Kaizen Forever introduces you to the teachings of Chihiro Nakao. Mr. Nakao co-founded the Shingijutsu Company in 1987 at the behest of Taiichi Ohno to teach the principles and practices of the Toyota Production System to a wider audience. Nakao-san's teachings will enlighten you on wide- ranging subjects related to business, management, leadership, and more. He does so in ways that nobody else has, and as no one else alive can. This book will make a deep impact on you in practical, intellectual, and emotional ways. It will inspire you to think differently, to be practical and take action, and to learn and improve. There is no end to kaizen. There is no end to what you can learn from this book.

For more than 28 years, Kaizen consultants from Shingijutsu USA Corporation have been helping manufacturing and service organizations improve processes by teaching people the methods and tools of flow production. This book is a humble attempt to share the spirit, mindset, and methods of Shingijutsu-Kaizen and their approach to improving the human condition. You will learn how unique and sincere Shingijutsu sensei are as they work to eliminate waste from business processes. Shingijutsu-Kaizen teaches people how to think. You will learn, as never before, how to identify and correct abnormal conditions by "trystorming" -- rapid, hands-on trial-and-error testing and experimentation. It is the most powerful way to grow as a person while simultaneously improving both business and humanity. Efforts must begin at the genba with the intent to master the basics. Then, one can move forward to eliminate waste in larger scale activities. We hope this book will inspire and motivated you to learn how to eliminate waste and improve both business and humanity.

Improve your life fearlessly with this essential guide to kaizen—the art of making great and lasting change through small, steady steps. The philosophy is simple: Great change is made through small steps. And the science is irrefutable: Small steps circumvent the brain's built-in resistance to new behavior. No matter what the goal—losing weight, quitting smoking, writing a novel, starting an exercise program, or meeting the love of your life—the powerful technique of kaizen is the way to achieve it. Written by psychologist and kaizen expert Dr. Robert Maurer, One Small Step Can Change Your Life is the simple but potent guide to easing into new habits—and turning your life around. Learn how to overcome fear and procrastination with his 7 Small Steps—including how to Think Small Thoughts, Take Small Actions, and Solve Small Problems—to steadily build your confidence and make insurmountable-seeming goals suddenly feel doable. Dr. Maurer also shows how to visualize virtual change so that real change can come more easily. Why small rewards lead to big returns. And how great discoveries are made by paying attention to the little details most of us overlook. His simple regiment is your path to continuous improvement for anything from losing weight to quitting smoking, paying off debt, or conquering shyness and meeting new people. Rooted in the two-thousand-year-old wisdom of the Tao Te Ching—“The journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step”—here is the way to change your life without fear, without failure, and start on a new path of easy, continuous improvement.

Discover the power of KAIZEN to make lasting and powerful change in your organization “Maurer uses his knowledge of the brain and human psychology to show what I have promoted for the past three decades—that continuous improvement is built on the foundation of people courageously using their creativity. Kaizen is much more than a world-class management practice; it is a technique to remove fear from our mind’s mind, enabling us to take small steps to better things. The process of change starts with awareness and desire in our minds and then leads to action and change in the physical world. Readers of this book will surely fi nd new ideas and encouragement to make improvements in personal health, performance at work, and their own well-being.” —Masaaki Imai, Chariman, Kaizen Institute KAIZEN: The Small-Step Step Solution for You and Your Company Today’s businesses love the idea of revolutionary, immediate change. But major “disruptive” efforts often fail because radical change sets off alarms in our brains and shuts down our power to think clearly and creatively. There is, however, a more effective path to change. Change that is lasting and powerful. Change that begins with one small step . . . It’s The Spirit of Kaizen—a proven system for implementing small, incremental steps that can have a big impact in reaching your goals. This step-by-step guide from renowned psychologist and consultant Dr. Robert Maurer shows you how to: Lower costs—by offering little rewards Raise quality—by reducing mistakes Manage difficult people— one step at a time Boost morale and productivity— in five minutes a day Implement big ideas—through small but steady actions Sell more—in less time Filled with practical tips and ready-to-use tools for managers, innovators, and entrepreneurs, The Spirit of Kaizen is the essential handbook for a changing world. You’ll learn how to think outside the suggestion box, remove mental blindfolds, manage stress with one-minute exercises, and handle rising health-care costs. You’ll discover the “small step” secrets for dealing with all kinds of people, from tough bosses and listless workers to stubborn clients and fussy customers. These simple but powerful techniques can be applied to almost any workplace situation, especially when you’re trying to navigate the stormy waters of radical change, high-pressure deadlines, and cutthroat competition. These are the same methods of small, continual improvement that have been tested by the largest companies, such as Boeing, Toyota, and the U.S. Navy—methods that will work for you, too. No matter how big the obstacle or how big the dream, The Spirit of Kaizen has a small-step solution to help you succeed.

