Ken Uchikura Newsletter Vol. 371 Thumbnail
My Management Philosophy
It’s been 38 years since I started my company, and there’s one principle I’ve never changed.
I don’t overlook a single cent of company expenses.
Revenue isn’t something we can control through effort alone. External forces like the economy, exchange rates, competitors, and our clients’ shifting needs sway our ultimate revenue. There are years when, despite our best efforts, the numbers simply don't grow as we hope. That is the reality of business.
Expenses, however, are different.
Expenses reflect our own will. They are entirely within our control.
But there is one very important thing we must never forget: you must spend the necessary expenses properly.
Simply cutting costs without a purpose isn’t management but rather stagnation. The true essence of management lies in judgment.
Before every spend, we must ask:
- Is this an investment?
- Is it truly necessary?
- Is now the right time?
There’s no need to spend money on unnecessary or wasteful things. But when something is essential, you must spend without hesitation. The moment you lose this balance, management begins to fail.
And this principle doesn’t only apply to money, but also to time.
Time is the ultimate expense. Useless meetings, aimless discussions, and procrastinated decisions are all hidden costs. Unlike money, you can never recover time.
However, I don’t believe that meetings themselves are a waste because the true value of a meeting is not the agenda.
A meeting isn’t merely for sharing information; it’s a place to observe people. The real value is in how staff and managers react to discussion topics. Who is listening intently? Who truly understands? Who is taking ownership? You must see their posture and hear their tone to know.
This is why I’m not a fan of video conferences.
You can’t fully sense the atmosphere, people’s attitudes, or their engagement through a screen. I find zero value in meetings where people keep their cameras off. In such cases, I don’t hesitate to end the meeting immediately.
Meetings aren’t for sharing information; they’re for understanding people.
They’re an opportunity to assess judgment, attitude, and responsibility.
Sales are the result.
Cost control is a decision.
And the leader ultimately decides how you manage time.
Even after 38 years, I haven’t changed these fundamentals.
The moment we forget this mindset, we truly stop managing a company.
Kenichi Uchikura
President / CEO
Pacific Software Publishing, Inc.
ken.uchikura＠pspinc.com
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ABOUT PSPINC
PSPINC (Pacific Software Publishing, Inc.) is a technology company based in Bellevue, Washington, USA. Founded in 1987, PSPINC provides web hosting, email hosting, and other internet-related services to businesses and individuals worldwide.
In addition to its hosting services, PSPINC also offers website design and development, domain registration, and online marketing services. The company has data centers located in the United States and Japan, and it offers multilingual support to its customers.
PSPINC has a strong focus on customer service, and it has received numerous awards and accolades for its quality of service over the years. The company is committed to staying up-to-date with the latest technology and industry trends in order to provide the best possible solutions for its customers.
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