In this episode, I reflect on a Korean drama I watched on a recent flight to Seoul. The story follows a mother who repeats the same day more than 20,000 times in order to save her son. It’s a science-fiction setting, but it raises a simple question: what really separates those who grow from those who stop trying?

I talk about trial and error — in business, in sports, and in everyday life. After 17 years running optical stores in Tokyo, and after many failed ventures before that, I’ve come to believe that the number of attempts matters more than talent.

AI improves through repetition without emotion. Humans, on the other hand, continue because of emotion — love, pride, stubbornness. Maybe becoming a “new human” in this era isn’t about competing with technology, but about choosing to keep learning, even when it’s uncomfortable.

A quiet reflection on persistence, failure, and upgrading ourselves — one attempt at a time.