[True Story] How my life changed completely after starting X at 43. The reality of 100,000 followers and side income ~ver2.0~

“43 years old, an ordinary salaryman. My only weapon is a smartphone.”

That I, just a few years later, would own my own corporation and
be able to make a living solely through social media, separate from my main job.

If I told my past self that, he definitely wouldn't believe it.

He would have laughed it off, saying,
“There’s no way such a fairy tale could be true.”

But this is an undeniable fact.

Through X operations started with zero knowledge,followers exceeded 100,000and,

I gained multiple income streams such as creator ad revenue, affiliate marketing, corporate deals, and digital content (note), achieving an annual turnover of 10 million yen from side-hustle X alone.

Why was an ordinary company employee who once dropped out of society and tasted rock bottom able to achieve such a transformation?

The answer is not special talent or luck.

It was found beyond gritty trial and error and countless failures.

This note contains my journey so far, including the setbacks I faced before encountering X, and all the “ways to win on X” that I derived from it.

“I want to earn money on my own without depending on a company”
“I want to turn my hobbies and experiences into assets”

If you strongly desire that, please read on.

Hints to change your life
will surely be found.

1. Why is “X operation” the strongest side hustle?

“Turn your life around with social media!”
This phrase is often seen on the timeline.

Honestly, don't you think it sounds suspicious?

I, too, once
looked at it with skepticism, just like you all.

Thinking, “It’s probably just a story for a few special people anyway.”

However, now, I can assert from my own experience,
“If you use X, your life will truly change”that is.

At 43, a regular salaryman with zero knowledge of SNS, just four years later.

I have reached 100,000 followers and possess countless revenue streams, including creator ad revenue, affiliate marketing, corporate projects, consulting, and e-books.

I finally established a corporation and
have achieved a life that balances my main job and side business.

Why was such a drastic change possible?

There is a clear reason why you can win that only X possesses that other SNS platforms do not have.

Reason 1: You can compete with text alone

YouTube, Instagram, and TikTok.

These are also very attractive, but when you actually become the one posting, you hit a major wall of effort.

For video, you have to secure a filming location, think about what to say, film it, add subtitles...

For Instagram, you have to choose good-looking photos, add text with design tools, unify the aesthetic...

For those of us busy with our main jobs, continuing this amount of work every day is,
honestly, quite a high hurdle, isn't it?

However, X is different.

All you need is text (writing).

You don't need video editing skills
or a sense for image processing.

All you need are the words in your head.

Because of the ease of just using text, you can post just by tapping out sentences on your smartphone during your commute or in the small gaps of your lunch break, and if it goes well, you can have over 10,000 people see it just like that.

There is no other SNS with such good cost-performance.

This overwhelming ease is X's greatest and strongest advantage.

Reason 2: X's unique culture of interaction

Another reason lies in
X's unique culture of interaction (Reposts and Quote Reposts).

Other social media platforms are basically passive media.

You have no choice but to make good posts and wait for the AI algorithm to recommend them.

However, X is an active medium where you can take the initiative yourself.

The greatest weapon for this is the "Quote Repost"

X has a unique culture where people who quote repost (introduce) your posts are often introduced back through a repost.

For example, suppose you have 0 followers and you quote repost a post from an influencer with 10,000 followers, adding a clever comment.

If the content is good, the influencer might pick up your post and repost it to their own followers.

In that instant, your post is displayed on the timelines of the 10,000 people that influencer reaches.

Do you understand how incredible this is?

In other words, even if you have no influence yourself, you can leverage the power of those who already have influence to make your presence known.

There is no need to just wait to be chosen by an AI.

A secret, hack-like strategy for an unknown individual to rise to the top in the shortest time possible is established on X.

This is an overwhelming advantage that other social media platforms do not have.

You can compete with just one smartphone in your spare time using only text, and even an unknown creator can grow their account by borrowing the influence of major players.

And since there are no initial costs unless you get a blue badge, the risk you carry is zero.

That is precisely why X is the best option for an ordinary person to turn their life around.

In fact, in "AGARU," the X management community I host, there are many people who have changed their lives through X.

There are too many results to list them all, but I will post just a few here.

