Opening the Paper Door

I wrote this for my PR Writing (Storytelling for Results) class in the University of Washington. Our assignment was to pick our favorite organization and write a short story (~250 words). We were given five types of stories to choose from. I decided on writing a story about how a company was founded. The goal of the exercise was to "vividly bring the company to life to potential customers, donors and/or opinion leaders."

I really enjoyed writing this piece because it's about Toyota, a company driven by innovation, rooted on its founding principles.

When I was in college, Toyota was my dream company. I could say that my affinity towards the company spawned from working on case studies about Toyota and going on a plant tour inside Toyota's manufacturing plant. It was love at first sight!

It was indeed a dream come true when, after graduating with a bachelor's degree in business administration, I got a call from Toyota's hiring professional. Shortly after, I joined the company as a Sales Planner in the Marketing Division. I moved to the Public Relations team in the Corporate Affairs Group after three years. I worked in the company for a total of 9 years and 11 months.

To this day, Toyota -- a company built on the pillars of Continuous Improvement and Respect for People -- remains as a company I truly admire.

Opening the Paper Door

Sakichi Toyoda, like his father, was a carpenter. At the same time, he had a propensity for invention.

Due to the poverty in their village in Japan, his mother wove cloth by hand to supplement their family income. One night, while observing his mother weave without results to show for her long hours of work, the idea of improving the hand loom struck him. He soon began working on his project.

Sakichi successfully completed and attained a patent for his design. Still, what he really wanted was to invent a power loom, he continued making improvements. Based on his patented device, he invented Japan's first self-powered loom and established the Toyoda Loom Company. However, a major economic downturn eventually forced him to resign from his own company.

Sakichi then traveled abroad to study the textile industry. Upon his return, he opened Toyoda Cotton Spinning and Weaving Company with more than 1,000 employees. When his decision to expand to China was questioned, he replied, "Open the paper door. The world is wide out there."

Together with his son, Kiichiro, Sakichi invented a fully automatic loom and established Toyoda Automatic Loom Works. Impressed with automobiles during his trip to the United States and Europe, he told Kiichiro, “The coming world needs cars. You must work on its development.”  Consequently, an automotive production division was established within the company. While not officially a part of the company’s organization, the team researched, studied and developed vehicle prototypes under Kiichiro's leadership. This spawned Toyota Motor Corporation, one of the largest automotive manufacturers in the world today.

By venturing in vehicle production, the Toyodas had broken through another paper door.

# # #

Advice from my Phone

Searching for ways to practice writing creatively, I asked my friends to suggest topics to write about. In the next few days, I will post my work here.

Mike Lopez posted the question, "If it could speak, what advice on life would your phone give you?"

Here's my output.

Dear Lorie,

Can you believe you’re turning 32 in 10 days? Exciting, isn’t it?!

On your birthday, thank your parents -- it’s their day, too. Thank each person who greeted you, no matter how many messages you get. Remember your loved ones who are no longer there to do so. Be thankful for the privilege of having them in your life, no matter how long you’ve known them.

Be thankful for the life that you continue to live. Remember that life itself is a gift.


Don't worry so much about your age. Remember, being young or old depends on whom you are with at a certain moment. Focus on growing up, not growing old. Learn the art of aging gracefully. I’m sure it involves laughter.

Laugh. Even if it means laughing at yourself or by yourself. If you run out out of jokes, tell Cortana “Make me laugh.” Remember her silkworm joke.

Still funny, right?

Don’t forget that you have “Joy” in your name. Live by it. Be joyful!

Exercise. Remember what a friend told you yesterday – it’s not a workout; it’s a way of life. Be thankful for your body and how it allows you to do so many things. Take good care of it.

Be thankful for the seasons. Remember that both sunshine and rain help living things around you grow. Think of the experiences you go through in this perspective. Your life’s seasons could teach you a thing or two.

Don’t let people intimidate you. They know themselves a lot more than you do. That includes dirty laundry…and, I guess, going to the bathroom.


Never question your worth. Never question another person’s worth. Respect is timeless. So are “please” and “thank you”.

Do not stop reading. Let your imagination take you as far as it can. Indulge in those adventures! Appreciate your vicarious experiences. Learn how a mystery was solved. Those problem solving skills will come handy one day. Heed the moral of the story. If it’s not told explicitly and you don’t find it, read the book again someday. Books seem to have a way of growing as we do.


When your friends give you books, ask them to write a message for you, including the date, on one of the pages. Someday you’ll find those notes just when you need a little push or a reason to smile. Keep those books, no matter what.

Be thankful for writers. Pratchett made you laugh. Rand challenged you. Gaiman made you dream. Chabon made you laugh and cry at the same time. Sedaris made you see the extraordinary in the mundane. It’s not an easy job.

Keep taking photos. If something extraordinary happens to you, write it down. Your memory may someday fail you, but your notes and photographs will be your loyal witnesses.

Last but not least, no matter what you end up doing in the next few years, do NOT make juggling a profession. Remember how many times you’ve almost fatally dropped me on your floor. Technology will go obsolete (faster than people age, too) but I will be the only phone to dispense advice to you. Hold on tight.

Your Microsoft Phone