleaning the streets, sweeping the cars, and cleaning the garage before work can sharpen your mind.

10. At the court meeting, everyone shouted "30 Instructions for Craftsmen" in unison. Let the apprentices remember what a first-class craftsman is like. By reciting it repeatedly, let the standards of a first-class craftsman penetrate into their subconscious mind and make them unforgettable for life.

This series of rigorous training lays the foundation for growing into a first-class craftsman in the future. Especially when they chanted "30 Tips for Craftsmen" in unison. If a piece of text is read only once, it may be quickly forgotten, but if it is recited repeatedly, the text will enter the depths of our consciousness and become our flesh and blood. Once we reach this level, when we encounter difficulties and emergencies, we can unconsciously refer to the "30 Tips for Craftsmen" to deal with them, so that we can deal with them calmly. So, what essence does "30 Tips for Craftsmen" condense?

"People" are consistent, and I admire the seriousness of the Japanese.

1. Before entering the workplace, you must first learn to say hello.

The quality of the first impression you make depends on the moment you greet someone. A person who can greet people enthusiastically will also be able to communicate with others enthusiastically. It doesn't matter if you can't do it well at first. Practice it with all your strength for a month until you can greet people enthusiastically and confidently.

2. Before entering the liaison place, you must first learn to liaise, report, and negotiate

"Communicate, report, and negotiate" are the basic behaviors that a craftsman should possess, which helps It helps you clarify responsibilities, identify problems, and find solutions.

3. Before entering the workplace, you must be a cheerful person

It is impossible to be smooth sailing in the workplace. You may be scolded and criticized. If you cannot control your emotions, you will inevitably Affect your work efficiency.

Therefore, keep your mind simple and cheerful, don't let criticism and rebuke affect your mood, give up your self-esteem and reserve, and don't need to be so sensitive, so that we can respond to each other with a grateful heart and a smile.

4. Before entering the workplace, you must become a person who will not make the people around you anxious

We have noticed that those who make the people around them anxious are mostly used to People who are self-centered and don't consider other people's feelings. Craftsmen make products for customers. Only by considering issues from the customer's perspective and taking action can they improve their skills and character. Thinking of others may be tiring, but as long as we get used to it, this inner joy will be contagious to ourselves.

5. Before entering the workplace, you must be able to understand others correctly

It is the responsibility of first-class craftsmen to provide customers with high-quality products that exceed expectations. To achieve this goal, you must develop the habit of listening to others correctly. If a craftsman fails to understand the customer's requirements and acts rashly, he will inevitably achieve twice the result with half the effort.

6. Before entering the workplace, you must first be an amiable person who is easy to get along with.

If you were given a choice, would you rather be served by someone with a friendly attitude or someone with a bad attitude? If you were your boss, would you rather take an affable person or a tense-looking person to various important occasions? The answer is self-evident! Face your customers with a cordial attitude. If they are satisfied, of course they are willing to let you continue your service. Similarly, if you treat your work partners with a cordial attitude, everyone's cohesion will be improved and great results can be achieved in a short period of time. In this way, work can naturally be continuously improved.

7. Before entering the workplace, you must become a responsible person

Responsible behavior means that if a problem occurs, you will strive to take your own responsibility. If we have a 101% sense of responsibility, once we encounter difficulties, we will have first-class capabilities to overcome them. Moreover, conscientious work will inevitably create a sense of tension, so that you can concentrate on your work and improve your skills. If everyone can work out of social responsibility, no matter what job you do, you will be particularly happy.

8. Before entering the workplace, you must become a person who can respond well

A first-class craftsman must also respond in a first-class way. Whether you understand it or not, express it clearly to avoid mistakes. People often assume that someone who always answers "yes" in high spirits must be an active and prepared person. And a complete and appropriate answer is the first step to making an accurate product. You know, in Japan, the answer to "yes" is very decisive. They rarely say: "It's more or less, this is okay." You must be able to give a good response. This kind of good response can make the other party more willing to communicate with you and express his needs. Seek truth from facts, don't pretend to understand.