↓ ↓ ↓

2. A Candid Reveal of Pitaro's Journey and Achievements

Now, I have summarized my journey and achievements since I started X, including the background of how I got started and how I got serious about it, in chronological order. I would like to explain it in 5 seasons.

▼ Season 0: Dropping out of society and a turning point during the COVID-19 pandemic

Actually, there was a major change in my life even before I started X. First, let me talk about the so-called
"Season 0" period before I started X.

I opened my X account when I was 43, but let me go back in time a bit to when I was around 33.

Up until then, my work life had been smooth sailing.
I was changing jobs, building my career and improving my skills.

However, at one point,
I suffered a major health breakdown.

As a result, I was forced to quit my job and lived a life separated from society for about a year.

In a sense, it was like a rehabilitation period.

However, living off my savings reached its limit, and I was about to hit rock bottom.

I happened to be living in a share house run by a friend, and I spent my days having the other residents share their meals with me.

I was around the age of 32 to 34 at the time.

"I have to work somehow, or I can't survive"

I was in a situation where I was taking out loans from consumer finance companies
to cover my living expenses.

So, I borrowed a computer that was in the share house to look for work, and what I happened to find was a part-time job in "Western confectionery sales."

I applied and started working there, and as fate would have it, even though it was only a short-term two-week part-time job, the company president asked me, "Would you like to join us if you're interested?".

From there, I joined as a part-time employee and became a full-time employee a year later.
I was a good fit for the company, and I gradually received promotions and raises, got married, and had children.

That is how I spent about 10 years building the foundation of my life.

...However, in 2020.

Due to the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, the
performance of the company I worked for deteriorated, and my work dropped drastically.

"We want to reduce employee workdays to four days a week and lower salaries accordingly."
Even though it was to keep the company afloat, life became quite difficult.

Although I had more time, I had no financial leeway.

In that situation, an acquaintance asked me, "You're over 40 now, but have you properly planned for your future finances?".

At the time, I only had about a million yen in savings.
With children to support, it was a very precarious situation for future security.

"This is not good."

With that thought, I started learning about investing (Tsumitate NISA).

Then, after searching for "where can I get the latest information in real-time?", I ended up on X (formerly Twitter).

December 18, 2020.

That was the background behind why I opened an account.

I had been sailing smoothly in my career, but after breaking my health and going through rehabilitation, and dealing with debt, I had just started rebuilding my career at a company that took me in, only for the pandemic to hit.

I never imagined at the time that this choice would change my life so much.

▼Phase 1: From the dark period of zero reactions to seeing a glimmer of light

At the time, I was truly a complete novice who didn't know the first thing about SNS.

I had used mixi in the past, but I only registered for YouTube and Facebook to get information.
That was the level I started from.

Originally, since I had started Tsumitate NISA, my goal was to gather information.
I was collecting information on Tsumitate NISA, investing, and saving techniques.

Later, I learned from a book that "it's better to output what you've learned," and I started thinking,
"In that case, I'll try posting it on X."

So, I started summarizing and posting the investment information I obtained, such as about Tsumitate NISA, in the form of "I learned this today," without addressing it to anyone in particular.

However... reality is not that sweet.

Naturally, such posts received no "likes" or replies; the response was absolutely zero.
Even posting every day felt like talking to a wall.

"0 likes, 0 replies, 0 reposts"

There was no sign of my followers increasing at all, and I felt depressed every day because I hadn't become anyone.

Looking back, this was the most painful period.

However, unlike before, once I became a "sender" of information,
I started to notice various other creators.

As I saw various influencers, I realized that they were all truly amazing people.

Such veteran experts were reigning as influencers.

Seeing that, I was struck byan intense sense of inferiority.

"What am I doing..."
"Is there any point in a 10,000 to 20,000 yen monthly Tsumitate NISA when I'm over 40 with no savings or money..."

I felt embarrassed compared to others and wanted to crawl into a hole.

But somewhere in my heart, I also thought this:

"Doing this is a plus for me, and since I'm doing it for my future, it shouldn't be a negative at all."

That overflow of emotion spilled out,
and one day, I posted it like a frantic scribble.

...Then, something unbelievable happened.

