Dig the Well Before You Are Thirsty
2026-10-13
Dig the Well Before You Are Th...

Dig the Well Before You Are Thirsty
 
渇して井を穿つ
Kasshite i wo ugatsu
 
This saying means “digging a well after becoming thirsty.” It warns us that waiting until we urgently need something before preparing for it may leave us too late.
 
A well takes time to dig. Thirst does not wait.
 
In business, we sometimes make the same mistake. We think about backups after losing data. We begin training a replacement after a key employee leaves. We start looking for customers after sales decline.
 
We knew these things mattered. We simply postponed them because nothing seemed wrong.
 
Preparation rarely feels urgent when everything is going well. That is precisely when we have the time and freedom to do it properly.
 
Of course, we cannot predict every problem. But we can prepare for the ones we already know are possible.
 
To me, this saying is a reminder that good management begins before trouble arrives.
 
When you are thirsty, you need water—not a plan to dig a well.
 
What well should you be digging today?
 
 
Disclaimer: I use AI as a tool to help create images and proofread my writing. However, the ideas, opinions, experiences, and messages in my posts are my own. AI does not generate my posts for me. It simply helps me present my own words and ideas more clearly.






Kenichi Uchikura
Founder & CEO

Pacific Software Publishing, Inc. (PSPINC)
Uchikura & Co., LLC.

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ABOUT THIS BLOG

I was born and raised in Japan and have spent most of my adult life in the United States. Through this blog, I share Japanese culture, language, expressions, and wisdom. My goal is not to say one culture is better, but to explore different perspectives and what we can learn from them.

Your comments are always welcome.

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