9. Before entering the workplace, you must become a person who can consider others.

Without caring for others, you cannot become a good craftsman. The so-called "first-class craftsman" is one who can put himself in the other person's shoes no matter what the occasion. A person who thinks about others should be popular, considerate of others at all times, and be kind-hearted. His work will surely touch people's hearts.

10. Before entering the workplace, you must become a "nosy" person

"Nosy" here is not a derogatory term, it refers to doing something good for the other person, Even if you offend someone, say what you need to say. Everyone has abilities, but some people can’t develop their abilities without someone repeatedly being “nosy” and reprimanding them. It takes much more effort and courage to mind other people's "business" than it does to the person being managed. If you don't keep an eye on the other person, it will be difficult to ensure that "nosy" is managed appropriately, so it takes time. If you can look at other people's "nosy" with gratitude, such people can grow.

11. Before entering the workplace, you must become a persistent person

The so-called "persistence" means "not giving up" on things and trying various methods over and over again until you get it right. . If we want to achieve first-class work standards, we need to persevere in learning from our bosses or seniors. If people are not satisfied with the status quo and continue to pursue higher realms, they can explore their infinite potential and achieve "first-class" status.

12. Before entering the workplace, you must become a person with a sense of time.

People who always care about time must also be people who walk ahead. A person's learning time is limited, but if he studies at twice the speed, he can gain two years of growth in one year. If we want to "learn from work", we must go all out in everything and persist to the end, so that we can become first-class talents. And those who value time will be ready to work at any time, so they can always keep their time and keep their promises. This is also a sign of respect for customers and colleagues.

13. Before entering the workplace, you must be someone who has tools ready at all times.

If the tools are neatly and perfectly equipped, you can start working immediately, which can improve work efficiency. In addition, tools are good partners who help us throughout our lives. Keeping them tidy is a way to express your gratitude to them and your sincerity. Chinese Neo-Confucianism of the Song and Ming Dynasties emphasized the word "sincerity", which means are you sincere with a chisel or hammer? When you can treat these tools like friends, you have achieved "knowledge through investigation" and also show your work attitude.

14. Before entering the workplace, you must become a person who is good at cleaning.

Cleaning up is the last step of the work, which directly affects the next work, so it is very important. important. Cleaning and organizing is not just for the convenience of finding things, it also represents an attitude, and customers can also judge whether you are professional or not. If we do cleaning work with gratitude, it can also cultivate our attitude of being serious and responsible and not arrogant or impetuous.

15. Before entering the workplace, you must become a person who understands your own position

"Understanding your own position" means having an accurate positioning of yourself at work, and deciding what role you play. What kind of drama are you singing? The master's position is like that of a general on the battlefield, giving orders and coordinating the overall situation; while the craftsman's position is to quickly and correctly implement the instructions of his superiors. There are many people's positions. Only by constantly thinking about your own position can you understand the other party's wishes, understand what you should do, and then take action.

16. Before entering the workplace, you must become a person who can think positively

We will always encounter various difficulties on the road to the future. We must believe that those difficulties arise as challenges to improve our personal abilities. For those who think they are powerless, the training of suffering is to help them believe in their genes, because everyone is born with genes of some ability.

17. Before entering the workplace, you must become a grateful person

Being grateful is the foundation of a craftsman. If you want to thank someone, you have to say it out loud, otherwise the other person won't know. Thank your parents, thank your children, thank your master and seniors... words of gratitude will make those around you feel warm. Only by knowing how to be grateful can your personality grow. Gratitude can help us become humble even when we encounter setbacks. Regardless of whether the final development is good or bad, a person who is grateful for everything is a person who can learn a lot and continue to grow.

18. Before entering the workplace, you must be a person who pays attention to appearance.

Paying attention to appearance is the most basic etiquette for a person in society. As a craftsman, it is very important to make yourself clean and tidy from beginning to end before going to the workplace. This not only represents respect for others, but also essentially respect for yourself.

