by Supatat Pongpattanayok, Thailand, GSEP student 2016
On 24th February, I and my GSEP colleagues had a chance to visit “The Entrepreneurial Museum of Challenge and Innovation” (EMCI). This museum aims to develop and promote the next generation of human resource and was established by the Osaka Chamber of Commerce and Industry (OCCI) and other organizations in June 2001.
As we start our guided tour in the museum, a staff led us to their reception room for a brief orientation about the museum and its history. We watched a short video that featured some of Osaka’s successful entrepreneurs, all their bright achievements, and how they think and followed their own dream prior to their success. Every one of these individuals have their own unique qualities which made them all successful in their respective business fields such as infrastructure, chemicals, heavy industry, and energy, However, they have one thing in common, the spirit of “entrepreneurship”.
I have learned that an entrepreneur is a person who is capable of innovating a new product or modifying the existing one, thus could contribute both to the economic development and quality of life. Because of the success of these Japanese entrepreneurs in different industries, Japan has turned out to be world-leading both in terms of economic growth and quality of life.
During the orientation, we learned about the seven keywords of entrepreneurial spirit which are the most fundamental aspects for every successful entrepreneur: ambition, change, foresight, challenge, innovation, self-help and strong will.
After the orientation, we went to the exhibit area. The exhibit showcases 107 leading successful entrepreneurs in Osaka arranged by historical era: the birth of modern industrial city in Osaka, the formation of mass society, and the creation of abundant society.
Personally, I was most interested in Momofuku Ando, the inventor of instant noodles. He lost his company due to a chain of bankruptcies. However, Ando did not give up as nothing could block his passion. During the post-war era, Japan faced a food shortage problem so, Ando decided to start the production of instant noodle, or instant ramen, which was very familiar to the Japanese. However, it was not that easy. He tried countless ways to make the ramen last long and also keep its flavor but, unfortunately, all of them failed. One day, he had seen his wife making tempura, Japanese food, by using the deep frying method which food is submerged in hot oil. Suddenly, he realized how to make the flavor instant ramen last longer, increase its shelf life, and also make it easier to cook, it is by using the same process used in cooking tempura! Because of this, they were able to produce instant noodles and it became one of the most popular food and then it has been developed and adapted to fit the taste and time for people around the world since then until now.
By studying Momofuku Ando and other successful entrepreneurs’ story, I have gained various experiences and have been inspired by them. Somehow, I got the main idea of how to be the successful entrepreneur, we need to know that entrepreneurs are not just the one who innovate the new product and sell it to their customer, but they must also understand the WHOLE mechanism of their own market. After they make the new product and want to make profit out of it, it is a MUST to for them to know the production, storage, inventory management, distribution channel, shipping agent, payment method and even the feedback. For example, Momofuku Ando tried to always discover new method to develop instant noodles and deliver them to sell in the overseas market. Because of the difference in the food culture between eastern and western countries, his western customers found lots of problems in cooking and eating his instant noodles. However, he was inspired to invent the ‘cup noodles’, the next innovation which transformed the image of his company forever. To fully manage the business, entrepreneurs must also have the organization skills to foster the positive cooperative interaction and good working environment within a company for employees. These will give them the good quality of work which will contribute to the increase in the quality of their services and products. For me, entrepreneurship also means having a company that is working well together with many happy employees. I believe that is how to achieve the company’s goal and become a real successful entrepreneur.
In the end, I would like to say thank you to my GSEP teachers and EMCI staffs for providing us this great opportunity and showing us the essence of successful entrepreneurs. Thank you very much!!
Edited by: Eden Mariquit