This post, which I hadn't directed at anyone in particular,
actually received2,000 to 3,000 "likes"!

It was what you call a "mini-buzz."

Why did the cry of an ordinary middle-aged man reach people?
At that moment, I had an intuition that "there might be a demand for this."

In other words, the influencers who had already established their positions were all veteran investors. There was an overwhelming shortage of people in the "beginner" position.

I thought, "If that's the case, couldn't I take advantage of being a 'beginner' to fill that empty position?"

Thinking this, I started posting with the branding of "40s × Investment Beginner", and the clock that had stopped began to tick again, and my account grew rapidly.

▼ Phase 2: From a mere information-gathering account to a "10k account"! The trigger for the explosive increase in followers was...

Once I found the "beginner" position, it was like a whole different world.

It was as if the lack of engagement I had before was a lie, and
my account continued to grow rapidly.

Followers kept increasing at a pace of 1,000 per month, and in
about 10 months, I reached my long-cherished goal of "10,000 followers (10k account)".

While feeling the joy of my posts reaching many people, I had a new discovery around this time.

I learned that the term "X management" exists and that there are many online salons that teach it professionally.

Up until then, I had been completely self-taught.

It was a path I had been feeling my way through, but I suddenly thought,

"If I learn more systematically, couldn't I grow even more?"

With that curiosity,
I joined about three online salons where I could learn about management.

That was where I first encountered the "patterns" and "theories" of SNS management.

The more I learned,

"I see, so that's why I succeeded back then."
"Conversely, I should have done this differently here."

I had the feeling of dots connecting into lines.

As a result of incorporating correct knowledge in that way, the growth speed of my account accelerated even further.

In just the one year that followed, my followers increased by 25,000, and by the start of January 2023, just two years after starting X, my follower count reached 35,000.

"Even an ordinary salaryman can get this far if they have the right knowledge."

It was the moment I felt a real sense of accomplishment.

▼ Phase 3: A restart from rock bottom. And my "last gamble"

My X operations seemed to be going smoothly, but at the start of 2023, my third year.

The momentum
plummeted in the blink of an eye.

At the time, X was going through a turbulent period, including the acquisition by Elon Musk and changes to the algorithm.
I was completely unable to ride that wave of major change.

Every day when I logged into X, I would wake up to find my follower count had dropped.
Even if I posted my heart out, it would drop again the next morning.

That went on for a whole month.

Originally, I barely did any monetization at the time, and
the "sense of achievement" and "self-affirmation" gained from increasing followers were my only motivation.

Yet, my followers kept decreasing, and
sometimes I would even get harassed by trolls...

"Waking up every morning to think of posts... working hard to interact, what am I even doing X for...?"

Physically and mentally pushed to the brink,

"Maybe I should just quit X altogether..."
I was seriously considering it.

But there was a part of me that couldn't give up.

"Finally, I want to try some monetization while I'm at it."
"It's pathetic that I have over 30,000 followers and haven't achieved anything."

With that thought,
"If this doesn't work, I'll retire."

I steeled myself, and with my last hope, I decided to dive into the world of "affiliate marketing".

February 2023.

I made a major pivot, shifting the focus of my account from my previous "money/investment" theme to "business/work," which is more compatible with affiliate marketing.

For the first month, I devoted myself entirely to learning.

I thoroughly benchmarked people who were getting results, analyzing all their past posts, their methods of appeal, and the patterns that lead to growth.
I prepared with "grounds for winning" rather than just "a hunch."I proceeded with my preparations.

And the following month, in March,
I finally started practicing affiliate marketing.

It was a day in mid-March that I will never forget.

While walking through a shopping mall parking lot with my family, a notification sound, "piko-piko-n," rang out from my smartphone.

When I looked at the screen, there were the words "Conversion".

The project at that time was, I believe, for a drink or juice app, where I would receive a commission if the app was downloaded once.

The reward was only 100 yen.

But that 100 yen made me so happy I could cry.

"Wooooooooh!!!!!!!!"

Without caring about the eyes of those around me, I shouted loudly in the parking lot,
and did a fist pump, saying, "I did it!"

People around me were probably wondering what was going on and must have thought I was suspicious.
But it was such a happy moment for me at the time.

