Latest news with #Kaizen
Focus Malaysia
a day ago
- Politics
- Focus Malaysia
Changes for the better are woefully slow in Malaysia
A FORUM titled 'Public Roads Don't Belong to Bicycle Gangs' was held at Pantai Dalam in Kuala Lumpur last Sunday. It was moderated by former health minister Khairy Jamaluddin. The panel included Bukit Aman Traffic Investigations and Enforcement Department deputy director of enforcement Khairul Azhar Ismail, and Road Transport Department (JPJ) assistant director (operations) Mohd Alifarihan Abdullah. Alifarihan disclosed that current regulations only require buses to be equipped with a GPS system, and JPJ is considering making dashboard cameras (dashcams) compulsory in all public transport vehicles. He said, 'The licences and conditions for public vehicles are only GPS and is why having dashcams compulsory is a good idea, for now it's only mandatory to have a GPS.' The proposal was made after a viral video showed an MRT feeder bus driving too close to a group of cyclists riding abreast on a narrow road, sparking a brief confrontation. One of the cyclists involved raised the issue during the forum and Rapid KL has since launched an internal investigation into the incident. More than 10 years ago, I had already proposed that the public be invited to install quality dashcams to record traffic violations and submit evidence to the authorities and be paid based on fines collected, which was explained in 'All eyes on road safety' published on Nov 9, 2015. Since then, I have written many similar published proposals. For example, when promoting e-hailing services for motorcycles to be introduced in Malaysia, I advocated fitting video cameras in front of crash helmets and at the rear of e-hailing bikes to record transgressions of other vehicles. I have also repeatedly suggested that RapidKL buses be fitted with dashcams and rear facing cameras to record thousands of traffic violations daily, including vehicles parked at bus stops and illegally near junctions, stopping at yellow boxes and jumping red lights, especially motorcycles. But neither the authorities nor RapidKL had followed up with my proposals, including the one I made in 2003 when I proposed in a road safety forum and published a full-page in a broadsheet newspaper to appoint many concessionaires to assist in recording traffic offences nationwide. In this new millennium, it would be a big miscalculation for any country to undergo slow changes. For example, Japan rose from the ashes of the Second World War by copying Western products and making them cheaply, and everyone then used to laugh at inferior Japanese products. But they practised Kaizen by continuously making incremental, ongoing improvements in work procedures, processes and products. Long before the end of the last millennium, Japanese products were regarded as high quality at reasonable prices and sought after around the world. China too started manufacturing by churning out inferior products as cheap as possible. But later, they did not go through the slow improvement to reach Japanese standard. With no legacy to protect, they went all in to develop new technologies and reinvent existing products. This was made possible because China produced the largest number and highest percentage of university graduates in science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM). Our country too could be transformed if our sharp minds are not prevented from getting things done. ‒ July 23, 2025 YS Chan is master trainer for Mesra Malaysia and Travel and Tours Enhancement Course and an Asean Tourism Master Trainer. He is also a tourism and transport business consultant. The views expressed are solely of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of Focus Malaysia. Main image:
Time of India
08-07-2025
- Health
- Time of India
What is Shukan? The Japanese habit method that brings routine to your life
In Japan, the term "shukan," meaning "habit" or "routine," carries more than just a casual meaning. It embodies the belief that true growth comes through steady, disciplined practice, not fleeting resolutions. Whether in personal growth, schooling, or the workplace, Japanese culture views habits as foundational building blocks that shape character, efficiency, and well-being over time. The daily habits that teach life lessons in Japan From a young age, Japanese children learn the power of routine. In schools, the daily O-soji (cleaning time) isn't just about tidiness; it teaches students responsibility, respect, and community pride. At home, rituals like removing shoes at the door facilitate mindfulness and cleanliness. In workplaces, the Kaizen philosophy, meaning 'continuous improvement,' mirrors this mindset. Coined by Masaaki Imai, Kaizen encourages tiny, daily changes that accumulate into major gains over time. Originating in factories, it has spread into how Japanese workers manage deadlines, workflows, and even personal goal-setting, demonstrating how daily habits can become catalysts for lasting success. Science confirms: Routines build resilience While Japanese society has long practiced Shukan, modern science affirms its impact, particularly in