Real-life resilience - Honda

This week I’m in Japan with my family. We’ve walked past shrines older than some countries, tiny cafés with handwritten menus, and shops that focus on one particular item and do it perfectly.

Japan is a country dedicated to accuracy and precision - clean streets, efficient public transport, exceptional customer service. It’s hard to believe that just 80 years ago, Japan was devastated by war. Since then, it’s been rebuilt and thrived, even in spite of several significant earthquakes over that period.

But it’s the people that make Japan truly special - and it was the people who rebuilt it. One of them was Soichiro Honda, whose story is a masterclass in resilience.

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The man who built an empire from the rubble

Soichiro Honda didn’t come from privilege or prestige. Born in 1906 in a rural Japanese village, his father was a blacksmith and his mother wove cloth. He was into everything but school. At 15, he dropped out and moved to Tokyo to take an apprenticeship at a garage.

In the 1930s, he began manufacturing piston rings he hoped to sell to Toyota. His first designs were rejected and his engineering skills were ridiculed. So he finally went back to school, learned how to do properly, and eventually succeeded. Toyota became his first major client and his company grew.

Then came the war.

His factory was destroyed by the bombing, and what remained was taken by an earthquake in 1945. He was left with nothing but his spirit.

But Honda didn’t let it stop him. In fact, he jokingly called the surplus gasoline cans left by US fighter planes “gifts from President Truman.” He used them to rebuild his factory and develop new products.

One of those products was a motorized bicycle.

While Japan was in ruins, and people lacked money and transport, Honda saw opportunity. He attached a small engine to a bicycle so people could get around quickly and cheaply.

It was a simple fix to a real-world problem… and it worked!

By the 1950s, his motorbikes were sweeping Japan. By the 60s, they outsold Harley-Davidson in the US. By the 70s, Honda cars were becoming one of the most trusted brands in the world.

All because one man refused to be defined by rejection, war, or disaster.

Lessons to borrow from Honda

What does this have to do with us modern professionals navigating deadlines, restructures, or just trying to keep it together? Here’s how I see it:

1. Start small, solve real problems. The best businesses solve real problems. Honda didn’t set out to build an empire. He strapped an engine to a bicycle to provide fast and affordable transportation in post-war Japan. It worked and it helped people - that was enough. Sometimes we overthink the grand plan and miss the simple solution right in front of us. And in fact, sometimes recognizing that the obstacle is the way is a great way to make forward progress. Problems can be a great motivator.

2. Adjust accordingly. Things rarely work on the first try, especially in creative or transformational work. Honda’s early failure with Toyota led him to a better solution. WD-40 is named that because 39 versions failed. This is our reminder: don’t crumble if things don’t work perfectly from the get go. We need to get curious, learn, and then try again.

“Many people dream of success. To me, success can only be achieved through repeated failure and introspection.” - Soichiro Honda

3. Rebuild when it all falls down. Most people would walk away from a bombed factory. Honda started again, with just a bike and a motor. Hindsight is 20-20 so it’s always easy to reflect on ideas like this, but I often try to think about what Honda’s mindset would have been like in those darkest days. Most people would have felt void of energy and enthusiasm, hopeful for a miracle or the easy way out. But somehow he found a way forward. I found a quote from Honda that gives some insight into the way he was able to persevere - “I forced myself to be enthusiastic.” he said. We can all do that with the right tools. One of my favourites is CVS to BVS.

4. Constraints drive innovation. Post-war Japan had no money, limited materials, and urgent needs. Honda embraced the limitations to create brilliance. Constraints can frustrate us, but they also sharpen us. We need to let go of what’s out of our control and lean into what is. Sometimes it’s just about getting to work on what’s important now. Let’s just get started.

“I think best when I have a wrench in my hands.” - Soichiro Honda.

I know I included a lot of quotes this week, but Honda just had so much wisdom to share. Each of these tools above can remind us that resilience isn’t about having it all figured out - it’s about staying adaptable, curious, and committed to the next right step, even when the path isn’t clear.

Until next time friends, stay curious, stay resilient, and keep pedaling.

Carre @ Resilient Minds

P.S. If you're exploring how to build a more resilient culture in your team, school or organization, that's my jam. Let’s talk. I run workshops and programs to help people not just bounce back, but bounce forward.