Objection, your honor!
ネット民、楽天の社内公用語を英語にするという三木谷社長の微妙な英語力を心配する: 切込隊長BLOG（ブログ） Lead‐off man's Blogしかし、その楽天の社長たる三木谷浩史氏の… 英語が… その… とっても微妙です…。
Mikitani-san is no 小林克也 (Kobayashi, Katsuya) but he doesn't have to talk like a DJ. He is a CEO, ladies and gentlemen. CEOs are not expected to sing -- or talk -- like a rock star. 勝間和代 (Katsuma, Kazuyo) may have a different opinion, though :-p In my humble nullingual opinion, his English is good enough to do what CEOs have to do.
But what is what CEOs have to do?
Do!
Or let their people do what they promise to their stakeholders to do.
That's what I wanted to know as a potential stakeholder.
And here is what I picked up from the clip above.
Our goal is to become the No.1 Internet service company in the world.
Hmm. No.1. But No.1 in what? Revenue? Earnings? Market Cap? Customer Satisfaction?
Mikitani-san, it occurs to me you are already No.1 -- in boringness.
And your speak-English-or-get-out policy will definitely secure your position.
Here is a video of yet another No.1 Internet company. Definitely in Market Cap, and arguably in attention.
So what's the difference between you and Apple?
You are talking a little about what you are going to become.
Apple folks are talking a lot about what they are going to offer.
They've got a message to deliver and they deliver the message as their products and services. Clear and loud (if you are one of iPhone 4 owners you may wish its signal reception is as clear as their messages :). That is how they made themselves the No.1.
You may say you don't have to be the best presenter to be the best company. Look Wal-Mart. Look Exxon Mobil. If you are one of their kind, you'd rather keep your mouth shut and stay quiet.
But Mikitani-san, I read your lips. You said "No.1 Internet service company". What's Internet service is all about? Helping people exchange messages all over the world, isn't it?! Your message is the essential part of your products and services.
What is your message to the world?
"No.1 Internet service company" is not that. That is a message to yourselves.
What are you going to offer your shareholders and customers?
That's what I -- we would like to hear from you the most. We are looking forward to your message -- to us, not to yourselves.
Dan the Bored
But i think
"I guess he wants to be"→"I guess he wants his company to be",and
"But it is "suits" companie's business to"→"But it is important for the "Suits" companie's business to"
would be right or suitable expression.
Don't you?