I sucked at my work. I failed to complete most tasks on time. My peers would joke about how me to sticking to a deadline was akin to a politician living up to his word. I would put in 10 — 12 hours each day. But I never moved forward.

Most people despise politics. For them, the term is synonymous with backstabbing, greed, betrayal, and sycophancy. It implies pulling others down or stepping on their toes to get ahead.

In the 1950s, Japan was recovering from the after-effects of World War II. The country was focused on growing its economy. A large population resided in the cities of Osaka and Tokyo, which were separated by 320 miles of train track. Large amounts of raw material and labor were transported on those rail lines. However, the mountainous terrain and redundant railway system meant each journey could take up to twenty hours.

Imagine this. You are onboard a sinking ship. Everyone is busy draining the water out. But the water is filling in the ship faster than people can drain it out. The ship is still sinking.