Lauding on planet Hitomi (Grit & Glamor Epi. 23)

Like large objects in space, people with big dreams, have gravity which dreams people into their orbit.

Previously:

The protagonist begins preparing for their first seminar, receiving concrete advice and a structured plan from their mentor, gradually enhancing the seminar’s content. Moved by the mentor’s words, “You can achieve everything,” they learn that realizing dreams requires setting goals that truly reflect what they desire. During a training session at Disneyland, a new opportunity arises. As seminar preparations progress, the name “Pearl Plus” is decided upon through a stroke of inspiration. This name symbolizes the coaching process, where inner brilliance is drawn out. New ideas keep emerging, including the creation of an original bag line. With their mentor’s guidance, they also begin considering branding and crafting a narrative for their business. Engaged in promoting the seminar and gathering participants, the protagonist steadily moves closer to realizing their dreams.

8.9 The Journey of the Original Bag

You might be wondering, “What was the original bag like?” So let me tell you the story. One of the boldest and perhaps somewhat reckless challenges in my life was creating an original bag. Living in 2024, where everything can be done with just an iPhone, it might seem unbelievable, but back then, I had to carry around various devices. I always felt the need for a sub-bag, in addition to my main one, that was suitable for storing things like a digital camera, laptop, and mobile phone. Especially when carrying a laptop, the only options were men’s nylon bags, which were far from stylish.

In that situation, the idea hit me, “Why not create my ideal bag myself?” Without hesitation, I shared my vision with a friend and asked them to design it. The final design was a compact bag, 27 cm by 27 cm, with a 6 cm gusset. It had a sophisticated look with black leather and gold stitching, and the inside was also gold. It even had practical features like pockets for pens and mobile phones. Though the minimum order was 100 pieces, I didn’t hesitate to place the order. I had a plan to showcase the sample at my very first seminar and take pre-orders.

However, one day, as the delivery date approached, I was stunned. There was no way I could store 100 bags in my 20 square meter one-room apartment. This was something I hadn’t even considered when placing the order, and no one pointed it out to me. Isn’t this a classic mistake of entrepreneurs? Desperate for a solution, the only place I could think of was the locker room at my workplace in Shibuya. I had no idea how this outrageous plan would turn out, but this episode became one of the most memorable moments in my entrepreneurial journey. The continuation of this story will be in another chapter.

8.10 An Unexpected Guest Speaker

Four days before my first seminar, with my heart racing, I opened the door to my mentor Mr. Kanai’s salon, “RITZ.” While our daily email exchanges were valuable, I could feel his charismatic energy rubbing off on me when we met in person.
Up until that day, I had been too nervous to ask Mr. Kanai, with his busy schedule, to attend my seminar. But finally, that day, I mustered the courage to ask, “Are you available on the 18th?” His response was beyond anything I had imagined. “If I have time, should I speak at the seminar?” His words almost made me fall out of my chair! Mr. Kanai was going to be a guest speaker at my seminar! To my surprise, he even added, “I want to try doing a bit of a mystical seminar. I’ll explain how lucky you are using astrology.”

I was shocked to learn that Mr. Kanai, renowned as a charismatic hairstylist, was also well-versed in astrology. At the same time, I instinctively knew that this would be a highlight of the seminar and my heart swelled with gratitude and excitement.

That night, I received an email from Mr.Kanai with more details. He would give a 15-minute talk, explaining my horoscope, and he anticipated that this topic would captivate the participants. His words made my expectations soar even higher.

Mr. Kanai also emphasized the importance of the first seminar. “If this seminar gets a good reputation, word of mouth will spread.” His advice to keep the focus clear and concise sharpened the focus of the seminar. With his unexpected cooperation and advice covering everything from mindset to strategy, I felt more confident. My coach, Mr. Harima, also agreed to serve as the moderator, and I was sure this first success would be a stepping stone to the next phase.

Supported by two wonderful mentors, Mr. Kanai and Mr. Harima, the flow of the seminar was set. Moreover, the mentors featured in this autobiography would also attend the event. The mere thought of everyone I had met by chance coming together under one roof gave me chills even before the seminar. After all, the participants were already successful people.

Chapter 9: Side Job Debut

9.1 My Seminar Debut

On November 18, 2005, I made my long-awaited seminar debut in Aoyama, near Gaienmae. The venue was a sophisticated space with views of Roppongi Hills at night. Facing the 26 participants, I realized that my dream had come true. Among the attendees were customers from my apparel store, colleagues from the shopping mall, people from the management office, close friends, mentors, and my supportive staff from the Shibuya store. Seeing these stylish individuals seriously listening with notebooks in hand gave me a grin.

During the seminar, I passionately spoke about my experiences as a store manager and my philosophy. There was also a surprise in the middle. Mr. Kanai’s segment, “Hitomi Horiguchi Analysis through Horoscopes,” had the audience erupting in laughter and awe as my life was unraveled through astrology. I learned so much from Mr. Kanai’s innovative presentation.

The seminar concluded successfully, leaving everyone excited. Many participants expressed, “I’ll join the next one!” and I was filled with joy. And of course, I couldn’t forget the most important mission: pre-orders for the original bags. Thanks to having both ladies’ and men’s versions, I received several reservations.

It was at that moment that I fully understood my mentor’s advice: “It’s good to gather a core group for the first seminar.” I was able to confidently share my message without facing any criticism. Encouraged by the positive feedback from participants, I quickly became eager to plan the second seminar.

We made sure to take a group photo, marking this moment as the starting point of a new chapter in my life. After the event, despite the chilly winter air, we walked from Aoyama through Omotesando to Shibuya, still buzzing with excitement — or perhaps cooling down from it.

What I wanted to convey most in this seminar was the importance of forging your own path to success, not imitating others. I was thrilled to receive feedback like, “I want to take action from tomorrow! I want to succeed in my own way!” It was proof that my message had truly reached the audience, and I was glad to have held the seminar.

From this day forward, my side business began. Building on my experience as an apparel store manager, I embarked on a new path as a seminar speaker, helping others realize their potential.