19. Before entering the workplace, you must be a helpful person

The so-called "helping others" means taking action in advance to provide what the other person needs after seeing what they need. help. Taking action when others call you is the worst policy; doing what others do is the middle policy; being able to realize and take action before others call you is the best policy. "Helping others" means making work go smoothly. If you want to do this, you should be ahead of your predecessors and customers, and you should do it promptly and quickly.

20. Before entering the workplace, you must become a person who is proficient in using tools

If you can use tools well to the point where you can use your arms and fingers, then excellent works will naturally be around the corner. Can be expected. However, to achieve the state of good use of tools, craftsmen need to constantly train and constantly break through your comfort zone. It is difficult to improve simply by repeating the work.

21. Before entering the workplace, you must become a person who can introduce yourself well

The so-called self-introduction is actually to get to know yourself again. At the same time, show your strengths to others, tell them about your personal goals, outline your future vision, let others know your values, encourage you to work hard towards your dreams, and never shrink back even if you encounter difficulties.

22. Before entering the workplace, you must become a person who can have "pride"

For a craftsman, it is very important to learn to be "proud". When delivering goods to customers, be sure to brag about the furniture you made. For example: the furniture is made of XX wood produced in XX local area. In order to coordinate the furniture with the display space, we spent a lot of thought. Try to use simple, easy-to-understand language so that customers can feel your joy and pride, touch their hearts, and move them. When you share such pride with everyone, the work you do is bound to gain the respect of others.

23. Before entering the workplace, you must become a person who can express your opinions well

To be a "proud" person, you must become a person who can express your opinions well, that is Share ideas frequently to create better work. At work, many people always adopt an indifferent attitude in order to avoid disturbances and disputes in interpersonal relationships. In this way, they neither learn anything nor grow. Only when everyone expresses their opinions and discusses one thing, everyone can say "If it were me, what would I do...", even if you are laughed at, you won't care too much, and you can only speak frankly about yourself opinions and share your ideas with others, so that you will continue to grow.

24. Before entering the workplace, you must become a diligent letter writer

Expressing gratitude can make the other person feel better and gain their favor. And expressing gratitude through your own words can convey your thoughts more accurately and profoundly. We just need to write with a serious attitude, no need for gorgeous words or red tape formats. Write what you want to say, let the words carry your true emotions and exert its charm. This will be better than the same greetings. More touching.

25. Before entering the workplace, you must be someone who is willing to clean the toilet.

As long as we live, we must use our minds and toilets every day. The world only knows that the soul is noble and the toilet is stinky, but it does not know that purity can come from filth. By cleaning the dirtiest places, one can temper one's will and have a beautiful soul. This is the code of conduct of Akiyama woodworkers. For craftsmen, only a beautiful mind can make beautiful things. Only by promoting good and eliminating evil can we get closer and closer to the first class.

26. Before entering the workplace, you must be good at making phone calls.

Answering the phone happily is a basic requirement for everyone in society. It requires being able to express yourself concisely and understandably without seeing the other person. At the same time, keep your voice clear and happy. During the conversation, you must avoid using vague words, and your answers must be specific, simple, easy to understand, polite and thoughtful.

27. Before entering the workplace, you must be a fast eater

Craftsmen are a collective noun. Work cannot begin without collective action, so working and eating are both To be together, as long as one person is slow to eat, it will affect everyone's work. Therefore, you must be a person who eats quickly, which is also a sign of respect for others. Therefore, controlling meal time is also an important training for cultivating first-class craftsmen.

28. Before entering the workplace, you must become a prudent person with money

Akiyama Toshiki said: "What you learn by sweating when you are young will become a lifetime wealth. "In other words, acquiring a skill is like having a lot of money. If you understand this, you will know how to spend money to promote your own growth. If you want to become a first-class craftsman, you must go all out for training, and no matter how hard it is, you must persist to the end. You must know that your current efforts can help you acquire skills that you will use throughout your life, so this is also an investment in your future.

