Last week, I was in Tokyo. I visited an exhibition about the Japanese concept of “Guru-guru” the spiral of growth.
I’ve discovered Michio Shimoda. In Japan, he is a local celebrity known as the “Guruguru Ojisan” (the spinning uncle).
At 60 years old, he started gymnastics to improve his health. At first, he could not even do a simple pull-up. But he trained every single day. He noted his progress on a calendar. By 74, he mastered the “Grand Tour” (Daisharin). An Olympic-level spinning move on the high bar. Today, he teaches hundreds of people in his local park.
His secret? Consistency beats age.
Growth isn’t a straight line. The shape of growth is a spiral. Just like the Kaizen philosophy of continuous improvement, every small daily turn builds massive momentum.
But we must be careful. We are always spinning. The question is: in which direction?
Here are 4 ways to master your spiral and build continuous growth:
1/ The Upward Routine
The Concept: We hate boring tasks. We complain about admin work or cleaning our inbox. But these basic routines are the engine of your positive spiral. They bring order, clarity, and put you in motion.
The Actionable Tool: The Motion Reset
Take one boring daily task today. Stop seeing it as a chore. Use it as a deliberate routine to clear your mind and restart your momentum before your next big task.
Coaching Question: How can I use a boring daily routine to create mental clarity and order right now?
2/ The Future Spin
The Concept: Clinging to the past stops your momentum. Thinking “it was better before” is useless. Everything evolves: our world, technology, the market. You cannot stop the spin. The best way is to embrace it.
The Actionable Tool: The “No Nostalgia” Rule
Catch yourself complaining about how the company used to be. Stop immediately. Accept the new reality and ask what the next step is.
Coaching Question: What past success am I holding onto that is currently preventing me from adapting to the new reality?
3/ The Drama Trap
The Concept: You can spin upward, or you can spin downward. Drama, office politics, and complaining create a massive negative spiral. It drains your time, your energy, and your emotions.
The Actionable Tool: The Drama Cut
Identify one negative conversation or toxic topic you often engage in. Step out of it. Do not feed the downward spiral.
Coaching Question: Where am I wasting my leadership energy by participating in a negative emotional spiral?
4/ The Kaizen Tracker
The Concept: Michio Shimoda achieved the impossible because he tracked his tiny daily progress. Small daily spins (Guru-guru) drive continuous improvement (Kaizen).
The Actionable Tool: The Visual Calendar
Choose one minor leadership skill you want to improve. Put a physical calendar on your desk. Write an “X” every day you practice it, even if it is just for 5 minutes.
Coaching Question: If I improved my weakest skill by just a small fraction every day, what would my career look like in one year?
The Bottom Line
Growth is not linear. You are always in a spiral.
You can choose the positive spiral that makes you grow, or the negative spiral that drains your energy.
Embrace the routines. Ignore the drama. Track your progress.
Let’s do it together
True leadership is about spiraling upward, getting a little bit better every single day.
We can build that momentum together to create the best version of your career and your life.
Let’s have a 15-minute talk to define your next step.
Thank you.
See you next Wednesday.
Dror. 🙏
( Say hello on Linkedin)
PS: Whenever you’re ready, here are 2 ways I can help you accelerate your career through coaching:
For Aspiring Senior Leaders/C-Suite:
- Accelerate Your Path to Leadership: I help you create your big picture and build a plan to accelerate your path. Let’s schedule a 15-minute call to explore if we can work together.
For Current Senior Leaders/C-Suite:
- Elevate Your Leadership Impact: You know even small refinements at your level can drive significant organizational results and career acceleration. I accompany you on your project and guarantee the result. Schedule a focused 15-minute discussion.
Leave a Reply