In a world where a single word holds such power that it can permanently alter your financial future, can it be true? The entrepreneur and investment giant known as the “Japanese Buffett,” Wahei Takeda, firmly believes so. Let’s start with a story.
Japanese businessman Ken Honda shared a story on his YouTube channel about his mentor, Wahei Takeda. When Ken first visited Takeda’s office, he expected to see four security guards stationed at the entrance. To his surprise, the grand building had no guards at the entrance, and the doors were wide open, welcoming everyone. Ken noted that visitors ranged from celebrities and wealthy individuals to ordinary people, including young students, housewives, and those down on their luck. Takeda did not categorize people based on their wealth; he treated everyone equally.
One day, a man in distress visited Takeda. He had lost his job and family, desperate for advice and help. He asked Takeda for a loan. Takeda responded, “I don’t like lending money to others, but I can buy something from you.” Perplexed, the man asked, “What do you need me to give you? I have nothing to offer.” Takeda smiled and said, “I don’t want to buy something from you, but if you repeat a certain word, I will buy your time for doing so. If you can say this word 100,000 times, I will give you 100,000 yen. Come back in a month, and then I will know if you did it.”
This meant the man had to say the word approximately 3,300 times a day, totaling 100,000 times in a month. So, he repeated the word incessantly throughout his day – while brushing his teeth, walking, cooking, and even showering, 3,300 times a day for 30 days. When he returned to Takeda’s office a month later, he was transformed. Takeda smiled and said, “You repeated it 100,000 times, didn’t you?” The man replied, “Yes, yes,” and shared the miraculous changes brought about by repeating the same word for a month. Takeda said, “I told you before, I don’t need to check if you actually did it. Because now that you have returned transformed, thank you. This was a good deal for me because I not only purchased your energy and time but also exchanged it for a lifetime of happiness.”
So, what was this miraculous word? The answer is the Japanese word “Arigato” – translated as “Thank you” in Chinese. Ken Honda mentioned that when you start saying, “Thank you, thank you, thank you,” your mindset begins to shift. You focus not on the shortcomings in your life but on all that you have. The man in the story thanked his family, colleagues, and interviewers for work. After saying “thank you” about 100,000 times, he no longer needed to borrow money.
Ken Honda stated that if you want to change your financial situation and become wealthier, start continuously saying, “Thank you.” It won’t cost you a penny, but after a month, your life will change. By starting this practice, after dozens of mechanical repetitions, your brain will start to wonder, “What am I thankful for? Why am I saying ‘thank you’?” Perhaps it’s because you have a loving family, a good job, some savings in the bank, or relatively good health. There will always be something worth being grateful for.
Once you immerse yourself in this gratitude, whatever you appreciate will increase exponentially. The more grateful you are, the more you receive. You don’t have to say “thank you” 100,000 times a month; start with a few times a day, dozens if needed. The key is to cultivate a habit of gratitude by saying “thank you.”
According to the book “The Way You See Things Determin…