Optimism is more than just a feeling; it’s a strategy 

Mickey Mikitani, Chairman and CEO, Rakuten Group 

Over nearly three decades of building and growing Rakuten, I have experienced both successes that energized me and failures that humbled me. What I’ve come to realize is this: Optimism is more than just a feeling; it’s a strategic approach. And when navigating uncertainty, setbacks and change, it’s one of the most powerful tools in our arsenal. 

Honing your optimism 

We grow by taking on challenges. Challenges, by their very definition, come with the risk of failure. What matters is how we choose to respond when things don’t go as planned. Do we get stuck in regret? Or do we look to the future and say, “Next time will be better”? 

To stoke true, disruptive, world-changing innovation, you need to provide an environment in which people can experiment. And that means sometimes failing.

Mickey Mikitani, Chairman and CEO, Rakuten Group

I believe optimism is a skill that can be honed. It’s not about ignoring risk, or turning a blind eye to problems; it’s about choosing to see failure as a temporary but meaningful, even necessary part of the learning process. When we frame failure as a learning experience, it ceases to be a threat, and instead transforms into a tool. 

When a project doesn’t go as expected, I don’t ask, “Why did this happen to me,” but rather, “What can I learn from this? How can it help me grow?” Shifting your mindset from self-blame to self-improvement is a habit that transforms careers and even entire companies. 

Don’t smother innovation with fear 

In many organizations, failure is punished. This makes people afraid to make mistakes, as even a small error can hurt their future prospects. Negativity-driven systems like this destroy creativity and ambition, and only serve to breed fear. 

How do we stay optimistic in the face of difficult challenges? One powerful technique is to set small, achievable goals. These goals create momentum, while allowing us to regularly experience success.

To stoke true, disruptive, world-changing innovation, you need to provide an environment in which people can experiment. And that means sometimes failing. When someone makes a mistake at Rakuten, I encourage them to take responsibility, fix it, and share everything they learned. I don’t want to bury our mistakes; I want us to learn from them. 

At the same time, we don’t want to make failing the norm. Failing repeatedly without learning can lead to a losing habit. You can start to expect failure, and you stop pushing for better outcomes. 

So how do we stay optimistic in the face of difficult challenges? One powerful technique is to set small, achievable goals. These goals create momentum, while allowing us to regularly experience success. They help build the confidence we need to take on bigger goals, reinforcing a can-do mindset, even when the big picture feels overwhelming. 

Perfection is a myth; strive to enjoy the journey 

I believe that perfection is one of the most harmful illusions we chase. No one – and no business – is ever perfect. The pursuit of perfection can actually slow you down, make you more anxious, and suck the joy out of work. 

It’s much more important to enjoy the journey. Is your work meaningful? Are you learning, growing and helping people? We didn’t build Rakuten’s ecosystem of services just to make money; we built them to help solve real problems for real people. 

To harness optimism effectively, you must make smart, objective decisions. You must be clear about what you’re trying to achieve, understand the risks and costs, and stay accountable for the results. 

Rakuten Ichiba has empowered small businesses all over Japan with a national platform. Rakuten Securities is putting advanced investing tools in the hands of everyday investors. Rakuten Mobile is making connectivity affordable and accessible to all.  

These are challenges that matter. When you can be optimistic about the effect your work is having on the world, it transcends the boundaries of a simple job to become something bigger. 

Be optimistic, but stay accountable 

Optimism is a powerful tool, but it must be used responsibly. Too often, I see people chasing bold ideas without a clear strategy. They may be enthusiastic, but they haven’t thought through the consequences. Optimism without a plan is just wishful thinking. 

To harness optimism effectively, you must make smart, objective decisions. You must be clear about what you’re trying to achieve, understand the risks and costs, and stay accountable for the results. 

At Rakuten, we analyze our failures rigorously. What did we try? What worked? What didn’t? Why did other companies succeed under similar conditions? This kind of reflection is part of our culture; Hypothesize, Practice, Validate, Shikumika (systematize) is one of Rakuten’s Five Principles for Success. This is how we learn from both success and failure in a structured way, keeping us grounded, focused and optimistic. 

Even when things are tough, it’s important to maintain an optimistic atmosphere. Cynicism can spread quickly, and it can paralyze a team. There is always competition, always uncertainty. But if we approach challenges with curiosity, responsibility and optimism, we will find a way through. Often, we will find a better way than what we originally imagined. 

So practice responsible optimism – and don’t forget to enjoy the journey.