[Self-Introduction Part 3] Escaping Tokyo: How I Became a 'Jack-of-All-Trades' in Hiroshima and Decided to Go Freelance
Hello! This is KotoApp. I am continuing my self-introduction.
Last time, I talked about how I returned to my hometown of Hiroshima after four grueling years in Tokyo. This time, I will cover my subsequent life as a company employee in Hiroshima and the circumstances that led to my decision to become a freelancer.
Days in Hiroshima: The Path to Becoming a 'Jack-of-All-Trades'
I returned to Hiroshima in 2014, but the work was still client-site resident (SES) work, so it felt like only the location had changed. However, compared to the projects in Tokyo, the projects in Hiroshima involved fewer people and were smaller in scale. I felt this suited me very well.
Projects in Tokyo were large-scale, often involving multiple teams and companies. This meant that communication costs were extremely high—for example, meetings were required just to confirm specifications for parts handled by other companies—and I often found it to be a hassle.
On the other hand, because there were fewer people on the Hiroshima projects, each person's scope of responsibility was wider. For some reason, various tasks started coming my way simply because 'there was no one else who could do them' (laughs). For example, I acquired the following skills after returning to my hometown.
Initial development setup (from server construction to connectivity testing)
Creating sample functions and manuals for team members
Participating in negotiations with clients
Designing system architecture
Estimating man-hours and creating schedules
In Tokyo, there were specialists for each field, so these were tasks I likely would never have handled. This experience as a 'jack-of-all-trades' became a major foundation for my later life as a freelancer.
Turning Point: A Promotion Offer and the Budding Desire for Independence
Around 2017, after continuing that life for about three years, there was a moment when I suddenly felt, 'Wait, isn't there nothing I can't do now?' Just at that time, I received an offer for a promotion from the company.
However, I had absolutely no positive image of a promotion at the time. Training subordinates, reporting to superiors, increased responsibilities, more training... On top of that, having to have superficial conversations during goal-setting interviews with a boss I barely saw because of the client-site residency was truly a hassle.
'If I stay at this company, I'll end up heading in a direction different from what I want to do...' That feeling was the trigger that made me start considering the path of a freelancer.
My Wife's 'Sure!' and the Business Opening Notification
At the time, I was living with my current wife, and we were dating with the intention of getting married. When I took the plunge and asked, 'I'm thinking of becoming a freelancer, what do you think?', the reply I got was a very simple, 'Sure!' With those words, my resolve was easily solidified.
After that, I told the company I was quitting. I faced some attempts to keep me, such as being told, 'I think freelancing is tough,' but I strangely had the confidence that 'work would never run out,' so my intention to quit never wavered (laughs).
And, though this was truly a coincidence, on the very same day I went to submit my marriage registration with my wife, I went to the tax office to submit my business opening notification. Thus, my life as a freelancer began at the same time as my married life.
I will save the story of what happened after I became a freelancer and after my child was born for another time. Thank you for reading this far!
#SelfIntroduction #Career #Freelance #Independence #WorkStyle #Engineer #Hiroshima #SES