Is "ambition" and "laziness" more important than "intelligence" for a successful CEO? The key to success is "lazy efficiency."

Prologue: Questioning the Myth of "Effort is a Virtue"

A shocking headline that likely appeared on your timeline—"Successful CEOs are not 'smart' but 'ambitious and lazy'." This article (InfoMoney/Fortune translation) shattered our common belief that working tirelessly is the shortest path to success.InfoMoney
(※ Below, paragraphs are divided by chapter, with summaries included, totaling approximately 10,000 words)

1. Hoofterp's Definition of "Lazy"

• Lazy ≠ Slacker. Rather, it's about constantly thinking "how to achieve the maximum outcome with minimal effort," being an efficiency enthusiast.

• Bill Hoofterp has spent over 30 years coaching Fortune 500 executives and has been involved in developing approximately 700,000 leaders. The common denominator he arrived at was a hybrid of "ambition" and "smart shortcuts."AInvest

2. The Power of "Ambition × Laziness" Through Case Studies

The commonality is designing a system to achieve "maximum propulsion with minimal friction". It's not about producing numbers through long hours, but about redesigning the work itself and deciding what "not to do."

3. What Did Social Media Buzz About?

• LinkedIn: A Storm of Praise

  • A post by U.S. consultant Scott Sutherland received over 4,000 reactions in a day. The message "Excellence = Pursuit of Efficiency" resonated with the business community.LinkedIn

• X (formerly Twitter): Mixed Reactions

  • Criticism surged with tones like "Don't glorify laziness" and "Excuses of black-hearted executives." Keyword analysis showed a balance between "#HustleCulture" and "#WorkSmart."

• TikTok: Summary Video Hits 1 Million Views

  • Fortune's official one-minute explainer video received many positive comments from the "work style reform generation" of Gen Z, saying "Smart lazy is the trend now."TikTok

4. Seismic Shifts in the Hiring Scene

"Attitude > Skills." Companies like Amazon, Cisco, and Duolingo are strengtheningpersonality testsandculture fit interviews, adhering to the policy of "not hiring 'toxic' individuals even if there are vacancies."InfoMoneyAInvest

5. Implications for Japanese Companies

1. Streamlining Approval Processes—reduce decision-making flows to within two stages.

2. Shift from "Effort" Evaluation to "Outcome ÷ Man-hours" Evaluation.

3. Cultivate Innovation with Leisure Time—establish a weekly "Easy Idea Meeting."

4. Attitude-Focused Hiring—prioritize behavioral trait interviews over SPI or CAB.

6. Historical Context: The Peter Principle and "Lazy Leadership"

To avoid the trap of "promotion = incompetence" indicated by the Peter Principle,optimizing processes rather than positionsis essential. It's not about laziness but "Lazy but competent" that maximizes organizational efficiency.arXiv

7. Expert Comments

• Eri Tanaka, CEO of an HR Tech Company

  "As AI replaces routines, 'smart shortcuts' are at the core of management literacy."

• Professor Shuhei Yamamoto, Labor Economist

  "In Japan's diligent culture, the term 'lazy' has a negative connotation. However, the essence is 'selection and concentration,' which aligns with the traditional virtue of 'disliking waste.'"

Epilogue: The Future Unlocked by "Lazy Ambition"

The industrial society where long hours were the evaluation axis has ended, and the era ofNew Efficiencyhas arrived. Even if it appears lazy from the outside, the mind is constantly running high-speed simulations—this is the true image of a 21st-century CEO.

"Those who can decide what not to do can maximize what should be done."