After spending years in the United States building the Canon company’s operations, Fujio Mitarai returned to Japan in 1989. In his 50s, he was asked to head up corporate administration. His cousin Hajime Mitarai – a decade younger than Fujio – became CEO of the company in 1993.
The odds of Fujio ever becoming CEO of Canon? Lower than of my singing in tune at a karaoke fest. But, in 1995, his younger cousin contracted pneumonia and died. The Canon board jumped several levels to name Fujio the firm’s new president. As CEO, he implemented drastic changes and made Canon one of the most profitable electronics businesses around. How did he pull it off? Fujio Mitarai never, ever lost sight of Canon’s big-picture goal.
Rhode Island's Market Has Changed. Developers, Builders, Investors and Sellers Must Change With It.
By Emilio DiSpirito IV License Partner | Engel & Völkers Oceanside Leader | The DiSpirito…
Learn More
Different landscape: A miracle happened this April 1st on 64th Street. Feeling under the weather, Karita Mattila couldn’t sing the title role in “Fidelio” at New York’s Metropolitan Opera on Saturday afternoon. This soprano slot is one of the choicest nuggets in diva land. Time to go to the bullpen. Enter understudy Erika Sunnegardh, for her Met debut.
For countless years, according to The New York Times, Erika had waited tables and sung at funerals. But this Swedish songstress’ lungs have the thrust of an SAS jetliner, and a classical polish to boot. When she took her bows, bouquets rained down in Lincoln Center and from a radio audience of 10 million across the nation. What makes Sunnegardh’s saga so spectacular? She’s 40 years old, and had never sung an opera onstage until a year and a half earlier!
Never give up. That’s only part of the lesson to be learned from Fujio Mitarai and Erika Sunnegardh. Never giving up is an attitude. Both Mitarai and Sunnegardh had that confidence and something more: a constructive plan that both kept them active and decked them out with new skills.
Take Sunnegardh:
•She had been contracted by the Met as a “cover.” A cover is a backup for a particular performance, if anything happens to the star. Covering is standard practice at most large opera houses. So, while Sunnegardh was bringing home the bacon belting out birthday tunes, she also was keeping herself in the game in case an opportunity arose.
•In the Metropolitan Opera’s case, being a cover can earn a nice bowl of gravy in itself. When there’s no conflict of interest involved, what have you done to set up your own firm or moonlight your skills on the side?
•It pays to be waiting in the wings. How about you? Ready to grab for the brass ring of being chief information officer for a medium-sized company? How many recruiters and other firms know you exist, or how to spell your name? Have you taken on an industry role at your trade association? When your specialty is Googled on the Web, does your name pop up?
•Persistence pays off, but you have to keep your skills fresh. Singing at funerals and weddings isn’t a glamour trip for a diva-to-be. Nor is managing the crumbiest, most loss-ridden and poorest-staffed zone in the company … unless you can turn it around.
•Sunnegardh credits much of her change in fortune to finding the right teachers to ignite her career. Mentors are critical to any well-managed personal plan. But sometimes yesterday’s mentors don’t match tomorrow’s opportunities.
Figure out what you need to reach that next step in your career. Then find those people who are skilled and willing to take you to that level.
•Play the community card. While working toward her goal, Sunnegardh started a kids’ community music program in the New York City borough of Queens. Can you imagine the breathtaking experience, for these youngsters, of having someone with mega-talent working with them in a genuine way? It’s great for the kids, but honest community involvement also is mind-boggling to industry bigwigs. Doing good for others can end up doing great for you.
According to The Times, Sunnegardh’s matinee appearance was the biggest Met debut of an unknown since 1918. The Met’s newest star had waited tables … and waited decades.
Short-term frustration is no option for players in this league. One of Fujio Mitarai’s most cited quotes is: “We have to plant seeds for the next decade and beyond.” That lesson is easy: Get busy … and work smart!
Mackay’s Moral: While waiting in the wings, it pays to polish the silver.
Harvey Mackay is author of the New York Times best seller “Pushing the Envelope” (Ballantine Books). He can be reached through his Web site, www.mackay.com, or at Mackay Envelope Corp., 2100 Elm St., Minneapolis, MN 55414.
