I wanted to quit my job, but couldn't for 25 years. A self-introduction note by a 40-something office worker creating 'options outside the company'

I've wanted to quit my job, but I haven't been able to for 25 years.
I've never been able to tell anyone about that.

This article is written for people who are in that same place—'I want to quit my job, but I can't bring myself to do it yet.'

I have worked for 25 years, mainly in finance and accounting.
My job is to look at numbers. On the side, I started an e-commerce business selling premium pork from the Tohoku region, and I share my journey on X and note.

However, I'm hopeless at everything except numbers.
At first, I was bad at both posting and design. I'm managing to keep going by getting help from AI.

In 28 days, I surpassed 1,000 followers on X. I also published a paid note.
Even so, I still haven't quit my job.
Honestly, there are still more things that aren't going well than things that are.

The reason I'm still recording this is because I hope it reaches people like I was a year ago.

My reality, seen through numbers

Looking at numbers was my job.
Yet, I had been avoiding looking at the numbers of my own life for a long time.

My side-hustle e-commerce sales peaked at 400,000 yen. Usually, they are in the 100,000 yen range.
It took quite a while before I could look at this gap straight on.

For my son's junior high school entrance exams, I spent 4.32 million yen on cram school fees alone over four years.
Honestly, it took the most courage to reveal this number.

25 years without seeing the faces of customers

Since graduating from university, I have always been in the headquarters' administrative department.
Doing things without mistakes is expected. Even if I improve something, I rarely get thanked by anyone.
It was a job where I never once saw the faces of the customers.

When I turned 40, I suddenly thought, 'Is it okay to keep going like this?'

I have a fair amount of experience and skills.
Yet, they have never once become a strength that allowed me to see someone's face.
That felt a little scary, and I think it became the trigger for me to start moving.

I'll share all my failures, too

Honestly, there are still more things that aren't going well.

For the first two weeks after I started X, even though I posted every day, my impressions were in the double digits.
It felt like I was talking to myself. Even so, I kept posting.

There was a time I sent 1,980 replies in 21 days.
I intended to put my heart into every single one. But when I looked at the numbers later, 90% of them barely reached new people. Honestly, I felt a bit discouraged.

I was also scared to put 'I want to quit my job' in my account name.
What if the company finds out? What if someone I know sees it?
But when I changed it, I got 30 replies the next day. Maybe I was the only one who was scared.

I also hesitated quite a bit when I published my first paid note.
Should I put a price on my 25 years of experience in administration? It took longer than I thought just to decide on the amount of 100 yen.

In May, I was struck by a reaction to a certain post.
When asked, 'Whose problems can you solve, and what kind?', I couldn't answer immediately.
I had been polishing only the sales funnel, and the sequence of 'brightening the reader's perspective' was completely missing.

There were weeks when my note received only single-digit likes.
'It was a slow week.' On the night those words came out, I decided I might as well record this too.

I will put out everything: failures, numbers, and embarrassing things.
Because I hope it reaches someone like I was a year ago.

This note is the place for those records.

First, from here
The first thing I did was change my name.
Honestly, it was scary to call myself 'someone who wants to quit their job.' But once I changed it, the people who came to me changed.

Please feel free to browse according to your interests

Records of creating options outside the company
Records of creating options outside the company through AI, X, note, and side hustles while continuing to be an office worker. I disclose the failures and improvements of a busy 40-something, complete with numbers.

How to use numbers, written by someone with 25 years in finance and accounting
From reading financial statements to cash flow and management accounting. I write in a way that is not difficult and can be used for side hustles or personal business.

The reality of middle school entrance exams
Costs, choosing a cram school, and balancing it with work. I have condensed the experience of supporting my child for four years without ever saying 'study'.

I post new articles every Friday night.
If you feel even a little bit like 'this is about me,' I would be happy if you followed me.

If you are standing still in the same place I was back then,
it's okay. I started from there too.
I'm still on the journey, but let's go together.