Thinking about sensibilities

Hello, I'm Ryo Minagawa.

Recently, I've been passionately focused on studying marketing. However, at the same time, the more I delve into marketing, the more I'm compelled to reflect on my own sensibilities.

Here, when I say "sensibilities," I mean the ability to make judgments based on personal preferences, instincts, and intuitive senses of quality, rather than solely on numbers and rationality.

Marketing and Rationality

Studying marketing inevitably increases opportunities to consider perspectives other than my own, such as those of potential customers, market trends, and even the influence of the external environment.

Gradually, I find myself pursuing rational decisions above all else, falling into a sense of endlessly repeating the process of "how to arrive at the correct answer."

When that happens, my own individuality and passion start to feel unnecessary.

And eventually, the work itself loses its luster and starts to feel boring.

Are Sensibilities Unnecessary?

So, are individual sensibilities truly unnecessary?

Is it only extensions of existing products that are viable as businesses?

Not necessarily. Products created purely through rational thought lack excitement and don't easily inspire purchasing desire.

Economic activity requires rationality, but at the same time, it's a contradictory state where instinct-based, irrational decision-making is also important.

Realizing this, I start to think that sensibilities are not something to be dismissed, but rather something to be cherished.

The Difficulty of Sensibility-Based Decision-Making

Decisions based on sensibilities make it impossible to shift responsibility to others. This is because there's no clear rationale.

As a result, there's a risk of being criticized for acting arbitrarily. That's why decisions based on sensibilities require strong willpower.

On the other hand, rational decisions can be based on data and metrics, allowing for the excuse, "The data indicated that."

However, that is not always the optimal solution.

Can Sensibilities Be Cultivated?

I once heard that "Sensibilities will never be sharpened unless they are cultivated."

Certainly, people with "good taste" exist. However, in many cases, behind them lies experience unintentionally cultivated in that field.

In other words, sensibilities aren't determined solely by innate talent but are something refined through accumulation.

The Balance of Rationality and Sensibilities

Ultimately, what I'm trying to say is that overly relying on rationality and neglecting sensibilities in work and life leads to failure.

This is something I want to firmly keep in mind."