I’ve never liked the word “discipline.” It always sounded cold, harsh, like something imposed on you. But then I came across 7 Japanese concepts that reframed it completely.

They weren’t about control. They were about presence. Awareness. Progress.

Here are the ones that hit me hardest:

• Kaizen – Small improvements daily. Don’t over-engineer your change. Just start.
• Gaman – Patience and quiet strength. Especially useful when things are uncertain.
• Wabi-Sabi – Embrace imperfection. That’s how Rework started — raw and real.
• Ikigai – Know why you’re doing what you’re doing.

This isn’t just philosophy. It’s practical. It’s how I build now. Light, slow, real.

If you’re trying to build a platform, a product, or even just a better life — maybe one of these rules finds you at the right time.

Here are the 7 rules:

Kaizen → Continuous Improvement

Gaman → Endure the Unendurable

Shikata Ga Nai → It Cannot Be Helped

Mottainai → Waste Nothing

Oubaitori → Don’t Compare Yourself to Others

Wabi-Sabi → Embrace Imperfection

Ikigai → Reason for Being

I look at those 7 rules EVERY DAY.

→ Let me know which one resonates with you.

Stay curious, Alan