Don’t tell people how to do things, tell them what to do and let them surprise you with their results. - Phil Knight

No matter the sport-no matter the human endeavor, really-total effort will win people's hearts

Even after going public, there were so many problems. “We have so much opportunity, but we’re having a terrible time getting managers who can seize those opportunities. We try people from the outside, but they fail, because our culture is so different.” Mr. Hayami nodded. “See those bamboo trees up there?” he asked. “Yes.” “Next year . . . when you come . . . they will be one foot higher.” I stared. I understood.

There were many ways down Mount Fuji, according to my guidebook, but only one way up. Life lesson in that, I thought.