Management’s Point of View ~ Making It a Habit ~

September 29, 2026

At a recent Beer Bash event, the conversation turned to: “Why is it that some people can stick with things they know are good for them, while others can’t?” As I listened to our employees share their experiences, I realized that whether it’s exercise, work, or even their mindset, everyone has a unique approach to making something a habit. Here, I’d like to share the ideas we discussed as a group about how we can turn positive behaviors into habits.

Create a Trigger

When we fail to turn something into a habit, we usually think, “It’s because I lack willpower.” However, some employees were skilled at creating situations that naturally prompt them to start, rather than relying on willpower alone.

One staff member said that when they decide to exercise, they start by simply changing into their workout clothes. Once they’ve changed, they naturally start to feel like exercising. Another staff member keeps push-up equipment right in front of the bathroom. Since it catches their eye when they go to take a shower at night, they say that even when they’re not feeling their best, they naturally start doing push-ups or sit-ups for at least five minutes.

When an activity hasn’t yet become a habit, “getting started” is what requires the most willpower. So, to minimize the need for willpower, create a trigger—rather than agonizing over whether to do it or not, set things up so you just do it. Lowering the bar isn’t a compromise; it’s a technique for sticking with it.

Find a Support Partner

A staff member who mentioned wanting to make exercise a habit told me he’d started taking walks around their house two weeks ago. He explained that he’s been able to keep it up because he walks with his wife, so one of the couple is always there to encourage the other. Another staff member shared that they stuck with voluntary morning training during high school because they had friends who practiced with them.

It can be difficult to develop good habits relying solely on your own willpower. Surround yourself with supporters, and if someone is struggling, then be their supporter. How wonderful it is when we can help each other build habits in this way.　

The Very Act of Continuing Builds Confidence

During our discussions, one staff member candidly shared, “If I don’t see results right away, I lose motivation.” I think this is something many people feel. It may seem small, but it’s an important insight.

Just because you diet for a day doesn’t mean you’ll see immediate results. However, after about a month, you’ll start to see gradual improvements. After a year, you probably will have achieved impressive results.

Conversely, bingeing on junk food may give you a momentary sense of happiness. But after a year of that, you’ll likely realize it’s negatively affecting your health.

There’s no guarantee you’ll achieve your goals quickly. However, if you keep doing what you need to do, that habit will elevate you and lead to growth. And you’ll come to realize that this, in turn, builds confidence. That’s why you shouldn’t fixate solely on results; instead, enjoy the process of maintaining good habits and becoming the kind of person who can keep putting in the effort.

Good Work Habits Ensure Quality

Habits are directly linked not only to an individual’s abilities but also to a company’s quality. One staff member told me that for 14 years, he has started every morning in the same order. First, he checks his email. Next, he checks his calendar to confirm the day’s schedule. Then, he reviews the to-do list he’s been compiling and decides what needs to be done that day. Only after completing these three steps does he begin his work for the day. He explained that he does this in the morning because thinking about difficult tasks at night inevitably leads to pessimism, while approaching them fresh in the morning often reveals they can be resolved surprisingly simply. That’s why he makes his plans in the morning.

In my case, when I work in Excel, for example, I always follow my own style. In the top-left corner, I include the Company Name, Subject Matter, and Date, followed by Purpose, Policies/Background, and Procedure, with the Conclusion clearly stated. Anyone who opens the Excel file can immediately understand my train of thought—what I was thinking, what I did, and what the results were. I devised this method to compensate for my weakness—a poor memory—and it has become second nature.

Due to the nature of our profession, we are expected to be 100% accurate at all times. However, it is difficult to always maintain a high level of focus. For example, it’s important to develop the habit of clearly understanding what needs to be done each day and to establish a work style that ensures tasks progress reliably. Consistently practicing these habits is crucial for guaranteeing the quality of our work.

So far, we’ve been talking about exercise and work procedures. But during the Beer Bash, one staff member told us that habits aren’t just about behavior—they’re also about mindset—and that mental habits are much harder to form than behavioral ones.

She said that in the past, whenever a problem arose, she would catch herself thinking, “It’s not my fault.” Taking responsibility made her feel as if she were being forced to shoulder other people’s failures. That’s why she would take a step back.

She said what changed her was being surrounded by people who embodied TOPC Axis. She said seeing firsthand how they didn’t blame others, even in those situations, and watching how they grew over time, made her realize that if she kept putting in the effort—layer by layer, like stacking sheets of paper—she too could grow like them.

Our company’s Axis includes the principles of “No Scapegoating” and “Ownership,” but putting them into practice is no easy task. Yet, I believe that if employees who embody these values are close at hand and we can witness their journey, people will naturally follow them on the path.

One staff member put it this way: “When you can do something you want to do without even thinking about it, it has already become part of your character.” Perhaps character is shaped far more by the accumulation of repeated actions than by innate traits. If so, the behaviors we repeatedly practice within our company directly shape our corporate character. Furthermore, we subconsciously convey our corporate culture to our clients, and that culture continues outward to influence society as a whole.

Habits shape who we are. My hope as a leader is not merely to talk about Axis, but to nurture as many employees as possible who positively influence those around them by repeatedly practicing and internalizing our values until they become second nature.