29. Before entering the workplace, you must become a person who can "know an abacus"

"Reading, writing, and an abacus" are the three basic skills of a craftsman.

In order to process work quickly and orderly, one must have the ability to do mental arithmetic. First-class craftsmen can quickly calculate the required materials, time, labor, etc. based on customer orders, and can also create products that satisfy customers. In addition, "knowing how to take an abacus" means being able to not give up when faced with difficulties, having nimble fingers, strong concentration, and being able to keep both the body and brain operating at full speed, etc. In other words, this person also masters the correctness, patience, meticulousness and other abilities necessary for a first-class craftsman, so he can become an excellent craftsman who can make correct judgments in an instant and has strong understanding.

30. Before entering the workplace, you must be someone who can write a brief work report

Apprentices of "Akiyama Woodworking" often write a summary report of the day's work in a sketchbook. There are records of successes and failures in the report. Seniors will write comments on the report after reading it. Through this kind of written communication, they can understand why they failed. After writing a work report, send it to your family or mentor, and ask them to write down what they want to say in the report before sending it back. When apprentices realize that everyone around them supports them, they will inevitably feel grateful. With emotion, they will take a step closer to becoming first-class craftsmen.

"Craftsman spirit" applies to practitioners in various industries. No matter which industry you are in, if you want to become a first-class talent, you need to develop your potential and lay a solid foundation in both mental and physical aspects. Accumulate knowledge and keep improving. Learn the spirit of craftsman and move forward courageously in your own workplace.

If you want to become a first-class craftsman, you must go through the three stages of "Shou Po Li". The so-called "Shou Po Li" is based on the master-disciple relationship and is the path to first-rate excellence.

First of all, it is "keeping". It means learning from the master, imitating all the elements of being a craftsman, and faithfully and fully absorbing the knowledge imparted by the master.

Secondly, it is "broken". It is to absorb all the knowledge imparted by the master, form a solid foundation, and then add your own ideas to the master's form.

Finally, it is "li". It refers to the stage of breaking away from the master and creating a new realm of one's own. Just like in "Akiyama Woodworking", the craftsman becomes independent from the ninth year and seeks new breakthroughs.

How can young people, who have been growing up under the protection of their families and do whatever they want, persist in "Akiyama Woodworking" to the end? In addition to the guidance of teachers, the support of parents also plays a vital role, so parents must have firm beliefs.

In the craftsman training of "Akiyama Woodworking", apprentices must write a report in a sketchbook, summarizing the day's work content and areas that need reflection. When the sketchbook is completed, it will be sent to the apprentice. family or teachers. In order to encourage their children, parents will try their best to write their own words of encouragement. When a person is so expected by the people around him, he will naturally not give up easily; once he gives up, it means betraying the expectations of his parents and mentors.

Therefore, only by involving family members and teachers can we cultivate unique craftsmen.

Personal opinion

We all know that first-class products must come from the hands of first-class talents. If you want to become a first-class talent, you must have a first-class character. But how is a first-class character tempered? It's not about practicing skills hard or reading books, but it's about trivial things like saying hello, cleaning toilets, and using tools proficiently. Who would have thought that what determines first-class products, first-class talents, and first-class character lies in the details of daily life and work! As the saying goes, "The tree that hugs each other is born from the smallest moth; the nine-story platform rises from tired soil." This is exactly the truth. Therefore, you don't have to be envious of the "high and powerful". Starting from ordinary things and adhering to the spirit of craftsmanship, you can also achieve a wonderful life!

This book is less readable than expected. Although it claims to have thirty points, in fact some of them are repeated and some are not applicable. It is of little significance for reference. There is no need to read the whole book carefully. I have finished reading this article. Basically be able to grasp the central idea, which is to cultivate a sense of ritual, start with small things, focus on the present, be a good person before doing things, and cultivate the heart before being a good person. If the heart is as still as water, you will become a great person! If the score is out of 10, I would give it 6 points at most!