The Day I Think About How to Turn Things Around: The Afternoon I Decided 'This Won't Do'
Introduction: Hugging my knees on a park bench
3:00 PM on a Sunday.
I was sitting on a bench in a small neighborhood park, thinking about my life.
My relationship with Misaki is going well. We've been dating for half a year, and she accepts me for who I am. My job is stable, too. As a programmer, I'm growing in my own way.
But something is missing.
"Is this really okay?"
Deep down, a voice asks that question.
Misaki is a wonderful woman. She works hard for her patients as a nurse, is always positive, and supports me.
On the other hand, what about me?
I just managed to escape being a shut-in and am living a somewhat normal life. I don't have any special talents. I don't have a clear vision for the future.
"I can't go on like this."
The moment I thought that, something changed.
Today, I'm going to spend the day thinking about how to seriously turn my life around.
Chapter 1: Situational Analysis—Viewing Myself Objectively
First, I decided to analyze myself calmly.
I opened the memo app on my smartphone and started writing down whatever came to mind.
[Current Situation]
Age: 26
Occupation: Programmer (1 year of experience)
Annual Income: 3.2 million yen
Partner: Yes (Misaki)
Friends: Few (a few colleagues at work)
Hobbies: None in particular
Special Skills: Programming (still at a beginner level)
[Strengths]
Can stick to things once I decide on them
Good at listening to others
Have a sense of responsibility (acquired recently)
Have the ability to learn from failure
[Weaknesses]
Lack initiative
Lack confidence
Not good at speaking in front of others
Lack leadership
No clear vision for the future
Hmm, there are more weaknesses. But this is reality.
Chapter 2: Visualizing My Ideal Self
Next, I thought about 'what kind of person I want to become.'
[My Ideal Self in 5 Years]
Annual income: 6 million yen or more
Occupation: Freelance engineer or entrepreneur
Skills: Advanced programming techniques, management ability
Relationships: A network with many people
Relationship with Misaki: Married and building a happy family
Social status: Someone others can rely on
[My Ideal Self in 10 Years]
Running my own company
Providing value to society
Financially secure
Living happily with Misaki and our children
Giving my parents peace of mind
Writing this made me excited. But at the same time, anxiety about 'is this really possible?' also welled up.
Chapter 3: Analyzing Successful People—What Makes Them Different?
Just visualizing an ideal is meaningless. Let's analyze people who are actually successful.
I thought about Tanaka-san (32), a senior colleague at my company whom I respect.
Tanaka-san is six years older than me and is a team leader. His annual income must be more than double mine.
[Tanaka-san's Characteristics]
High technical skills
Has communication skills
Always learning new technologies
Takes good care of his subordinates
Challenge yourself without fear of failure
Have clear goals
Next, I looked into the common traits of successful young entrepreneurs I found online.
[Common Traits of Successful People]
Never neglect continuous learning
Value connections with people
Do not fear failure
Have a clear vision
Have the ability to take action
Be conscious of providing value
I see. I can now see what I am lacking.
Chapter 4: Gap Analysis—The Difference Between Current and Ideal
I organized the differences between my current self, my ideal self, and successful people.
[The Biggest Gap]
-
Difference in technical skills
Current: Can do basic programming
Ideal: Can create value with advanced technology
-
Communication skills
Current: Can have necessary minimum conversations
Ideal: Can build a network with many people
-
Clarity of Vision
Current: Wanting to succeed in a vague way
Ideal: Having concrete goals and plans
-
Ability to Take Action
Current: Tending to choose safe options
Ideal: Being able to take risks and challenge myself
-
Sense of Value Contribution
Current: Focused entirely on myself
Ideal: Wanting to provide value to society and others
Chapter 5: Developing a Turnaround Strategy
Now that the gap is clear, I have thought about a strategy to bridge it.
[Strategy 1: Technical Skill Improvement Plan]
2 hours of technical study every day
Read one technical book per month
Take an online course
Launch a personal project
Participate in study groups or seminars
[Strategy 2: Improving Communication Skills]
Increase the number of times I speak up at work
Present at study groups
Start a blog to share information
Connect with fellow engineers on social media
Attend cross-industry networking events
[Strategy 3: Setting a Clear Vision]
Set concrete goals for 3, 5, and 10 years from now
Break them down into monthly and weekly goals
Regularly check progress and make course corrections
[Strategy 4: Improving Proactivity]
Think about 'how to do it' instead of 'reasons not to'
Start by taking small risks
View failure as a learning opportunity
Don't seek perfection; act first
[Strategy 5: Cultivating a Value-Provision Mindset]
Focus on solving problems for people in need
Share what you have learned with others
Take an interest in social issues
Participate in volunteer activities
Chapter 6: Creating a Concrete Action Plan
Just making a strategy is meaningless. You need to break it down into a concrete action plan.
