My last blog was in 2019 and focused on daily occurrences.
Seven years later, I’m starting a new series — this time writing about daily thoughts and daily learnings.
01.01.2026
Today’s thought is about the difference of motivation in a workplace setting.
As someone with dual nationality (Switzerland / Japan), I’ve found it fascinating to observe the differences in work culture and work ethic between the two countries. These contrasts directly inspired today’s post.
In Japan, values such as work ethic, loyalty, and dedication to a larger purpose or company success are deeply embedded in society. My personal thesis is that many of these values have been passed down through generations. Historically, Japan’s geographic isolation and its dependence on exports required a strong collective mindset and traces of this are still visible today.
In contrast, Switzerland and many other prosperous European countries appear to have lost part of this edge as a consequence of long-term wealth and stability. With strong social systems and a relatively weak labor market, many people face fewer incentives to sacrifice or commit beyond their immediate self-interest. Employees can afford to prioritize flexibility, personal benefit, and mobility often without significant trade-offs.
This leads to the central question:
How does one navigate leadership and team building in today’s Switzerland / Europe?
My current answer is this:
Either give people a genuine opportunity or work with A-players who want to contribute to something that outlasts them. After all, human lives are finite, but institutions, companies, and ideas can endure far longer.
By giving people a chance, I specifically mean individuals who come from difficult family circumstances or regions with lower income levels people who may have lower initial salary expectations but a higher willingness to commit. In many cases, even minimum wages in Switzerland exceed average salaries in their home countries by five- to ten-fold, while still offering dignity, stability, and growth.
Whether this thesis holds true or not remains to be seen.
The only way to find out is to test it in reality.