A Japanese magazine did an article on "How Japan is seen by the World."

The surveyors were particularly interested in how Japan was perceived by the Chinese and Americans, their two biggest trading partners.

When the two groups were asked what they considered were the Japanese greatest strengths, the percentage of Americans and Chinese were almost identical.

Americans (30.04%) and Chinese (30.62%) said the one word that characterizes the strength of the Japanes is "DILIGENCE."

My experience is that the Japanese are indeed a diligent lot. Not all of them, mind you, but most of them. And especially in a business setting.

It will drive you nuts, the number of times they will do something over and again until it is done right…until the finished product is done right, that is.

In America, you need to take every product back once and sometimes twice. That is not the rule in Japan.

I, too, admire the Japanese for their diligence.

How about you?