"You really can monetize on social media!"

It was the moment a ray of light shone into the darkness.

This first month's revenue was 18,960 yen.
It was a small step, but a certain one.

From there, as a result of further learning and practice, my revenue began to accelerate at an astonishing speed.

The following month it was 70,000 yen.
After that, 250,000 yen, 440,000 yen, 710,000 yen, 730,000 yen...

My revenue continued to increase steadily in a straight line,

and in September, about half a year after I started,
I achieved a monthly turnover of 1.58 million yen from affiliate revenue alone!

I was finally able to break through the long-awaited barrier of "1 million yen per month."

Incidentally, my follower count also
increased steadily in tandem with my monetization success.

After gradually recovering from the major struggle at the beginning of the year, I was able togain 12,000 followers over the past year.

Also, although I am embarrassed to admit it, I had never experienced a viral post with over 10,000 likes until this time, but in June of this year,I achieved my first viral post with over 10,000 likes!

After that, once I grasped the tips and rules of going viral, I was able to
post viral content almost every month,achieving 8 viral posts in six months.

▼Phase 4: The challenge of differentiation. And on to "100,000 followers"

2023 was the year I succeeded in monetizing through affiliate marketing and crawled out of the depths of despair.
My follower count recovered, and I also experienced my first "viral post" in the business niche.

However, I felt a new wall again.

In the business niche,
there are already many powerful influencers.

Having been in the money and investment niche until just recently,
although I had many followers, I had no recognition in this niche and was like a newcomer.

"Career advancement techniques," "office politics," "work efficiency hacks," "job change know-how"...
If I borrowed the wisdom of those who came before me and posted similar content, I would get some results.

But that would just bury me among the masses.
I could see a future where I would eventually get bored and stagnate again.

"I have to do something with my own originality..."

Yes, differentiation.

So I thought about it.
Is there an area that salarymen are interested in, and that competitors haven't touched yet?

"That's it, what if I dig deep into the 'behind-the-scenes of companies'?"

Instead of just business hacks,

"This company has such interesting management"
"Behind that big hit product, there was this developer's drama"

I decided to focus on those kinds of stories.

Autumn 2023.

To start, I put together a post about "Nishimatsuya," a children's clothing store that uses a unique strategy called 'management by doing nothing'.

Then...
To my surprise,my very first post went viral!

When I followed up with posts about "Workman" and "Saizeriya," those also received a huge response in quick succession.

This is it!!!

I was convinced.

While many people were talking about know-how, I found a position where I could tell the untold dramas of companies and the turnaround stories of business owners.

This was the new place where I could win.

Once I found this 'template,' I was truly unstoppable.

In the year 2024, I had 39 viral hits in a row.
I kept going viral at a pace of almost three times a month, andmy followers increased by 52,000 all at once.

And then, August 2024.

Finally, I was able to break through the dream of100,000 followers.

The first phase, where I fought in the 'beginner position.' The third phase, where I switched to 'business' and succeeded in monetization. And the fourth phase, where I built a unique status as a 'storyteller.'

What I learned from this experience is,
'If you hit a wall, have the courage to shift your direction.'

And above all,
'Find your own unique position.'

I realized deeply that this is the core of continuing to win on X.

▼ Phase 5: Passing on all my experience to the next challengers

And now.

My activities have evolved from the phase of growing my own account to the phase of
“sharing that know-how and growing together.”

I have started not only affiliate marketing but also selling notes and one-on-one consulting.

Furthermore, starting in January 2025, I launched a group consulting service where you can learn both

X operation and monetization “AGARU” service.

This service, which started with that concept, now has a very large number of participants and has become a vibrant community.

My own account has also continued to grow steadily while keeping my feet on the ground, and
the number of followers has exceeded 104,000.

Looking back, I believe my strength lies in “not having had a smooth sailing.”

Honestly, anyone can teach “how to grow” when things are going well.
But what is truly valuable is,

But what is truly valuable is,

isn't it?

In my approximately 5 years of operation, I have experienced everything in reality:
・The fear of not growing at all and seeing followers continue to decrease,
・Nights when I felt like giving up after being harassed by anti-fans,
・Days when I shed tears of frustration because I couldn't monetize,

Yet, I didn't give up, tried various ways to recover, and
1grabbed 100,000 followers and 7-figure monthly revenue.

