The Power of Practical Thinking: Lessons from Mr. Masai The Taj Hotel Group once invited Mr. Masai Imai, a Japanese consultant, to conduc...
The Power of Practical Thinking: Lessons from Mr. Masai
The Taj Hotel Group once invited Mr. Masai Imai, a Japanese consultant, to conduct a workshop. The staff was skeptical—what could someone with no hotel experience teach them?
Mr. Masai began with a walk—not a talk. He led the team to a laundry room that had a beautiful view. “Why waste this as a laundry? Move it to the basement and convert this to a guest room—today,” he said. The manager hesitated, offering to include it in the report, but Mr. Masai insisted: “Not tomorrow. Now.” And they did.
Next, in the pantry, he rolled up his sleeves and started washing plates. The staff watched, stunned. “Too many plates lead to delay and clutter,” he explained. “In Japan, we call this Muda—waste from excess or delay. Pack the extra plates and send them elsewhere now.”
Instead of preparing reports, Mr. Masai encouraged immediate action—cutting waste, simplifying processes, and maximizing efficiency.
On the final day, he told a story: a Japanese and an American hunter are chased by a lion. The Japanese pauses to wear running shoes. The American says, “That won’t help, we must reach the car!” The Japanese replies, “I just need to run faster than you.”
The lesson: In today's competitive world, you don’t have to be perfect—you just have to be better than the rest, even by a few steps.
Takeaway: Eliminate waste, act fast, and never stop learning. Progress is about practical thinking and staying a few steps ahead.