child development. The Japanese Longitudinal Study of Children and Parents (JLSCP) tracked families from 2015 to 2018 and found that children who maintained structured daily routines—like set bedtimes, homework slots, and limited screen time—showed stronger academic performance and better self-control than their peers. Meanwhile, a 2023 study in the Journal of Child and Family Studies explored the power of family routines in 8–9‑year‑olds and discovered that regular mealtimes, shared activities, and bedtime rituals were linked to lower emotional and behavioral issues—largely by enhancing family closeness and emotional support. These findings echo the essence of Shukan: consistent repetition fosters both individual well-being and relational strength. Applying Shukan: Simple steps to sustainable routine You don't need to overhaul your life to tap into the benefits of Shukan. By following the below examples, you can easily instill the practice of Shukan in your life. Start with something tiny: If you want to meditate daily, begin with 2 minutes, not 20. Be consistent: Perform your new habit at the same time each day. Consistency helps it naturally become part of your rhythm. Anchor it to an existing ritual: Brush your teeth, and follow it with your two-minute meditation or hydration prompt. This is known as habit stacking. Track your behavior: Keep a simple checklist or habit app to mark your progress, visual cues motivate consistency. Improve gradually: True to the spirit of Kaizen, once your habit feels seamless, add a small, manageable upgrade—like stretching after meditation or journaling for one minute. Why Shukan works better than goal-only mindsets In Western habit culture, there's often a heavy focus on measurable goals: losing 10 kg, saving ₹1 lakh in 6 months, mastering French in a year. But Shukan shifts attention from 'destination' to daily process. Goals become optional rewards, while daily routines emerge as the backbone of sustainable growth—a model proven to reduce stress and goal fatigue. As the JLSCP study suggests, prioritizing routines over sheer achievement fosters self-discipline, better emotion control, and stronger familial bonds. It's the quiet consistency, not the flashy milestone, that strengthens character, mental well-being, and performance. Shukan proves that small, consistent actions, repeated over time, are more powerful than occasional dramatic pushes. An ingrained part of Japanese culture but validated by modern research, it offers a blueprint for personal growth that is sustainable, low-stress, and deeply human. When habits flow from daily rhythms and cultural mindsets, they become more than tasks—they become part of who we are. Start small, repeat daily, tweak gradually—this is the essence of Shukan. Also Read: Hidden obesity is real: How one cookie a day can sabotage your gut health
Forbes
23-06-2025
- Business
- Forbes
Unlock The True Transformational Power Of Small Changes
Vinayak Mahtani is the CEO and cofounder of bnbme Holiday Homes. As an entrepreneur, I've seen my business ventures undergo changes at all levels since I started my first business in 1998. But the insight I carefully cultivated over the years is that what seem like large changes are usually nothing but a sum of smaller changes that have taken place over time. This borrows from the Japanese "Kaizen" technique that focuses on commitment to smaller improvements over extreme, revisionist changes. This realization has revolutionized the way I approach all things business—and life. In fact, James Clear mentions in his book Atomic Habits that improving by 1% each day can lead to a 37% improvement over the course of a year, and that, to me, is life-altering. Here are some simple yet impactful ways in which 1% improvements can wield long-term sustained growth for your business, as well as help you develop a progress-oriented mindset as a leader: Sales Make continuous improvements in different aspects of sales operations. For example, make the website more user-friendly by consistently improving loading time by 1%, fix UX-related issues, increase the number of monthly follow-up calls and emails, quicken response time by 1%, improve email click-through rates by refining the pitch enclosed, schedule follow-ups and track your sales pipeline. These small steps can go a long way in boosting sales. Operations Optimize processes to improve efficiency. For example, in my work at a rental property management company, striving to improve customer satisfaction scores by even 1% after each checkout can have far-reaching outcomes. For instance, if in a given month, these scores are at an average of 7.5, and the hospitality teams work to improve these scores by a mere 1% with each stay, they can go from 7.5 to a staggering 10 within one month. This improvement can be achieved in many ways—top-notch service, maintaining high standards of tidiness, prompt redressal of customer grievances and seamless check-ins and checkouts. These can collectively lead to improved customer satisfaction. Marketing As far as marketing is concerned, improving the likelihood of conversion from impressions to leads through various media