[This Month's Action Plan]
Week 1:
Buy one technical book and start reading it
Start a personal blog
Research and sign up for three study groups
Week 2:
Speak up at least once in a company meeting
Make your first blog post (summarizing what you've learned)
Create a LinkedIn profile
Week 3:
Participate in a study group
Brainstorm five ideas for a personal project
Talk to Misaki about your future dreams
Week 4:
Start one personal project
Reflect on this month and plan for next month
Ask Tanaka-senpai for career advice
[Goals for 3 Months from Now]
Read 3 technical books
Post 10 blog articles
Give 1 presentation at a study group
Complete 1 personal project
Make 10 engineer friends
Chapter 7: Anticipating Obstacles and Countermeasures
Even if you make a plan, obstacles will inevitably arise. Let's anticipate them in advance and think of countermeasures.
[Anticipated Obstacles and Countermeasures]
-
No time
Countermeasure: Review the schedule and set priorities
Start morning activities (wake up at 5 AM)
Use commute time for study
-
Motivation doesn't last
Countermeasure: Set small goals and enjoy the sense of achievement
Visualize progress
Work hard together with peers
-
Hitting a technical wall
Countermeasure: Honestly ask about things you don't understand
Find a mentor
Utilize online communities
-
Afraid of speaking in front of others
Countermeasure: Start in small settings (like small study groups at work)
Practice repeatedly
Don't fear failure
-
Less time with Misaki
Countermeasure: Consult in advance and gain understanding
Date efficiently
Find activities where we can grow together
Chapter 8: Consulting Misaki
In the evening, I met up with Misaki.
At our usual cafe, I talked about what I had thought about today.
"Actually, I've been thinking seriously about the future."
"About what?"
Misaki listened with interest.
"I realized that things can't go on like this. I want to grow more. I want to be a man worthy of you, Misaki."
Misaki looked a little surprised.
"Kenta, you're already wonderful enough. But..."
"But?"
"But if you want to grow, Kenta, I'll support you. Let's do our best together."
Those words gave me courage.
"Thank you. But, I might get busy and have less time for you, Misaki."
"It's okay. I also wanted to grow more as a nurse. Let's both do our best and support each other."
Knowing I had Misaki's understanding and support made me feel reassured.
Chapter 9: The First Step
After returning from the cafe, I immediately started taking action.
First, I ordered technical books on Amazon.
Next, I created a blog account. I titled it 'Growth Record of an Unpopular Engineer'.
And then, I found three study groups being held next week and signed up for them.
It was a small step, but I felt a definite sense of progress.
Chapter 10: Changes After One Week
One week later, changes had already begun to appear.
By reading technical books for an hour every day, I started to acquire new knowledge.
When I posted my first blog entry, 'What a Programming Beginner Learned in One Year,' it got more of a response than I expected.
"This was helpful!" "I'll do my best too!"
Receiving comments made me happy.
And at the first study group I attended, I met an engineer in a similar situation.
"Let's do our best together!"
I made a new friend.
Chapter 11: Results After Three Months
Three months later, I had almost achieved the goals I had set.
Read 3 technical books: Achieved
Post 10 blog articles: Exceeded goal with 12 articles posted
Presentation at a study group: I was nervous, but I managed to do it
Personal project: Complete a simple web app
Engineer peers: Build a network of 15 people
My changes were recognized at work, too.
"Kenta, you've really grown lately. Would you like to be the leader for the next project?"
A proposal from my senior colleague, Tanaka. If it were me a year ago, I definitely would have refused.
But now, it's different.
"Yes, please let me take on the challenge."
Chapter 12: Looking Back After One Year
It has been one year since I sat on that park bench and thought, 'This won't do.'
My annual income increased to 4 million yen. I started taking on small projects on my own. I began presenting regularly at study groups. I became a known figure in the engineering community. At work, I was entrusted with being a team leader.
And above all, I gained confidence.
My relationship with Misaki also deepened.
"Kenta, you've really changed. You're like a different person from when we first met."
"But I'm just getting started. I want to grow even more."
"Let's do our best together."
Conclusion: Turning Things Around Isn't Done in a Day
Turning your life around doesn't happen in a single day.
It's the small, daily accumulations. Consistent effort. And clear goals and plans.
Only when these come together does a major change occur.
If there is anyone out there thinking, 'This won't do,' I want you to first try analyzing your current situation.
And try to envision your ideal self.
Clarify the gap and think of a strategy to bridge it.
Break it down into a concrete action plan and start executing it today.
It doesn't have to be perfect. Start with a small step.
I am still far from my ideal self. But I am definitely moving forward.
And being able to walk this process of growth together with Misaki is the greatest happiness of all.
The story of turning things around has only just begun.
From here on out, let's keep walking forward, one step at a time, steadily.
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