50 Life-Changing Stories: Embrace Stoicism, Ikigai, Kaizen, Wabi-sabi, and Shinrin-yoku for Inner Peace and Growth Dive into a world of transformation and self-discovery with this captivating collection of 50 stories that explore the core principles of Stoicism, Ikigai, Kaizen, Wabi-sabi, and Shinrin-yoku. These tales will take you on a journey towards personal growth, resilience, and a life filled with purpose and serenity. Within this remarkable anthology, you'll encounter stories that reveal the power of these philosophies: Stoicism, with its unwavering strength and resilience in the face of life's challenges. Ikigai, guiding you towards discovering your true purpose and joy. Kaizen, illustrating the transformative nature of continuous improvement. Wabi-sabi, the beauty found in imperfection and the acceptance of life's transience. Shinrin-yoku, the healing embrace of nature and its profound wisdom. Each of these stories offers timeless wisdom and practical guidance, revealing the hidden treasures within the philosophies of Stoicism, Ikigai, Kaizen, Wabi-sabi, and Shinrin-yoku. They provide insights into embracing life's imperfections, finding purpose, cultivating resilience, and connecting with the natural world to discover serenity. 50 Life-Changing Stories is a collection designed to inspire and guide you toward a life of inner peace, personal growth, and profound meaning. These stories reflect the universal human quest for wisdom, fulfillment, and harmony. Your journey to a more enriching and enlightened life begins here, with these tales as your companions. Open this book, and allow the stories to transport you into a world of transformation, where Stoicism, Ikigai, Kaizen, Wabi-sabi, and Shinrin-yoku become your guiding lights. Embrace the wisdom of the ages and discover the life-changing power of these remarkable philosophies. Your journey to inner peace and growth starts here.

"Mike Woods urges his retired father into helping out a friend's failing company. But for Bob Woods, another struggle to introduce lean manufacturing quickly rehashes production battles that he's long since fought. And not even the senior Woods, son Mike, or friend Phil and his colleagues really grasp what's in store for them."--Cover.

A gorgeously illustrated introduction to the Japanese method of Kaizen – meaning 'change' 'good' – showing you how to make small, step-by-step changes to transform your life. 'This beautiful, simple book suggests tiny changes we can make to improve all areas of life, from friendships to a cluttered flat.' – Marianne Power, author of Help Me! From Marie Kondo to Hygge to Ikigai, in recent years, philosophies to help people live better lives have taken the world by storm. Kaizen will change your habits for good. This beautifully colour illustrated and photographed book offers a way to build good habits and remove bad ones, without being too hard on yourself along the way. The focus is on having patience, shaping solutions for yourself rather than following others and not giving up when things aren’t working. Rather than being critical of your faults, the emphasis is on mindful, positive change. Well-known in the business and sports worlds as a method for mapping incremental goals, Kaizen is also a wonderful tool for slowly improving aspects of your life, without feeling daunted or overwhelmed by the challenge. Kaizen by Sarah Harvey brings you a personalized and flexible approach to change that you can apply to any area of your life (whether it is health, relationships, money, career, habits, new hobbies or general wellbeing). You can adapt it to suit working style, preferences and personality. Every person’s experience of Kaizen will be different, which is what makes it such an effective tool for positive change.