by 1% each quarter can result in a reduction in customer acquisition cost (CAC). For example, if your starting number of impressions is 10,000,000, of which 1,000,000 (10%) are qualified and 10,000 (1%) are actually signed, considering a revenue of $500 coming in per signed lead, the total revenue would stand at $5,000,000. Improving this by 1% will increase the signed leads to 10,100 (1.01%), resulting in a total revenue of $5,050,000, i.e., a profit of $50,000. Assuming all other costs remain the same, this increase in conversion by just 1% lowers the CAC, as now fewer leads are required to be generated to close a potential customer. Finance When it comes to finances, the 1% incremental change is extremely impactful. If you improve your gross margin by 1% every month, this can significantly improve your business's bottom line earnings annually. This can be done either by increasing the average order value or by reducing cost of production on each unit. For example, if your revenue is $1,000,000 with a gross margin of 30% (i.e., $3,00,000 gross profit), a 1% increase in gross margin would mean $3,10,000 in gross profit. This $10,000 directly flows into net profit. Let me delve into some non-business related examples that can trigger large-scale improvements in your life: Sports Sir Dave Brailsford, sports director and former cycling coach, is credited with leading British cyclists to win 178 world championships, 66 Olympic or Paralympic gold medals and five Tour De France trophies. He did this by breaking down each aspect of the bike riding process and made relentless 1% improvements—what he referred to as "the aggregation of marginal gains." From having riders switch to indoor racing suits that made them more aerodynamic and rubbing alcohol on the tires for improved grip to redesigning seats for maximum comfort and using massage gels that ensured maximum recovery, he did it all. And more. And consistently. And the results are unmistakable. Well-Being Developing habits that slowly but surely improve the quality of your life can lead to long-term mental and physical well-being. For instance, if you consistently lose 1% of your body weight every few weeks, having started at a body weight of 100 kg, you will have cumulatively lost approximately 23-25 kg at the end of the year. The improvements contributing to such weight loss include reducing your portion sizes week by week, increasing time spent exercising, gradually increasing the intensity of your workouts, continually improving your sleep cycle, eating nutrient-dense foods most suited to your genetic constitution and managing work-related stress. Takeaway The key takeaway here is to keep working at these seemingly insignificant changes daily, whether in business or personal life, to drastically improve output and quality. While gradual improvement is not linear, what's important is being patient and sticking to your routine—it's a guaranteed path to microexcellence. I encourage you to analyze and identify areas in your business practice that would benefit from such incremental changes and apply this principle to achieve compounded results. Forbes Business Council is the foremost growth and networking organization for business owners and leaders. Do I qualify?
Hindustan Times
21-06-2025
- Health
- Hindustan Times
International Yoga Day 2025: Psychiatrist shares how to manage anxiety and depression with yoga, trainer suggests tips
International Yoga Day 2025: According to Harvard Medical School, yoga can increase production of endorphins, reduce stress and elevate GABA (a chemical associated with decreased anxiety). What is it about yoga that makes it such a great tool for anxiety? And is it possible to optimise your yoga session to not just reduce anxiety, but also manage depression? Also read | Yoga Day 2025: Shavasana to baddha konasana, 8 best asanas for PCOS International Yoga Day 2025: Yoga has a huge impact on mental health. Here is how to make the most of yoga for mental health. (Freepik) To get some clarity, we asked Dr Sakshe Jain, consultant psychiatrist at Ruby Hall Clinic, Pune and Prerna Khetrapal, Pilates and yoga trainer, and founder, Kaizen. Whether you're a beginner looking to reap some of these mental health benefits or an experienced yogi trying to find peace, these tips can help you feel your best. Dr Jain said 'yoga has emerged as a powerful and holistic tool in managing anxiety and depression', offering both physical and emotional relief through a blend of mindful movement, breath control, and meditation. She said: 'Unlike conventional treatments that often focus solely on symptom suppression, yoga addresses the root of mental unrest by calming the nervous system, improving self-awareness, and fostering inner balance.' According to Dr Jain, regular yoga practice also boosts serotonin and endorphin levels, which are natural mood enhancers, making it especially beneficial for those struggling with fatigue and low motivation associated with depression. Moreover, the meditative aspect of yoga cultivates mindfulness, helping individuals break free from cycles of overthinking and emotional overwhelm, Dr Jain said. "Research supports these benefits, with studies showing improvements in sleep quality, reduced cortisol levels, and decreased symptoms of anxiety and depression among consistent practitioners," she said and added that while yoga is not a replacement for medical or psychological treatment in severe cases, 'it serves as a valuable complementary therapy that enhances emotional resilience and promotes long-term mental well-being'. 