Timeless Wisdom (Grit & Glamour: Epi.1)

In last month’s newsletter, I wrote about a former colleague from my days as an apparel store manager who came to me for advice on starting her own business. I was struck by how diligently she took notes as I shared my experiences with her. It was like seeing myself 20 years ago. I realized that my words, despite the passage of time, had not lost their relevance. As I recounted my experiences to her, I was reminded that this period had been pivotal in changing my mindset, and it reaffirmed that this mindset continues to be the foundation of my life.

What is a mindset? A mindset is a fundamental set of beliefs and attitudes that determines how we perceive, understand, and react to situations. It profoundly influences our actions, thoughts, and emotions. And, a mindset can be consciously changed, as it was for me.

Inspired by this, I decided to compile the stories of how my mindset evolved over time into a book. When I shared the first episode with my colleague, she responded with, “I think there are many people who would love to hear your stories, just like me!”

So, in this week’s newsletter, I would like to share the first episode of my second Kindle book.

PROLOGUE
Timeless Wisdom

One day, Ms.Y, a colleague from my time as an apparel store manager who is now aiming to start her own business, visited me seeking advice. She and I worked together until I resigned as an apparel store manager, and we had only met once since I went independent. About 15 years had passed, and we were meeting again.

When I saw her after a long time, she was now managing a store for another apparel brand, and she looked even more refined than before. I felt that I hadn’t changed much, but in your 40s, keeping one’s looks takes effort. We reminisced with smiles, looking back at the past.

Most of my stories consisted of failures, and among them were numerous quotes that changed my life. Ms.Y eagerly took notes, saying, “Let me write that down!” To me, they were familiar stories, but to her, they were fresh and valuable. By sharing these lessons, I could reaffirm my growth journey and reflect on how it influences my present.

In fact, what she was noting down were all things I had recorded in the past. Realizing that wisdom is passed down this way, I was filled with gratitude towards my mentors. Reflecting on my past from the age of 29, when I started my own life journey, to 49 was like a flashback experience, with images from those times vividly running through my mind as I spoke.

Later, I received a thank-you message from her.

Ms.Y: “Thank you for all the advice and insights today. I was truly moved and impressed by you, Hitomi. I’m proud of myself for deciding to reach out! And it was so much fun.”

Me: “Ms.Y, thank you for coming. We were lucky to meet at the most enjoyable workplace for both of us. While it’s important to make use of past experiences, keep your eyes on the future, try to challenge things, and enjoy discoveries that even surprise yourself.”

Her words of gratitude brought me immense joy. I felt a strange sense of fate that our relationship remained unchanged over time. The words my mentors taught me were practiced in my life and held great value. They are not just “Used” but “Vintage.” Vintage items continue to create value despite changing times. To share such essential words, I decided to write this book. I hope this book becomes a “Vintage” for many people, cherished and loved across time.

Chapter 1: Updating the Mindset

1.1 Encounter with “Happy Millionaire”

I transitioned from the food service industry to the apparel industry. My previous management experience was recognized, and I was promoted to the manager of a luxury select shop’s street-level store in Ginza, Tokyo, within just two months. Being entrusted with my first experience in clothing sales and managing an apparel shop pushed me out of my comfort zone, and I continued to feel uneasy. In my personal life, a breakup made me realize my dependent thinking, and I started to strongly focus on personal growth.

One day in 2003, a mutual acquaintance, whom I was consulting about business, handed me Ken Honda’s booklet “Happy Millionaire.” Initially, the booklet form seemed a bit suspicious to me, but this person, meeting me for the first time, said, “Hitomi-chan, you’re already successful!” This statement was the trigger that awakened my awareness towards personal growth and success.

I quickly read the booklet and was struck by the idea that “You can make a living doing what you love.” I had been under the impression that work was something you did to eat and live. Hence, I thought I should work at places with higher salaries. This was also why I chose the apparel industry, as it paid well for management positions. So, I had little sense of doing what I loved, making me feel very uneasy and distressed.

However, after reading this booklet, instead of thinking about leaving the uncomfortable apparel industry, I started to consider, “Is there something I like in this field even if I feel like I don’t fit in?”

That’s when I realized, “I like providing sales customer service and I’m good at customer management.”

I never thought I could be an apparel salesperson, as I wasn’t fashionable. However, through persistence and communication skills, I quickly became one of the top individual sellers. Back then, “camera phones” had just become usable, and I started sending photos of new arrivals to my customers via email. By staying in regular contact, my customer base grew. Although I initially found the apparel industry challenging, I discovered things I was good at. Even so, it didn’t immediately become comfortable, and I continued to feel uneasy for some time.

1.2 Quotes and Mindset Transformation

One day, during a staff meeting, the president posed a question, “What products do you think would sell well?” We answered, “More of the cargo pants that are currently selling well.” The president responded, “That’s why it won’t work. Our job is to think about what customers wearing cargo pants now will want next and provide that.”

Then he asked, “When you went to Paris, what were the Parisians wearing?” The response was, “They were wearing miniskirts with leggings.” The president said, “That’s it, the next trend will be that.” Suddenly, leggings? In a time when pants that made legs look long were in fashion? I was shocked. However, a few weeks later, the trend-sensitive staff started pairing tight leggings with miniskirts.

This, I thought, is the entrepreneur’s mindset. Imitating current trends is secondary. Entrepreneurs read ahead of the times. This moment significantly changed my mindset.

1.3 Branding Strategy

A year after I became a manager, the stylish white store was suddenly renovated into a cool, black-themed store. Most of the staff commented negatively, saying, “This will make it hard for customers to come in,” but the president was the only one who positively said, “I like watching to see what kind of customers will come into the store from this spot,” he said, sitting on the black sofa inside the store.

The reason for turning the store black was to attract higher-end brands. The focus was not on the customers but on the high-end brands?! This is branding strategy. And indeed, the brand that the president aimed to bring in was introduced, proving that everything was according to plan. It was like reading the wind, just like Tokugawa Ieyasu.