[Self-Introduction] Why I started sharing my story 5 months postpartum, and the meaning behind my title '70% Girl'
Nice to meet you, "70% Girl Mananee".
In this article, I would like to talk about
"why I started sharing my story"
and what the title "70% Girl" that I use means.
Self-Introduction
1987 Born in Gunma Prefecture
2006 Moved to Tokyo for university
2010 Joined a megabank → Promoted in the shortest time while leaving on time every day
2018 Changed jobs to a major company at 30, then became a manager
2021 Registered marriage after 7 months of matchmaking
2022 Balanced management work and fertility treatment 2024 Gave birth to my first child
2025 Gave birth to my second child
2026 Started sharing my story 5 months postpartum while on maternity leave
Looking at my resume like this,
you might think I was someone "whose work and family life were always smooth"
or "a high-achieving career woman."
But in reality, it was completely different.
I also had
a period where I hit rock bottom in life, and the most painful time was around age 30.I was working hard.
But in truth, I wanted to get married and have children.
Even though I had those ideals, I was just working every day.
The anxiety of wondering if I would ever be able to marry someone...
Even when I tried matchmaking, things didn't go as I hoped.
My friends around me were getting married one after another,
and I experienced the feeling of my anxiety about the future growing larger and larger.
After that, my matchmaking efforts went well and I got married, but
then a new anxiety emerged:
"Can I really do fertility treatment while working?"
Fertility treatment while working as a manager.
They say stress is bad for fertility treatment.
But I didn't want to cause trouble for the people around me.
I was worried about whether I could really balance both...
I am just an ordinary girl who has always worried about something, felt impatient, carried anxiety,
and lived without having confidence.
Around age 30, it's easy to bottle up worries alone
When you reach around 30, the situations of your friends start to change significantly.
Those who get married
Those who enjoy being single
Those who change jobs
Those who give birth
Those who get promoted
Everyone starts walking a different life path.
That is precisely why, even when I consulted friends,
there were times I felt "something is different."
For example, matchmaking.
The partner I am looking for is different from the partner my friend considers ideal.
So even if I received advice,
it didn't feel right, or even when I actually took action, it didn't lead to results.
I understand this because I experienced it myself,
but I believe that around age 30 is a time when it is
easy to bottle up confusion alone.
I want to be a source of support for such people.
People who are taking action but not succeeding,
people who don't know where to start,
people who have lost sight of their own ideals.
I started sharing my story because I want to provide a trigger for such people to move forward even a little.
"Being yourself" moves your life forward
In my 20s, I worked at a megabank.
But
"I want to be active globally"
"I want to be a finance professional"
Honestly, I didn't have those kinds of aspirations.
My criteria for job hunting were very simple:
"A company where it's easy to balance work and private life"
"A company with people I can think of as 'What a wonderful woman!'"
Just these two.
There is an unforgettable event from my job hunting days.
After my first interview at the megabank,
while the interviewer was walking me to the exit,
they asked, "You have already received two job offers, so why are you still continuing your job search?"
At that time, I spoke my true feelings.
"
I have received offers. But, since I cannot imagine myself working long-term while having a family in the future, I have decided to continue until I am satisfied, and that this bank will be the last one. "I didn't answer the interview questions well and thought I had failed, so I remember crumpling up my suit and taking it off.
But that night, I immediately received a notification that I had passed.
What I learned from this experience is
"to communicate your thoughts clearly. And to walk your own unique life path"
.
Rather than trying to give the 'correct' answer,
what do you want to cherish? How do you want to live?
Those feelings can sometimes move people more.
Since then, I have chosen my own path many times, rather than the path people say is "generally the way."
And every time I did, I was able to gain new opportunities.
That is why I believe
"
it is important to choose your life for yourself".
What is a "70% Girl"?
Since I was in my 20s, I have secretly called myself a "70% Girl."
Of course, I haven't told anyone (laughs).
This term, 70% Girl, is packed with my own way of living.
Since I was young, I have wanted to
cherish my work
cherish my family
but I thought that if I tried to do both at 100%, it would become painful and I would break down.
So, I decided to stop trying to do everything perfectly.
If you find a way that suits you, you can get results without trying at 100%.
70% Girl means
"not someone who cuts corners, but someone who achieves maximum results with 70% effort".
Especially when you feel like you are running out of room,
by telling yourself "I'm a 70% Girl,"
you can calm your feelings,
and it is also useful for self-control.
If I can enrich my life with 70% effort,
I am the type who will not spare that effort.
The 70% rule I value
From here, I would like to talk about two points that I am always conscious of.
1. Don't do everything yourself
Hard workers tend to take everything on themselves.
But realistically, it's impossible to keep that up forever.
So, rely on what you can.
Rely on people, too.
Rely on services, too.
I think this is the way to achieve results
while keeping your own feelings calm.
2. Find the method that suits you
There are many success stories in the world.
But I don't think they apply to everyone.
For example,
you might decide to go on a diet and cut out carbohydrates, but your weight doesn't drop, or you rebound quickly,
and you end up giving up on the diet.
But if that person's constitution makes them prone to gaining weight from fats, no matter how much they cut out carbohydrates, it won't be effective, right?
If you keep choosing methods that don't suit you, you'll just take detours and find it hard to get results.
A message to everyone
I am not a special person.
I have worried a lot, taken detours, and failed many times.
That is exactly why
anxiety about the future,
balancing work and marriage,
worries about trying to conceive,
life choices,
I truly understand the feelings of those who carry such uncertainties.
In this content, based on my own real-life experiences,
I will share hints that 'you can achieve your ideals without trying too hard, and you can take that first step.'
I hope to make you feel a little lighter.
I hope to give you the courage to take a step forward.
I would be happy if I could share content like that.
I look forward to working with you from here on.