Zennovation: An East-West Approach to Business Success

Combining the principles of Eastern and Western business practices for powerful success

As an entrepreneur, manager, and problem-solver, Tomio Taki has shared advice with businesspeople ranging from managers of mom-and-pops to high-powered executives from across the globe. The Innovation Instinct showcases the author's breadth of life experience and illustrates how the principles of Eastern and Western business practices can be meshed together as a powerful source for success. Lessons range from the benefits of asking the simple questions to the importance of establishing oneself and knowing when to go against the grain.

Tomio Taki has consulted for, financed, or directly managed both private and public companies on nearly every continent. He has been involved in ventures ranging from being the man behind Donna Karen New York to owning and operating private golf clubs around the world. In short, Taki's business and related successes are striking, having helped companies rise from the ashes of potential bankruptcy to streamlining and growing corporate giants. The wisdom he shares in The Innovation Instinct includes:

• Language is less of an obstacle across borders; instead, cultural differences are what propel and vitiate communication among businesspersons
• Certain fundamental aspects of business and life cross latitudinal and longitudinal lines

When businesspeople seek to understand the cultures of their counterparts, they will discover lasting success with their global business relationships.

TOMIO TAKI is credited with bringing Western fashion to Japanese consumers. He guided his family’s 250-year-old company, Takihyo Co., through nearly forty years of unprecedented growth, transforming it from a leading kimono manufacturer to a broad-based publicly held company. He was first to implement mass-manufactured sportswear in the US when he bought the Anne Klein Company, ultimately becoming the owner of the company and the man behind Donna Karan. He has consulted for, financed, or directly managed both private and public companies on nearly every continent. He has been involved in ventures ranging from the birth of high-definition television to owning and operating private golf clubs around the world.