"Interview with Kaz Fujita"
---GET OUT OF THE BOX AND BE THE PROCESS---
When he was young, Kaz was a runagate. He did not want to go to school,
did not want to study. He graduated and left home at eighteen to work in a
different state. He literally did all the part time jobs one can think of;
farming, register in supermarket, dish washer, cowboy, c and bartender.
Amongst all his part time jobs, he found bartending the most interesting.
"You get to know people," Kaz comments. Unlike Japanese bars, bartenders in the
States usually converse with the customers and listen to their problems.
Through listening, Kaz learned a lot about people. Bartending opened his eyes to
what the world is about. "I learned about life and I learned about people,"
Kaz says, "I experienced something very different from teachings from school.
It taught me to look at things from a different perspective. I think I have
learned more in one year bartending then I had during my four years of college
education."
He adds, "You will find out that what ever knowledge you choose to
pursue, it's really all about people. Dealing with people is one of the biggest
skills. Understanding what people are about and learning how to communicate with
them are big challenges. Bartending, thus, provided me a good chance to learn
communication."
"Everything comes from your heart," Kaz remarks. "If you get involved,
become the process and really enjoy what you are doing, then you are out of your
box and you do not get tired. Helping people doesn't make you tired."
Kaz then goes on to explain the Four Levels of Work in Service :
1st Level : This is the level of unconditional giving. Children do it.
They give because they want to give, because they like giving.
There is no reason behind the action and they do not expect returns.
2nd Level : In this level, you do things conditionally. When you give, you expect
pay back and get disappointed when you do not.
3rd Level : The level of duty, or gimu. You provide service because people pay you.
It's your duty to perform the job. Usually in this level, good service
can not be expected because things were not done from heart.
4th Level : Go back to first level. You do things because you really like it and
consequently, the quality of the work becomes better. Money is no
longer an issue in this level. You do it for pleasure. You feel the
passion. In this level, you are out of your box and you feel with
your heart.
Eriko speaks up, "Kaz, remember we were talking about how our boxes
are formed by our ego and how we should try to get out of the box and get
rid of the boxc"
"Hold on. Get rid of your box? You can't do that."
"Why not?" Eriko and I ask in unison. Wasn't that creative is all about? To get
out of your box and to get rid of your box?
No, no. You need your box." Kaz repeats. Seeing that we are still puzzled,
Kaz explains, "You see, everyone has a box and everyone needs his box.
In this box, people find comfort and protection. When we talked about the need
to get out of your box, it was because if one only stays in his box, which is
made up by ego, one becomes selfish, lazy, refuses challenges and always trys
to look for the easiest way out. It is this box that created our habits.
We always eat the same kind of food, dress the same way, walk the same routes,
do the same things because familiar things are the most comfortable. So if we
stay in our box for too long, eventually the creative genius leaves the box
and that's why it slowly becomes harder and harder to be creative.
The boxes want rules, wants answers, and they try to come up with solutions
by knowledge. But knowledge only provides old solutions and what everyone has
already known. It does not allow you to see things differently. That's why at
the beginning, I told you to throw away your knowledge because that is one way
to get out of the box and to see things not by brain, but by heart," Kaz pauses.
"You can not get rid of your box because from time to time, you would need
shelter and comfort. But it is important that you try to get out of your box,"
Kaz repeats.
"When you really get very involved in one thing, you start to
lose track of time, then you become the process and you are out of your box.
It is outside the box you will feel the overwhelming amount of creative energy.
Enjoy the process- life is a process; the more you enjoy it,
the better it becomes."
"Then what is the first thing we have to do to get out of our
boxes and become creative?" I ask eagerly.
"Well, to be creative, it is very important that we give. And by give,
I mean giving without condition. You all heard of the saying, 'The best way
to get love is to give love.' That saying applies to everything. The best way
to get something is to give it," he clears his throat and continues,
"Giving love is a way to get away from your ego because you give love with
your heart, not with your brain. You know who is the greatest giver?" he asks.
"Huh-un," we shake our heads
"It's nature. Mother nature is the greatest giver. She only gives but never
takes. That is why she has the incredibly enormous amount of creative energy,
and no matter how civilized human become, they always go back and seek
comfort in nature. Nature is the best example of an ongoing process, which
will go on and on and onc"
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| This page was written by Kenjiro Tsujino, Gina Pei-Chun Liao and designed by Kaoru Tanaka for Prof.Tobin's "Change & Creativity" seminar. |