From Bummed out in Bali to Big Backs Bonanza. （Grit & Glamor Epi.19)
Immediately as you reach the top of the mountain, one is able to see a higher mountain.
Previously:
The protagonist’s blog reaches the number one spot in the popular rankings, and they are given the opportunity to present as a seminar instructor for the first time. Although nervous, they successfully led the seminar with advice from a contact they met at a business seminar. Afterward, they focus on preparing for the summer sale at the store, where a DJ and visual elements play a key role in surpassing even the New Year’s sales figures. The power of teamwork contrasts with their past self, who tried to do everything alone. At the same time, they begin corresponding with the charismatic hairdresser Mr. Kanai, and through answering his daily questions, they feel a sense of personal growth. Additionally, inspired by a friend’s suggestion to try online sales, the protagonist plans a buying trip to Bali with a friend. Thanks to a series of fortunate coincidences, they find local support, stepping forward into new challenges while trusting in synchronicity.
7.7 Successful Givers
I had the following email exchanges with Mr. Kanai, who became my mentor:
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July 16: “I booked my trip to Bali”
To Mr. Kanai,
Recently, the president of an apparel company, who occasionally visits our Shibuya store after reading my blog, gave me CDs by Ken Honda and Masanori Kanda as gifts! Just now, I was listening to “The Unconventional Laws of Success” by Masanori Kanda, and I was blown away by how he kept talking non-stop. His energy is incredible, and I couldn’t stop laughing at the content!!!
Also, I’ve finally set the dates for my trip to Bali! It’s from July 21st to 25th. Even though it was a last-minute plan with only five days to go, I was determined with a mindset of “I can get this!” After three phone calls, I finally managed to secure my tickets!
Mr.Kanai, “If you had time to be alone in nature, what would you want to do?”
Hitomi Horiguchi
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July 16:
Ms. Horiguchi,
That’s great about Bali. As for your question, I’d sleep in a hammock — probably for about an hour. I’m not very good with places where there’s no one around; it gets a bit lonely! Don’t forget to bring insect repellent when you go to Bali. The red ants will get you.
Ubud is nice. You should make a trip there. Bali is known as the Island of Gods, so it’s very spiritual. Be sure to see the gamelan music and dance performances.
Yutaka Kanai
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July 17: “I’m about to achieve my dream!”
Sales are still booming at the Shibuya store, and we’re holding the number-one spot across all stores! My dream of reaching 50 million yen in monthly sales is about to become a reality!
Hitomi Horiguchi
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July 18:
Ms. Horiguchi,
Your year-on-year increase is quite significant. It could be that your business is in a growth phase right now. By matching your industry to its growth cycle, you’ll understand the direction you need to take moving forward. If you see two consecutive years of increases and stores with similar concepts start popping up, that’s the beginning of your growth period. Sell, sell, and sell! But be mindful, because after growth, a maturity phase will inevitably follow. It’s important to start creating the next concept for your select shop now. That’s how you build an S-curve.
Yutaka Kanai
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In my July 16 email, I mentioned receiving CDs from the president of an apparel company. He was in his late 40s and had read my blog before suddenly visiting our Shibuya store.
“I’ve wanted to reach out to you for a while. I saw the name Ken Honda in your blog and thought you were a store manager eager to learn, which piqued my interest. So, I’ve been following your blog. Right now, I’m giving CDs by success philosophy seminar speakers to about seven of my employees who seem on track for success. Today, I’ve brought some for you too.”
With that, he handed me 20 CDs — completely for free! I had read about how successful people support others around them, but I never expected to experience it firsthand. I was amazed by the generosity. “There really are people who can do this!” It was a moment of awe.
Later, he even invited me to lunch during my break. Over the meal, he casually mentioned, “I’m making billions,” and it left a strong impression on me with how effortlessly and coolly he said it.
It wasn’t just this president; more and more business owners were visiting the store to see how I and the Shibuya team were doing. My blog ranking first had a lot to do with it, and I was constantly amazed at the impact it had. I learned how connections with people greatly influence my career — those were days full of valuable lessons.
Now, I haven’t yet shared the reason I suddenly decided to travel to Bali. It was all sparked by a comment from Mr. I, whom I met at a business seminar hosted by Mr. D.
“You’re great at selling things, so why don’t you buy accessories in Bali and try selling them online?”
At that moment, I had a gut feeling that this was a chance to capitalize on my strengths of having a top-ranking blog and being a charismatic salesperson. It was still 2005, and online shopping was relatively new. I was just starting to get surprised by how dresses posted on my store manager blog were selling through phone and email inquiries. Mr. I’s advice showed remarkable foresight.
Upon arriving in Bali, I was greeted at the airport by a kind-faced middle-aged Indonesian man, Made, holding a sign with my name on it and smiling warmly. Made took me around to famous temples and beaches in Bali, and what left the strongest impression was the “Kecak Fire Dance,” a mystical ritual where the dancers walk on fire while in a trance-like state.
Though my original goal was to buy accessories, I ended up not finding what I wanted. Instead, I returned home with a lot of Balinese goods for myself.
After returning to Japan, another strange thing happened. I was searching online for a “color analysis” session. Initially, I planned to do it with a staff member with a different skin tone, but the higher-than-expected cost made me hesitate. I tried discussing whether the company could cover the expense, but unfortunately, it was rejected.
So, I decided to be honest with the color analysis instructor and explained the situation. To my surprise, they offered a proposal:
“How about we make it an exchange of information? I’ll do the color analysis for free if you post about it on your blog.”
This is how I experienced my first color analysis. The process involved placing different fabrics under the face to find colors that suit you. As expected, the staff member and I suited completely different colors, and this contrast created a big buzz on my blog.
The surprises kept coming. The person who did the color analysis turned out to have worked at my previous company in an administrative role. Even more amazingly, her partner had been a store manager! Thanks to this connection, the couple invited me to meals several times and welcomed me into their lovely home in Hayama.
Once again, life showed me its mysterious synchronicity. I felt as though I was being guided along unexpected paths, flowing with the current of life.
7.7 The Joy of Achievement and Challenges for the Future
By the end of July, I was close to reaching my goal of 50 million yen in sales. On July 30th, the sales totaled 49.5 million yen. With over 1 million yen in daily sales, it seemed certain we’d surpass the goal, but the tension remained high until the very end.
In the midst of it all, I sent an email to the president of the apparel company, saying, “I’m so excited!” He replied immediately with, “I’m excited too!” Honestly, I used to feel like the word “excited” was a bit childish, so I didn’t use it much. But at that moment, as I was on the verge of achieving the miracle of surpassing 50 million yen, it felt like the perfect word.
Finally, on the last day of July, we reached 50.51 million yen! That’s a 10 million yen increase from the same month last year. When I first transferred to the Shibuya store, the president asked me, “What would be a cool sales figure for the Shibuya store?” I confidently answered, “50 million yen,” and that dream had now become a reality. I had also made the shopping mall staff promise, “If we exceed 50 million yen, you’ll take everyone out for a meal,” so I was able to fulfill that promise, and we all celebrated together with a delicious meal.
On August 1st, we watched the Jingu Gaien Fireworks Festival from the 24th floor of the Shibuya shopping mall with the staff. As the beautiful fireworks lit up the night sky, a new desire quietly surfaced within me — “I want to live in a high-rise apartment.” Gradually, I began to think about the next step — “When should I stop the store manager blog? If I were to start my own blog, what direction should it take?” The journey of finding new goals, this time for myself and not for the company, had begun. Emails from my mentor, Mr. Kanai, started to include more questions about self-exploration and challenges from the perspective of a business owner.
