Starting a dentist startup (WebCeph) was truly one of the best decisions I have made. Building a business is one of the best ways to learn how capitalism actually works.

It begins with excitement, but most of the journey is a lonely road. When you accept that loneliness is part of the essence of the journey, the people who remain around you are the real ones. Since it is difficult to know who the real ones are, if you are not certain, it is often better to go alone.

“Co-founders are really good, but a bad co-founder is way worse than no co-founder.”
— Sam Altman, CEO of Y Combinator

The drier the relationship, the more sustainable it becomes. Keep relationships professional and restrained.

Spending less money is extremely important. When you spend less, you gain the time to try many different things.

A startup should experience generating cash flow as early as possible. That is the true starting point of genuine growth.

Generosity comes from a full storehouse. A storehouse becomes full through creative monopoly.

You must understand ownership, possession, and control of a company. These are three different kinds of authority. Only when you clearly understand what authority you hold can you respond appropriately.

Not all revenue is the same.
Where does your revenue come from?
Does it come from your core business?
Is it repeatable?
Is it sustainable cash flow for the future?

Focus on your own domain. If you continue to accumulate and build upon it, eventually you will establish a unique territory that others cannot easily replicate.

As a company grows, the work shifts away from the creative areas that once felt exciting. Instead, more time is spent on operations, customer support, management, legal matters, HR, regulatory approvals, and many unfamiliar and tedious tasks. Yet the essence always remains the customer’s experience. That must remain the focus. The answer lies in creating.

Again, creation is the essence of business.

A corporation is not a democracy. It is closer to an absolute monarchy. The founder who maintains control possesses immense authority within the company.

It is important to understand the structure of a company and work with people who respect and support the founder’s will and authority. These people deserve respect and fair treatment.

At the same time, there is no need to extend respect to rude people. When faced with rude or unlawful demands, there is no need to respond immediately. Make it clear that such statements are problematic, and respond calmly and professionally. After taking enough time to confirm the facts, you can respond appropriately over the long term using the authority of the CEO.

Through running a company, I am grateful that I have been able to deeply understand corporate law, the structure of a corporation, the key governing bodies within a company, and the authority of each of those bodies.

Obsessing over how to maximize the use of employees is not productive. Instead, focus entirely on what customers experience and interact with. That is what deserves your obsession. The order must not be reversed. The former is secondary.

I am grateful that I have been able to lead the company this far. I am grateful in every moment.

I am grateful that I can grow alongside the company as both founder and CEO.

There is no single correct answer in business. Each person has their own path to success. For my own business as well, the answer lies in the process of finding my own way.

It must be in harmony with life. It is okay to enjoy the journey. The process of walking a joyful path is itself the answer I was searching for.

Only when you are not constantly being chased can you move in a creative direction.

Building and creating a domain in which only I can be the best in the world—that is the path I truly seek.