'In a fast-paced world marked by constant stress, yoga offers a safe and sustainable path to mental clarity and inner peace,' Dr Jain said. The meditative aspect of yoga cultivates mindfulness, helping individuals break free from cycles of overthinking and emotional overwhelm, Dr Jain said. (Freepik) How to use yoga to calm anxiety? She added that practices like pranayama (breathwork) help regulate the breath, reducing stress hormone levels and activating the parasympathetic nervous system to induce a state of relaxation. Dr Jain said: 'Gentle asanas such as Child's Pose, Cobra Pose, and Legs-Up-the-Wall have a grounding effect, easing physical tension while uplifting mood.' Prerna further said, 'As someone who has dedicated their life to holistic wellness, I've seen firsthand how yoga can be a transformative tool in managing anxiety and depression. Yoga isn't just about movement — it's about coming home to yourself. Through breathwork (pranayama), mindful movement, and meditation, yoga helps regulate the nervous system, reduce cortisol levels, and improve emotional resilience.' The more yoga you do, the more of a long-term improvement you'll see, as Prerna said 'consistent practice fosters greater self-awareness, emotional balance, and a deeper sense of peace'. She explained, 'In my work, I incorporate practices like Flow Yoga and Shirodhara Yoga to help individuals reconnect with their inner stillness and create space for healing. The beauty of yoga lies in its ability to gently guide you out of a reactive mind and into the present moment, where anxiety cannot thrive. Over time, this consistent practice fosters greater self-awareness, emotional balance, and a deeper sense of peace. Yoga doesn't offer a quick fix — but it provides the tools to reclaim your mental and emotional wellbeing with grace and intention.' Note to readers: This article is for informational purposes only and not a substitute for professional medical advice. Always seek the advice of your doctor with any questions about a medical condition.
Yahoo
09-06-2025
- Automotive
- Yahoo
The decade-old Suzuki that trumps EVs
Despite record revenue and operating income in fiscal 2024-25, Suzuki Motor Corporation remains a cautious company. The latest results, with the main numbers equivalent to 35.4 and 3.9 billion euro, prove the wisdom of its always-keep-costs-as-low-as-possible strategy. The decade-old yet still competitive Vitara is but one example. Long lived and all the better for it Kaizen is all through this small SUV. There have been two facelifts, multiple engine changes and evolutions, new transmissions and, mercifully, an interior left mostly alone. The Vitara retains strong appeal thanks to great economy (low weight plus mild and series hybrid powertrains), fair pricing and no nagging electronics. Sure, the ADAS stuff is all there but it keeps quiet. And who wants to be asked five minutes after setting off: 'Time for a break?'. Or harangued constantly for daring to drive in sunglasses. I know people who are avoiding buying a new car due to this stuff. Press a button on either the tailgate, either front door or the ancient looking yet somehow appealing remote and the car unlocks. There is no 'welcome' sound and/or lights show, the driver's seat and steering wheel adjust manually, the door trim shifts slightly when you lower any window and there's a manual parking brake. No key, mind; firing up and shutting off are also done via a button-press. When will we see Suzuki EVs? Everything, including the steering, is the opposite of heavy in the Vitara. Which is very Suzuki. And one of the main reasons why the company has waited so long before creating EVs. And you can set a PR machine on this issue, as Renault Group has done with its fabulous new ad, yet here again is an inconvenient truth, batteries bring much mass (sorry to state one fact: the A390 prototype weighs 2,121 kilos). Plug-in Suzukis are coming but due to India being far and away the vehicles division's number one market (almost as vital as the USA is to Subaru), electric cars have not been a priority. Increasingly they will be. Maruti Suzuki (MSIL) is under constant attack from three main challengers. Recently Mahindra turned the tables on Hyundai and Tata by grabbing and holding on to second place in passenger car sales. Still the Indian-Japanese JV holds some 40 percent of the local market, down from more than half. Yet everything is changing in this now giant market. Gone are the days of outdated Maruti models, and here in Europe we too will increasingly benefit from MSIL's new-tech cars and SUVs. Even now, the Japanese market's Fronx and Jimny Nomade (five-door) are sourced from India. The e Vitara, Suzuki's first global EV, is coming our way