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Kaizen is a Japanese philosophical concept and a Lean manufacturing tool. The idea is that processes can always change for the better, and there are no limits to how much they can improve. Translated from Japanese, the word Kaizen is made up of two words, “kai,” which means good, and “zen,” which means change. Although Kaizen was designed to serve businesses, it can also enable people to improve themselves and evolve. 

• Getting Started

The Kaizen philosophy reveals that a person only has to start doing something to start growing. That means that one step a day is infinitely better than no steps at all. And that growth may eventually come out of just one simple effort made every day. This mentality speaks about the power of habits and daily activities since these are the things that shape our daily lives. 

For example, if a person wants to be more physically active, they can walk or run each day for 5minutes. And when they feel prepared, they can increase the amount of time. The same goes for people who want to write a book; one sentence or two per day is better than only imagining and thinking about doing something.

• Simple Math

Kaizen philosophy teaches people that if they grow and improve with 1.01% percent every day, they will be up to 38 times better by the end of the year. Slow and steady wins the race, as showcased in the story of the hare and tortoise. The hare may be fast and can run 100 times faster than the tortoise, but the resilience and steady progress of the tortoise eventually outruns the hare as they avoid tiredness and exhaust. 

You can make another simple comparison with normal habits and activities like brushing teeth. While it may not change much in a person’s life, it sure as hell keeps dental health problems away. 

• Continuous and Infinite Improvement

Kaizen can teach people that improvement is infinite and that there’s never a time when something or someone cannot improve further. This philosophy can keep people engaged and never let go of healthy habits. After all, success is a long ladder and falling from it is fairly simple. 

This means that even if a person improves nearly every day, they will still fail and fall. However, improvement should be a daily habit because one day of stoppage can set one back, especially when starting. 

• Eliminating Bad Habits

Continuous improvement means letting go of everything that is stopping you from improving. This means that you need to identify what is stopping you from achieving a certain objective if you want to grow as a person. After eliminating the obstruction, you can visualize what you need to improve and reach your target much better. You’ll also be able to outline small steps you can follow every day.