TOP MESSAGE
It starts with people, and it ends with people. And then, the environment
It starts with people, and it ends with people. And then, the environment
TOP MESSAGE
This is a message from our CEO to those who will soon be entering the workforce.
I attended Aikyo High School in my hometown, Hekinan. However, I often skipped class and hung out with bad friends, so I wasn't a very good student. Due to various circumstances, I dropped out of high school in my third year. After dropping out, I worked part-time at a pizza shop and karaoke place. However, even back then, I had the mindset of wanting to do what I had to do and not wasting time.
After that, I took credits at a correspondence school and went to a vocational school because I liked cars and wanted to become a mechanic. During my time at the vocational school, I was still focused on part-time jobs and having fun, just like in high school.
However, I now think it was a good experience to be so focused on fun. For example, when I was hanging out with girls, I thought about how to make the date fun. Looking back, I realize that this was really important. I think the approach to work is the same. It’s not about boasting about what you studied in school, but about what you want to do, how you act, and how you approach things.
There are students who say, “I studied hard in school,” but academic background doesn’t matter to me. If you want to highlight your academic achievements, you should become a school employee or a politician. Just because school was a good experience doesn’t mean it will be accepted in society. What’s important is what you want to do, how you act, and how you approach it. When you act with a future perspective, your success rate improves and results follow. If you just act without thinking, you’re just shooting in the dark, and everything will fail.
After I got my mechanic certification, I was invited by a friend to interview at “Nagoya Toyopet.” Actually, it was more of a casual decision... (laughs). When I thought about how to do my best in the interview, I decided to try to get along with the interviewer. And, as a result, I passed the interview. The friend who invited me didn’t pass, though.
In the service industry, communication with people is essential. But communication skills aren’t taught in school, right? You need to talk to people and actively reach out to improve your communication skills. Failure is also important. That's why, as I said earlier, I don't care about academic background. I believe that even those with low academic backgrounds who work hard every day have a lot to offer.
After three years as a mechanic, I moved to sales. Back then, mechanics at dealerships just replaced broken parts, so anyone could do it. There was little chance to talk to customers, and it wasn’t an environment where you could express yourself much. I worked in sales for three years, and the mindset was always the same. It’s about how you approach your work. In customer service, I focused on building trust. Since cars are a big purchase, I wanted customers to enjoy buying them. Interestingly, in car sales, whether you talk about the car 10% or 100%, you’ll still get complaints. So, I only talked about 10%. The rest was about building rapport with the customer, and that’s when trust was established. I focused on how much I could get to know the customer during the sales process.
After leaving Nagoya Toyopet, I was inspired by Jack Bauer from the TV show “24” and went to Australia to study abroad for a year. The hardest part wasn’t the language, but realizing how much a national barrier existed between communities. Since I couldn’t speak English at first, I managed by using gestures and a dictionary during my homestay.
The most valuable lesson I learned from my year abroad was that all responsibility lies with me. I had to make all the decisions myself, and it was an environment where there were no personal connections or interests at stake. I think that experience was invaluable. After returning to Japan, I was at a loss for what to do and worked part-time, but I quit because part-time jobs lacked purpose, and I felt it was a waste of time.
Later, I was contacted by a former boss from Nagoya Toyopet, and I started my own business as an independent mechanic. The lack of money was a huge obstacle, but I took out a loan from the bank to finance my operations. Since I didn’t have a factory, I worked on-site as a mobile mechanic. But it was tough doing it all on my own. After about 10 months, I hired people and opened a factory in Okazaki.
In 2013, I incorporated the business, and at the time, we had about 5 to 6 employees. The main reason I decided to incorporate was to work with large companies. Large companies only work with other large companies, and it was hard for small businesses to break in. The disadvantage was significant. But small companies can’t survive without working with large companies. That’s why I decided to incorporate.
Now, we have locations in Aichi, Gifu, Mie, and Shizuoka prefectures, and by 2030, we plan to expand nationwide, start new businesses, and employ 1,000 people.
Rather than expecting something from my employees, I want them to inspire me with their potential. We put a lot of effort into employee training, including etiquette training, licensing, and sales. They actively participate in these sessions. No matter how much daily work you do, nothing will change. However, training and education provide a wealth of learning opportunities. I tell my employees, "At the very least, find one thing that resonates with you." If they leave our company, I want them to carry with them the strength to succeed at any other company. On the other hand, I want to leave them with the legacy of having excelled in our company and an environment they can cherish. What a company can offer is a conducive environment. I believe creating a supportive environment is crucial.
You can’t accomplish anything without effort, and I especially want young people to strive harder. If they don’t work hard now, then when will they? Having good products is a given. We sell good products, after all. But whether it’s about employees or the company atmosphere, everything ultimately boils down to people. Even when purchasing products, people buy because they trust the individual selling them. If they don’t trust the person, they won’t buy. It starts with people and ends with people. The environment follows later. That has been my philosophy throughout my life.
D-PLUS BUSINESS OPERATIONS
D-Plus's Business
D-Plus is not just a car sales company; we are a total car support enterprise that offers services like vehicle inspections, bodywork, and purchasing. To enrich our customers' automotive lives, we provide a wide range of services. By consistently handling everything from car purchases to maintenance and support, we build long-lasting relationships with our clients that they can trust.
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D-Plus's Numbers
Learn about D-Plus through various numbers.