I am confident that I have “down-to-earth recovery know-how” and “wisdom learned from failure” that I cultivated in that process, which is second to none.

And that is not limited to X operation.

The “shadow” part of having dropped out of society once and experienced life as a part-timer in my 30s.
The “light” part of crawling up from there to become a company executive.

Because I know both, I am proud to say that I can empathize with the anxiety and impatience you all feel and provide advice from various angles.

“AGARU” Through this service, I want to pour in all of my life experience and support you with all my might so that you can achieve results on the shortest route.

Now, from here on,
I would like to introduce some actual examples of clients (consulting students) who participated in that consulting service and achieved results, for your reference.

3. Introduction of Client Achievements

[Achieved 200,000 yen per month in 4 months! Increased followers by 5,800 in 1 year and 6 months!] Case study of "Necktie-san," a salaryman in his 30s

[Joined with 340 followers, 100,000 yen/month in 4 months -> 500,000 yen/month in 8 months -> 1 million yen/month in 13 months!] Case study of "Neko-san," a working mom

[Succeeded in scaling from 200,000 yen/month to 1 million yen/month in monetization 9 months after joining!] Case study of "Takahashi-san," a salaryman in his 40s

[Increased followers by 1,000 in 4 months! Over 10 times more customer acquisition! Significant leap in both business and sales☆] Case study of "Punch-san," a career coaching business owner

4. The "3 Major Elements of X Operation" That Beginners Should First Be Aware Of

The elements necessary to achieve results in X operation.

They are,

these three.

These three are like a "camera tripod."

If even one is missing, the balance will collapse,
impressions and followers will not increase,
and of course, you will not be able to generate sales.

Many people,

"I'm engaging, but my posts are sloppy"
"I'm posting, but my account design is fatal"

As you can see,
you are fighting with one of these missing.

But, conversely, if you can just balance these three,
anyone can grow on X surprisingly well.

▪️Account Design

The very first thing you should do is
"Account Design".

In terms of building a house, this corresponds to the "foundation work".

Many people think it means making their header or icon
look nice, but
that is just a superficial matter.

The essence lies inyour messaging axis and target, andpoints of differentiation from competitorsto
make them clear.

If this is shaky,
no matter how good your posts are,

you will end up with a half-baked account
that "doesn't resonate with anyone".

Conversely, once the design is firmly set, "loyal fans" who are looking for your content will naturally gather,and your subsequent growth will change dramatically.

Click here for a free note explaining account design in detail
↓

▪️Post Strategy

Once the foundation is built, the next step is daily dissemination,
in other words, "posts".

Just tweeting about "today's lunch" or
"what I thought" aimlessly will not increase your followers.

Growing accounts have intent behind everypost, and are planned strategically, including posting frequency and timing
.

To gain impressions with reproducibility,
you need "logic"rather than intuition.

However, once you have acquired
the correct template,

you will be able to create "posts that grow" as easily as breathing,
without worrying about running out of ideas.

　
Click here for a free note explaining post strategy in detail
↓

▪️Engagement Strategy

Finally, there is "engagement".

This is an "accelerator" that will
speed up your account growth all at once.

As I mentioned in Chapter 1, X is an "offensive" media platform.

It is a waste to just post
and wait.

By strategically engaging in two-way communication with your followersyou can

expand your reach
at an explosive speed.

If you want to increase your followers via the shortest route,
the "engagement strategy" of winning over people with more influence than you
is the ultimate keyto success.

Click here for a free note that explains the engagement strategy in detail
↓

5. Strengths of the Pitaro-style Consultation

5-1. Thoroughness of individual guidance

I am committed to the time I spend facing each person individually.

"I tried it, but I don't know what's right or wrong..." "I'm not gaining followers and I'm about to give up..." Even for people like this, talking to me one-on-one should clarify the actions necessary for "the current you."

We will create a roadmap just for you,and from your daily post content to how you engage, I will fully support your "correct efforts."

Of course, you can ask questions or consult via chat immediately, so you can feel at ease even when you want to "solve it right away!" (replies within 24 hours).

