7. Two-Point Presentations
I like how there was no alternative design for the character of Mario - only Option B, sketched in pencil. (laughs)
(laughs)
This generation wants to hear “This was chosen from all these possibilities!”
I know.
If someone on your team presented only one idea, what would you do?
Oh, you mean if someone said, “We’re using this one, thanks!” and presented just one picture?
Well, two would be fine. Assuming, of course, those pictures are good.
Well, if that person’s work was generally good, I would give the OK.
Ahh, me too! If A or B is good enough, I don’t need C or D.
Yeah, that’s right.
Employees can learn a lot under a boss like that.
But everyone prepares a full array of options and says, “We need you to decide!” - even though I say that a lot of options are not necessary. I’m always saying that even if there’s only one option, as long as it’s what we need and it’s really good, then that’s enough. But lots of people want to prepare multiple options.
So…how many is best?
(laughs)
Demanding only one isn’t right either.
Well, no matter how many there are, if there’s one he or she strongly feels is right, then that’s fine, but I don’t like that attitude of “Just take your pick and we’ll fulfill your order.” This may sound weird, but it becomes my responsibility that way. It’s not that I don’t want to take responsibility, but I think, “Aren’t you the one whose responsibility this is?”
Yeah. If a ramen shop asked you to tell them exactly how to season their food, you’d get mad. “Sir, how much salt should we put in?”
(laughs)
Wouldn’t that be irritating? At least narrow it down to assari (light broth) and kotteri (rich broth)!
I have to agree.
As I was talking just now, I realised that I want two.
Two?
Yeah. Two options - A and B.
Hey, maybe that’s just the right amount. It’ll be even better if you can get support on your decision.
You think so?
Two choices, and when you say, “This one,” they say, “That’s what I thought, too!”
Perfect!
Yeah. When I ask, “Will this work?” I want them to say, “It’ll work!”
Oh, yeah!
When I say, “Will this work?” and they say, “Well, if you say so…” it’s such a letdown. (laughs)
So, show your own will and present two choices. As long as Miyamoto-san and I are alive, whatever the presentation may be, two choices it will be.
Yeah, two. (laughs) And another thing that I’ve been saying forever is that proposals only need to be one page.
Yeah.
Well, I can forgive three. If you try to fit it all in one page and the print is too small, I can’t read it.
Yeah. (laughs)
In the end, they waste too much effort on presentations. I don’t know if there’s somewhere where they learn to make presentations like they work at an ad agency or if they just want to do it like that, but there’s a difference between presentations for persuading a sponsor to give you money and presentations for explaining what you’re going to make. Lots of people get those two confused. Once you start trying to make your presentation look great, that task starts consuming all your energy.
Yeah. If you let them, they’d make the proposal in High Definition!
Proposals are like that. You stay up all night making them, and that alone provides an immense sense of accomplishment.
You’d really like to shout at them for that, wouldn’t you? “Spend that time with your wife and kids!”
(laughs)
Like in an American television drama. I’d wear a three-piece suit and say, “I think your wife Jane is marvellous. How about dedicating the time you spent on that presentation on her?”
(laughs)
I jump to my feet as I say it and then a secretary nearby says, “Oh, what a marvellous boss!” I’d like to play that role, but…
You can’t, right?
Nope.
It’d be too embarrassing.
Yeah, too embarrassing. (laughs)