“Hurry to do good.”

“Hurry to do good.” 【善は急げ】

This is a Japanese saying. We can translate it as “rush” or "prioritize," or as “do not hesitate to do good.” Good deeds should be done quickly and without hesitation. When we have an idea, we often use this phrase to begin.

This saying originated from Buddhism. Buddha discussed human nature. If we do not hurry or hesitate to do good, we tend to do something bad or procrastinate. Therefore, the lesson is that we should act quickly to do good.

This “Good” is Zen【善】, which is part of Kaizen. Therefore, we should act quickly to implement Kaizen. We should not hesitate to implement Kaizen. We need to rush to do Kaizen.

If I limit this discussion to Buddhism, then it becomes a matter of personal choice.

However, there is an alternative perspective to consider. In psychology and cognitive science, there is the concept of a negative bias. Our human brain tends to focus more on negative thoughts. We might appear more intelligent by expressing something negative. “Let me be the devil's advocate.”

This appears on Kaizen. People who come up with different negative reasons why an improvement does not work often seem intelligent. Even if the current condition is unfavorable, people don’t immediately take action to improve it. Instead, excuses like 'we have already tried' are used, but their way of attempting that method remains unclear. Many “gurus” excel at listing problems and shutting down improvement ideas. Such actions seem more clever.

This happens inside myself. “This idea won’t work.” Or “there’s nothing to do.” Such negative thoughts come up. When that happens, I laugh at myself for letting my brain trick me. And I shouldn’t be stuck with this condition, but instead need to “Hurry to do good.”

For the “Hurry to do good” philosophy to prevail, we need to have some rules.

🔹 Don’t rely on money

Money can be tricky. We can make significant improvements by using our resources wisely, but it takes time. Also, the more money we spend, the more successful we need to be. We can’t spend money and fail. Due to this pressure, we need additional approvals and time. Money and “Hurry to do good” don’t go together.

🔹 Change something first

Instead of being stuck in negative bias, try making a change first. Observe a different operator. Moving tools and materials to a better location could help. Or adjust the angle of a machine layout or switch their positions. Introducing a small change reveals opportunities for improvement by comparing two methods. If we discuss an idea, the negative bias will take over. That’s how our brain works. Instead, say “Hurry to do good,” and take action first.

🔹 Observe directly

Many rumors and assumptions stem from indirect observations. We can’t let such opinions drive improvement activities. Direct observations will help develop hypotheses on what needs to improve. Any trials or changes should be observed directly to ensure that such activities occurred as hypothesized. Any variation should be captured through direct observation.

So, every time you face hesitation or negative thoughts about improvement, remind yourself that our brain tends to favor these thoughts. However, that doesn’t mean they are correct. It could be a negative bias. Don’t let it control you. Make a quick change through direct observations, and you will see that the process can improve. As Buddha says, “Hurry to do good.”