Legend of Entrepreneurship and Giving, Kingsley Kobayashi
Introducing Kinglsey Kobayashi, the legend of entrepreneurship and giving.
“The measure of a person’s life is the effect they have on others”.
Kobayashi means small forest (in Japanese) and the kanji is: 小林
He also has Kanji (Chinese Characters) for his name Kingsley meaning three kings.
When I first came to Japan and lived in a suburb called Atsugi, about an hour from Tokyo, I was surprised by the number of shops selling Hip Hop clothing. Little did I know that 20 years later I would be interviewing the man responsible for introducing these clothes into Japan. How I love that that has become part of my myth.
“My Grandmother was my rock.”
Kingsley is a gentleman and great company - so many stories from his humble upbringing in Nigeria; raised by his grandmother and single parent father, who as a teacher would take Kingsley to school with him from aged 9 months. Kinglsey contributed to the family from a very young age and learned his work ethic early on, working before and after school and being schooled in the tougher end of economics by his Grandmother. From there he moved to Lagos and started his company and from there, this fascinating Legend turns to Asia and we take you on that journey.
If you look at Kingsley’s website you can see the integration between community, business and family is central to his way of life. Even in his about page on he talks about being a loving father and how important his family is and this is quite a rare and courageous thing to talk about in a business context in my experience, but to Kingsley - it’s everything.
“When you have a daily income you are never really poor”
Kingsley and his wife Blanka have written a book to help people gain financial freedom called ‘The Beginners Guide to Financial Freedom’ and they are nominated as one of the top 25 entrepreneurs to look out for by a new channel. Kinglsey does his very best to explain Blockchain to me - and maybe you dear listener will get it straight away!
‘Little by little said a thoughtful boy’, is the poem he mentioned and the full tome is shared below.
Please enjoy this fascinating trip through the world of business and positivity.
Raised by a single father, from the age of 9 months he went to school with his father and got the Nigerian nickname ’Schoolboy’
Raised by the community and his Grandmother his ‘Rock’ (who died at age 104!)
He earned money before and after school to contribute to his family - this contributed to his strong work ethic
I was reminded of Karen Hill Anton’s conversation where respect for elder’s is non-negotiable
In Japan - you can make it legitimately - while Japan has a reputation for being wary of foreigners, so long as you pay your taxes and earn your money you can build businesses legitimately
Find out what Kingsley says about billionaires
Keep it simple keep it stupid
Kingsley has a great insight into how SMEs (Small Medium sized Enterprises) fail
If you have to make it yourself you always have that creativity to make it yourself!
Human beings will always help you to get where you’re going
Kingsley’s take on tribalism and clans
Some lovely perspectives on seeking good or bad in other people
A good manager wants his people to be better than him, a bad manager is scared of their position
Pay your taxes! And lean into the opportunities that being in Japan presents - no matter your background
Crayfish syndrome or as we call it in UK ‘Crabs in a bucket’ and what Kingsley thinks about that
The diverse portfolio of items that Kingsley and his wife Blanka have in their business from antioxidants to financial services
What happened to dancing at home and telling stories
"I don't give because i have a lot, I give because I know how it feels to have nothing"
ALWAYS ALWAYS do your due diligence no matter what you are doing
It’s not just about commerce, it’s not just about making money, it’s also about humanity and aligning yourself with Mother Earth
Open your eyes wide and use your past experiences and adversity to teach you
“Nobody teaches an old lion how to hunt” Kingsley explains what this means to him
Little by little said a thoughtful boy
Day after day, and year after year,
Little by little the leaves appear;
And the slender branches spread far and wide,
Till the mighty oak is the forest’s pride.
Far down in the depths of the dark blue sea,
An insect train work ceaselessly.
Grain by grain, they are building well,
Each one alone in its little cell.
Moment by moment, and day by day,
Never stopping to rest or to play,
Rocks upon rocks, they are rearing high,
Till the top looks out on the sunny sky.
The gentle wind and the balmy air,
Little by little, bring verdure there;
Till the summer sunbeams gayly smile
On the buds and the flowers of the coral isle.
“Little by little,” said a thoughtful boy,
“Moment by moment, I’ll well employ,
Learning a little every day,
And not spending all my time in play.
And still this rule in my mind shall dwell,
Whatever I do, I will do it well.
“Little by little, I’ll learn to know
The treasured wisdom of long ago;
And one of these days, perhaps, we’ll see
That the world will be the better for me”;
And do you not think that this simple plan
Made him a wise and useful man?
Anonymous.
You can find Kingsley here:
Website https://kingsleykobayashi.com/
Instagram @Kingsleykobayashi
Facebook @Kingsleykobayashi
Twitter @kingskobayashi
The Book https://www.amazon.co.jp/dp/B0931X1NFG