長年貿易会社に勤めていたテレサさんとSkypeで話をしました。相変わらず強気の姿勢に閉口しました。
Toshi
Hi, Teresa. It’s been a long time,
Teresa
Yes, it’s so nice to see you again, Toshi-san.
Toshi
Now countries all over the world are facing recession. Many companies are suffering from poor sales because people do not want to spend money. People don’t buy TVs, don’t buy air conditioners, don’t buy new cars, don’t want to go on a sightseeing trip. Actually people want to save money for rainy days.
Because of this, so many companies are unable to keep their businesses active.
Teresa, you have been in the business field in the USA and Europe for a long time. What do you think corporations should do to survive in the fast changing environment？
Teresa
If they have enough capital, they should invest overseas.
Toshi
Invest? Are you saying this is the good time to spend money on something new?
Teresa
Yes, of course. Do you know that Seven Eleven Japan bought the American convenience store named Speedway?
Toshi
Ah, no. I wonder how much money they spent on it .
Teresa
As much as twenty-one billion dollars.
Toshi
Lots of zeros!
Teresa
Yes. It is the biggest corporate acquisition globally since the coronavirus outbreak spread earlier this year.
Toshi
How can they shell out such a huge amount of money when everyone is feeling sluggish and lethargic?
Teresa
Now is the time to expand and invest heavily.
Toshi
You really sound like a woman who made your way in the trading business.
Teresa
Do I ? What makes you think so?
Toshi
Because I can feel this strong spirit from the way you speak, the way you persuade people into taking advantage of bad times to get successful.
Teresa
Hahaha. What about you, Toshi-san? You were in the business world too. How would you deal with this difficult situation if you were still the same.
Toshi
I would choose to stay calm instead of expanding or investing heavily . In this very dark period, you don’t know how things will be like in the in the near future. Investing means less cash available to pay bills.
Teresa
Don’t you feel the way I do? I think this is the time for us to be aggressive because there are many things whose prices are now low, right?
Toshi
I just remembered an old saying which goes “坐して死を待つより出でて活路を見出さん“
Teresa
What does that mean?
Toshi.
This is a proverb that talks about the mindset of the samurai warriors at the brink of death . Should I keep on fighting or should I just sit and wait to die?
Teresa
Which way did he go?
Toshi
He chose to keep on fighting until the very end.
Teresa
Look! Your ancestors ,samurai warriors had that same spirit as I do!
Toshi.
Touché