Realizing it in my 50s: The reason I started thinking about a way of working that doesn't rely on a company

Entering my 50s, there was a moment when I suddenly realized something.

"Was this way of working really something I chose for myself?"

"Do I want to keep working the same way for another 10 years?"

Such questions suddenly began to strike a chord in my heart.

When I was young, I was busy just trying to get through the work in front of me.

I had been running according to the company's rules—raises, evaluations, transfers—

Before I knew it, perhaps the "initiative" for how I work had always been with the company.

◆ The moment when a company-dependent way of working suddenly becomes exhausting

Entering your 50s, your physical strength, values, and priorities all change.

"I want to cherish time with my family more."

"I want a little more freedom in my life right now."

"A life of 'just enduring' until retirement is not right."

Such thoughts naturally begin to emerge.

In my case, due to a series of transfers and job changes,

“Was this the way of working I wanted?”

A sense of discomfort began to accumulate.

My way of working was determined by company circumstances.

Even though it was my own career, I felt like I wasn't the one steering it.

That gap gradually became painful.

◆ I wanted a way of working that I could control myself

That was when I strongly felt,

“I want to regain control over how I live my life”

“I want to create a way of working that doesn't rely too much on the company”

that was the desire I had.

To that end, what I started was,

Asset formation (New NISA/iDeCo)

Optimization of expenses

Sharing information on note

Exploring side jobs

Taking stock of my career

Reconfirming my own values

These are all small steps, but

they are preparing me for a future where I don't rely solely on my company.

◆ Your 50s are the perfect chance to 're-choose' how you work

If a career in your 20s and 30s is about 'building up',

your 50s are a time when you can 're-choose'.

What do you want to prioritize from now on?

What kind of work style can you sustain without strain?

What values do you want to center your life around?

By simply taking the time to carefully review these points,

the satisfaction you get from the next 10 or 20 years will change significantly.

I am still on my own journey,

but by adopting the mindset of

'creating a way of working that doesn't rely on a company',

the anxiety about the uncertain future has gradually begun to fade.

◆ Final thought: Whose career are you building?

A career in your 50s is,

I believe it is finally the time when you can choose how to work for your own sake.

Taking back the time you spent living with the company as your priority,

and reclaiming a little bit of it for your own life.

I would be happy if we could continue

to prepare for that together.