vapor
09-27-2006, 03:29 AM
"the nail that sticks up gets pounded down."
To those who may not be familiar with this phrase, it has to do with conformity, uniformity and doing what others are doing.
In some (if not most) Western cultures the goal of individuals is to stand out, shine their personal skill, in order to get noticed, recognized and likely rewarded.
In Japan, at least until recently, it has been taught that it is best to not be a stand-out or a maverick...that there is virtue in toeing the line.
I have personal experience with this, as many many years ago, shortly after I came to Japan, I worked at a hotel in Tokyo, and was one of the only non-Japanese employees that ever saw guests.
As such, a lot of foreign guests would flock to me, to ask questions, get directions, helpful hints etc.
From a service perspective, I thought that I was doing my job, to help out guests, offer my insights and help them enjoy their stay in Japan.
To my surprise, almost on a weekly basis I would be asked to the back room, or away from guests, and reamed on a regular basis....that I was not the guests friend, that I shouldn't be too friendly with them or informal...
I was shocked. I wasn't doing anything out of line in my opinion, but I stood out....I was attracting too much undue attention, and I became the nail that got hammered!!!
Well, maybe all of that hammering left me a little dull in the head, because I refused to change my ways, and would help anyone and everyone that had a question I could ask.
As a result, I was able to meet a lot of fascinating people (celebrities and business giants)...as well as get to know the person who would hire me out of the hotel, to work at his agency....
Funny how things work out that way.
I would say that these days, there is less emphasis on blending in, and acting like everyone else....heck, just walk through Shibuya or Yoyogi Park on the weekend, and you would be shocked.
Has anyone else ever heard this phrase, or want to add their thoughts on the matter?
vapor
To those who may not be familiar with this phrase, it has to do with conformity, uniformity and doing what others are doing.
In some (if not most) Western cultures the goal of individuals is to stand out, shine their personal skill, in order to get noticed, recognized and likely rewarded.
In Japan, at least until recently, it has been taught that it is best to not be a stand-out or a maverick...that there is virtue in toeing the line.
I have personal experience with this, as many many years ago, shortly after I came to Japan, I worked at a hotel in Tokyo, and was one of the only non-Japanese employees that ever saw guests.
As such, a lot of foreign guests would flock to me, to ask questions, get directions, helpful hints etc.
From a service perspective, I thought that I was doing my job, to help out guests, offer my insights and help them enjoy their stay in Japan.
To my surprise, almost on a weekly basis I would be asked to the back room, or away from guests, and reamed on a regular basis....that I was not the guests friend, that I shouldn't be too friendly with them or informal...
I was shocked. I wasn't doing anything out of line in my opinion, but I stood out....I was attracting too much undue attention, and I became the nail that got hammered!!!
Well, maybe all of that hammering left me a little dull in the head, because I refused to change my ways, and would help anyone and everyone that had a question I could ask.
As a result, I was able to meet a lot of fascinating people (celebrities and business giants)...as well as get to know the person who would hire me out of the hotel, to work at his agency....
Funny how things work out that way.
I would say that these days, there is less emphasis on blending in, and acting like everyone else....heck, just walk through Shibuya or Yoyogi Park on the weekend, and you would be shocked.
Has anyone else ever heard this phrase, or want to add their thoughts on the matter?
vapor