too, as is the Urban Cruiser, a rebadged variant for Toyota Motor Europe. Four models for the UK Leveraging the well-known Vitara name could be a masterstroke for what is a small brand in the UK and the region we are part of. Suzuki may be a medium-sized OEM overall but it's only a minor one in Britain. And yet such is the reputation for value, reliability and longevity that resales tend to be strong. After a culling of certain models a while back, there are now only four models available here: Swift, S-Cross, Vitara and Across. The last of those costs almost fifty thousand pounds, a stunning amount for a Suzuki. All others start below thirty grand, or twenty in the Swift's case. Priced from GBP27,299, the cheapest Vitara is £750 less than the entry level S-Cross, with Motion and Ultra trim levels (as well as a production plant) in common. There is no higher model grade with the Hybrid, which means just one variant and pricing a little below the top-spec Mild Hybrid. See below for specifics of each. AGS solely for the Hybrid Facelift number two was announced last year, Suzuki GB terming this its 2025 range. That's also when the Motion and Ultra names were applied to this model. Strictly speaking there is no Vitara automatic. However, the Hybrid has only two pedals, its 'AGS' gearbox being an automated manual. Swapping cogs yourself is an increasingly rare thing in new cars. The shifting in this one is - that word again - light, and a delight. As Suzuki doesn't always give you this many ratios, worthy of mention is that there are six (in every Vitara, manual or AGS). Unusually, reverse is at bottom right and you must raise a collar to select it. What a pleasure and novelty choosing any gear is compared to so many awful auto-selectors. The day after this press tester went back, an XC90 arrived: its P-R-N-D is slow, vague and generally far inferior. As it has been for more than a decade. Why is such basic stuff so hard for some car makers? The tweaks for 2025 Changes for the 2025 Vitara are fairly minor, though at the front it's easy to notice the new headlights, differently shaped foglamps and DRL, plus what looks like a nudge-bar but isn't. The last of these is a small but highly effective visual change, it being merely some dark plastic below the grille. Other updates include specific alloy wheels for Motion and Ultra variants. Each are seventeen inches in diameter and for the top trim they have a chrome-look finish. Almost a convertible Gauges are analogue and all the better for being so, the eyeball-style vents remain a delight to use and the touchscreen is nicely sized at only nine inches in diameter. Plastics are all durable and certain things such as the steering wheel buttons have a satisfying feel to them, not being haptic. Overhead, and the press tester was in Ultra specification, is a metre-long glass roof. This is in fact two panels and they slide to reveal a vast space (well, 56 cm is vast for a car that's only 4.1 m long). It's a terrible shame that the light-coloured and too-thin sunblind is ineffective - a proper black-out one is needed. MHEV has more power than HEV The 48V MHEV which I had temporary custody of has more power than the HEV. With the mild hybrid, a 95 kW (129 PS) and 235 Nm 1.4-litre engine is boosted by a 10 kW (14 PS) and 53 Nm motor. Drive can be to the front or both axles. The stated WLTP average is 53.2 mpg (FWD). The AWD press vehicle returned 52.1 from a mix of city and motorway journeys. Choose the 140V Hybrid instead and you'll get Suzuki's K15C, a naturally aspirated 1.5, also with four cylinders. Outputs are 74 kW (101 PS) plus 24 kW (33 PS) and 60 Nm from the motor. Combined power for what is officially known as the 'Full Hybrid' is 85 kW (116 PS). The 0-62 mph time is 13.5 seconds, 4.0 more than the MHEV. How is it to drive? For a car that's so old the Vitara isn't at all bad to drive. Every mandated safety system is the opposite of intrusive, and sure, it rolls around if you push hard but why would you? Off-road, this has always been a highly capable 4x4 too, though less so as a 4x2. The wheelbase may be on the short side yet the ride is good and the suspension has long travel. If only the steering had better feel. And yet nobody could dislike this vehicle due to its rather wonderful almost timeless appeal. Conclusion Would I buy one? Definitely. For what you pay, there is a terrific amount of value, and compared to almost any EV, oodles of character. I hope Suzuki keeps the updates coming every few years and that production continues for another decade."The decade-old Suzuki that trumps EVs" was originally created and published by Just Auto, a GlobalData owned brand. The information on this site has been included in good faith for general informational purposes only. It is not intended to amount to advice on which you should rely, and we give no representation, warranty or guarantee, whether express or implied as to its accuracy or completeness. You must obtain professional or specialist advice before taking, or refraining from, any action on the basis of the content on our site. Error in retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data
