I assume you’re all socially successful people. Within what you’re comfortable sharing, was there a particular moment or reason that made you want to succeed? And how did you decide on the direction of your current career? How old were you at the time?

I may not really be in a position to answer, but I’m sorry. Even after landing the job I had always wanted, I kept studying and sincerely dedicating myself to each task. Eventually, people began recognizing my knowledge, skills, and value, and some approached me saying they wanted me to work with them and would provide the funding. That created an environment where I could freely expand on the things I wanted to do and stay true to my principles, so I’ve continued learning even more deeply. Rather than calling it “success,” perhaps it’s the result of wishing to place myself in an environment where both my clients and I can be happy. Success doesn’t come easily, but I believe that striving to become someone unique—someone others truly need—will eventually bring results. Akari

I’m Nana Ayase ♡ A lot has been going on at home lately, and I’ve been thinking about starting my own business. I spoke with someone about it, and learned that you won’t succeed by doing things the same way everyone else does. You really have to read academic papers in depth and study. If there’s something you don’t understand, study it.

I’m a male member—and a loser at heart. I’m an entrepreneur, but I started my business because I wanted to do things my own way. I wanted to be free. Thankfully, I’ve managed to stick to my own style and live freely. My current goal is to be able to spend 100 million yen a year on papa-katsu (compensated dating in Japan). I think I’ll get there soon. Probably. What’s strange, though, is that in real life I don’t insist on doing things my way. I never get angry or make demands of anyone. I just smile, bow my head, and go along with things. I don’t mind being one-upped—in fact, I sometimes deliberately let people do it. If someone bumps into me, I’ll immediately bow my head, even if I could probably take them down in seconds. I smile even when people make fun of me. I don’t mind being spat on or having someone step on my head. I occasionally assert my dominance, but basically, I feel more comfortable being the one who gets dominated. What kind of phenomenon is this? There’s also something important I want to say. I’ve never once felt that I’ve succeeded. I’m filled with a sense of defeat. There’s always someone above you, and the higher you climb, the more people above you come into view. Honestly, it never ends. But will the day ever come when I feel that I’ve truly succeeded?

I’m Kazu, a male member. What motivated me to pursue success was that I’ve always been more ambitious than most people and wanted to make money. I also found something I wanted to build my career around. I was fortunate that the clients I got soon after starting my business weren’t people trying to take advantage of me because I was a young, inexperienced entrepreneur. They were all business owners who wanted to make fair deals and profit together. Through both professional and personal interactions with these clients and more experienced entrepreneurs, I learned a great deal. You can’t learn anything if you don’t take action, so I think it’s important to find an industry you’re passionate about—something you enjoy more than anything else. Fortunately, my industry didn’t require years of working your way up, but depending on the field, you may need to gain experience by working for someone else before starting your own business. Books and advice from other people can be useful, but I don’t think they help all that much when it comes to actually running a business. Whether you succeed depends partly on who you are, but the biggest deciding factor is luck. The saying “Do everything you can, then leave the rest to fate” really rings true. You can’t win the lottery if you don’t buy a ticket. First, think about what you could immerse yourself in without holding back, no matter how much effort it takes. Then I believe it’s important to become part of that industry.

Seattle here. I used to be a salaried employee too. I got tired of having to relearn my job with every transfer and constantly worrying about workplace relationships. I wanted to leave the corporate world, so I started my own business. My success came from befriending people who were making money and copying what they did—without causing them any trouble. I never took any courses or read any books. I relied solely on the internet and word of mouth.