"The Secrets of Shining Women" is an interview series showcasing women who excel in a variety of areas, including work and home. Our sixth guest is Mifuyu Ando.
Recently, people have begun to say, "There are many different ways to work." The work environment for women in particular may be favorable, thanks in part to political support. But many people wonder, "What exactly can we do?" Ando is a pioneer of nomadic workers, one of the earliest examples of such diverse work styles. We began by asking her about her decision to go independent from a publishing company.
--Getting a job at a major publishing company right out of college is, in a sense, a very stable career choice, and working at a publishing company must have been quite stimulating. Despite this, what made you decide to go independent?
I wanted to prioritize "how to work" over "what to do." When I was job hunting, I only focused on the type of job and the company. But after spending my entire twenties as a company employee, I gradually began to think about how I wanted to work. For example, instead of taking two weeks of paid vacation twice a year to go abroad, I wanted to work while traveling around the world. Or, rather than being limited by a job title, I wanted to try out a variety of jobs based on my interests. When these desires became too strong for me to suppress, I became convinced that I couldn't continue working this way as a company employee, and that's how I got to where I am today.

--I understand.

I left my company at exactly 30, but I didn't want to continue working as a company employee for another 30 or 40 years, and there was also the risk that something would happen to the company or the industry and both of us would go under. Relying on a single source of income is risky, even for companies that are generally considered to be well-known. So, I decided to start by working on multiple jobs simultaneously, even if they were small, to diversify my risk and gradually build my skills as a freelancer. However, after I left my company, I had no work or income for about six months, and for another six months I was barely able to support myself (no, not enough!).

--I agree that there are some concerns about entrusting your life to a company.

I think it's strange for one person to invest their entire life in one job. Just as it's important in the investment field to build a diversified portfolio to reduce risk, I also think it's very important to hedge risk by diversifying your assets across multiple channels. For example, in the United States, there's a term called "portfolio working," and some people are programmers, yoga instructors, writers, and culinary experts. The reason for working multiple jobs isn't simply because they can't make a living from one job; it's also a way to hedge financial risk and, at the same time, because "doing various jobs opens up new possibilities and ultimately brightens your life."

--That way of working allows you to achieve what you want to do, and also serves as a personal risk hedge.

That's right. When I lecture at universities, give speeches at companies, or appear at events and autograph sessions, I often receive career-related consultations from men and women in their 20s to 40s. What I've noticed from interacting with these people is that while they don't have a clear idea of what they want to do or what they're capable of, many of them feel that "where I'm at now isn't where I want to spend my life." Because their current position is relatively stable, they want to quit but can't, and they wonder, "Is this really what I want with my life?"

I understand this because I felt the same way when I quit my job. I don't hate my current job. I'm dissatisfied with the relationships and the work content, but not enough to quit right away. Above all, I wasn't sure what I wanted to do or what I was capable of. This sense of uncertainty, like grasping at clouds, was constantly smoldering inside me, and it made me anxious. During my time as a company employee, I met over 3,000 people after work and on weekends, spent a lot of money attending seminars, read self-help books, started a blog, and tried a lot of other things (lol). But once I was overcome with this vague feeling, I felt like I couldn't escape it forever. So, even though there was no guarantee of success and I didn't have any particularly impressive achievements at work, I decided to take a step into a new world.

--Do you think more people now empathize with the feelings you had at the time?

That's true. That said, anxiety and dissatisfaction with work have always existed, and the current "work style boom" has been capturing people's hearts for decades with various claims and methodologies, so I don't think I'm special. I'll do a variety of jobs without being bound by titles. I'll make full use of social media (which I call "personal media") to connect with society. Even if you're unknown or just an average person, be conscious of your "personal brand" and clarify your character and strengths. I'm thrilled that the things I've implemented, such as recommending the "Lupin the Third" work style, which allows for flexible project-based working, have resonated with others and helped me grow my circle of friends.

--What advice would you give to people who want to go independent but are worried about it?

First of all, I think everyone has things they like and are good at more than others. But there's no need to think that there are others who are better at it. So, start by aiming to be "number one out of 100 people."

Number one out of 10 million people would be like an Olympic athlete, and number one out of 10,000 would be about prefectural tournament level. Both are extremely difficult. But "number one out of 100 people" is definitely within your reach. Over the course of several years, or even 10 years in some cases, you can add one skill in your 20s, one in your 30s, and another in your 40s. By expanding and combining the areas and fields in which you can be "number one out of 100," or the areas of expertise, you can become "number one out of 10,000" or "number one out of 1 million." They say that talent is what helps you, but I call it "jack of all trades, master of none." It's not about being a jack of all trades and master of none. I believe this is a strategy for ordinary people, including myself, to survive in today's world, where change is rapid and competition is on a global level.

--Ando's naming talent is better than that of a jack of all trades (laughs).

Oh, I see. Thank you (laughs). Drucker, the father of modern management, called working on multiple things simultaneously a "parallel career." Instead of being tied down to one job or one title, try working with the mindset of having two or more jobs, two or more organizations, and two or more titles. Doing so will surely change the landscape of your life. Earning even a little more money than I do now would give me a sense of security. Finding a job in something unexpected would boost my confidence. And discovering talents I hadn't noticed before would be the happiest thing. The important thing is to take action. Even if it's something small, don't stop thinking, "I can't do that now" or "I can't do that," but start with what you can do now.

--What are some things you'd like to do in the future?

One is to move, even overseas. I'm actually a "move-maniac," having moved eight times in the last 10 years. Maybe people who choose a nomadic lifestyle just don't like settling down (laughs). I grew up in Tokyo, so I'd like to live somewhere other than Tokyo. I'd also like to try a "dual-base, multi-base lifestyle," traveling between Tokyo and overseas or the countryside. It would be fantastic to be able to travel between cities during their best seasons.

And finally, I want to improve my English. I studied abroad in Amsterdam, Netherlands during my university days and have traveled to around 53 countries so far, but I want to seriously improve my English skills so that I can "live," "communicate," and "work." Not just English for tourism purposes. To that end, I'm thinking of going on a short-term study abroad program to Cebu in the Philippines next year, where I can improve my English skills while receiving thorough one-on-one lessons.

In the second half of the article, we'll hear about her philosophy on lifestyle and makeup.