Side Hustle Lost in the Woods: My Brutally Honest Thoughts After 4 Months on Note - The Road to My First 500 Yen Sale

It finally happened! My first sales notification

Everyone, thank you for waiting. Here is my activity report for my fourth month on Note.

That's right. I finally, achieved my first sale!!

Ta-da~~~~!!🎉

I checked the screen over and over again. I couldn't believe it had actually sold, so I kept opening and closing my phone, then opening it again... (laughs). The excitement of that moment when the notification arrived is something I still can't forget.

The person who purchased it was a follower who leaves comments regularly. Thank you so much. Because of you, my activities on Note have gained significant meaning.

Theme of the sold article: "How to avoid becoming a 'ro-gai' (toxic elderly person)"

The article I wrote was a summary of "Communication techniques to avoid being called a 'ro-gai' in the workplace."

Why did I choose this theme?

Actually, I have become part of the oldest group at my company, and I suddenly felt anxious at times. I wondered, "Am I getting in the way of the younger staff?" or "Am I being seen as a nuisance?"

In Japanese companies, retirement at 60 to 65 is common. In large corporations, it is not rare for employees to face demotion or pay cuts due to mandatory retirement from management positions at age 55. In other words, eventually, we must yield the path to the new generation. This is an unavoidable reality.

However, an interesting social phenomenon is occurring here.

While the younger generation is shrinking due to the declining birthrate, companies must continue to grow. Now that the baby boomer generation has retired in large numbers, utilizing the first and second baby boomer generations has become a critical management issue for companies.

In other words, we are entering an era where it's not "you're useless because you're old," but rather "we're in trouble if we don't have the older generation playing an active role."

That is precisely why it is important to remain a person who is relied upon rather than being shunned as a "ro-gai" by the younger generation. The article summarizing communication techniques for that purpose is what sold for the first time.

Activity results for the 4th month

I will report my current situation honestly.

[SNS Related]

• Threads: 369 followers

• Note: 271 followers

[Sales]

• Paid article sales: 1 copy at 500 yen

To be honest, my follower count on Note is struggling to grow.

The reason is clear. I haven't been able to set aside enough time to read the work of other Noters. This month, my boss was unwell, which led to a concentration of tasks and made my main job incredibly busy... I've been using that as an excuse.

However, I read a few free articles on topics that interested me, and I was truly inspired by how wonderful they were. I've decided to secure more time next month to thoroughly read the work of other creators.

Lessons from my mentor: The turning point that generated sales

Actually, there was a clear catalyst for this sale.

It was advice I received from a senior Noter named Kotori-san, whom I have taken the liberty of calling my "mentor."

Two key points I learned from my mentor:

1. Plan properly
Before writing an article, clarify the structure, target audience, and the message you want to convey. Do not start writing blindly.

2. Clarify "What kind of expert are you?"
When readers look at your profile, make sure they can immediately tell that you are someone who is knowledgeable about X.

The sale happened right after I put this advice into practice.

As expected, the teachings of those who have come before and achieved sales are correct. It made me realize that while these things seem obvious, I hadn't been putting them into practice.

An honest confession: I am currently in a total slump

From here on, let me be even more honest.

I am currently in a complete slump. Or, to be precise,I simply don't have enough time.

I find myself using the busyness of my main job as an excuse. But this is also reality. As long as I am working on this as a side hustle, balancing it with my main job will be an eternal theme.

And another challenge: my lack of ability to articulate things.

Even though I have vague ideas and things I want to convey in my head, I still lack the power to put them into words and express them in a way that reaches the reader's heart. Every time I re-read what I've written, I feel like, "This isn't quite right..."

The reason I continue with Note despite this

How can I get more people interested?
How can I write articles that people would want to pay to read?

This question spins around in my head every single day.

But that is exactly why I want to keep going.

The amount of 500 yen might seem small to the world. But to me, it is proof that someone recognized that the words I wrote have value.

I want to experience this thrill again.
And next time, I want to deliver value to even more people.

There is a mountain of room for improvement.
My research is still insufficient.
I need to study how to write better.
There is truly so much to do.

But that also meansthere is still plenty of room for growth.

To you, who is working just as hard

If you are reading this article, perhaps you have just started on Note and are struggling because you are not seeing results.

I have one message for you.

Please keep going.

It might be strange for me to say this, having only made my first sale in my fourth month, but there are views that can only be seen by continuing. There were lessons and encounters I could never have imagined in my first or second month.

And if you keep posting without getting discouraged even when you don't see results, someone will definitely be watching. I experienced this firsthand this time.

I will continue to use Note.
While wandering, while using trial and error, I will still keep moving forward.

If you would like, why don't we work hard together?

For those who support me and watch over me warmly, please let us connect through follows and comments. Your words are the energy that creates my next article.

I will continue my Note activities.
I look forward to your support!

Thank you so much for reading until the end. I hope this article serves as encouragement for other creators working just as hard.