5-2. Horizontal connections within the community

In addition to the time spent with me,
the power of the community where clients connect with each other is also strong.

"I want friends with the same goals," "I want to know more success stories"—it's hard to satisfy those feelings on your own, isn't it?

However, in an environment where friends aiming for the same goal gather,
you can learn happily while getting stimulated.

You can easily ask questions about things you don't understand, and the system is designed to boost your motivation through events like information exchanges, work sessions, and meetups (held once a month).

5-3. Post templates that create viral hits and monetization techniques

I myself have experienced 57 viral hits so far.
(As of the end of November 2025)

At first, I didn't go viral at all, and I was worried, thinking, "Why do those people go viral so much..."

But, while going through a lot of trial and error,

and so on, I learned that there are indeed reproducible laws.

I have turned this "viral & monetization model" into a template and am actively teaching it to everyone.

Even if you have little experience with SNS, having a model makes it much easier to take action, so
you should be able to see results on the shortest route.

6. Information on consultation interviews

"I want to grow my X and monetize it," "I want to earn ○○ yen a month as a side job."
I think many people have these thoughts.

However, while going through trial and error on your own,

You tend to hit these walls.

Therefore, I have decided to offer free consultation interviews exclusively for those who have read this note.

In this consultation interview, I will provide
concrete advice that will help you break through the wall on the shortest route.

For example, you might be able to envision a future like this.

In fact, among my clients,
there are those who have earned 100,000 to 200,000 yen a month in just a few months and are expanding even further.

You, too, might be able to monetize your passions and gain new career options outside of your main job.

I will listen carefully to your questions and concerns, such as
“What is the problem causing my growth to stall?”
or “How can I monetize this?” and provide advice tailored to you.

Many people feel hesitant, thinking, “A consultation meeting sounds a bit intense…” or “If I talk to them, they’ll probably pressure me into signing up for consulting.”

But please rest assured!

There is absolutely no pressure to sign a contract during the meeting. I want this to be a time where you can freely share the worries and questions you are carrying.

Don't think, “Is my level even good enough for this?”
Just feel free to reach out and say, “I’d like a consultation!”

I will also approach this with an open mind, and we will think about the best methods for you together.

Feedback from those who have taken the free consultation

Frequently Asked Questions (Q&A)

Here, I have summarized the typical questions I receive before meetings. Please use this as a reference.

So, I have answered the common questions and shared the future you can aim for through a meeting.

If you are thinking, “It’s tough to keep struggling with SNS on my own…” or “I want to get results via the shortest route,” then let’s definitely talk in a meeting.

・Designing a posting theme that leverages your strengths
・Identifying areas for improvement to grow your followers
・Specific advice on monetization methods

We will work together to create a “strategy just for you” that I can't fully convey in writing.

“Just a meeting” is fine. Even if you aren't ready to receive consulting yet but just want to hear more, you are welcome. If you are interested, please feel free to apply using the steps below!

[How to apply for a meeting]
1. Send “Meeting Request” to the LINE below

2. I will reply as soon as I confirm.
3. We will schedule a date and have a meeting via Zoom.

However, there is a limit to the number of people in the free slots, and I open up meeting slots on a
【First 5 people per month only】 basis.

April–December 2025: Fully booked
January 2026: Fully booked
February 2026: Accepting applications!!!!!
March 2026: Applications not yet open

Once the capacity is reached, applications will be temporarily closed.

If you feel even a little bit interested, please start by just applying for a meeting. I won't pressure you into anything (lol), so please feel free to reach out!

7. Summary

Thank you for reading this far.

You might think it's an exaggeration to say that social media can change your life, but many people are actually following the path of posting on X → gaining followers → succeeding in monetization.

On the other hand, it is also true that many people quit before they see results.

With the right approach and a mindset that doesn't give up, anyone has plenty of potential. I also started as an unknown salaryman, and my life changed significantly in just a few years.

The moment you think, "I want to try something" or "I want to change my current situation," is your chance.
Why not try mapping out the path to your goal with me?

It is your first step that will open up a new future you haven't seen yet.
I look forward to seeing you at the meeting!

【How to apply for a meeting】
1. Send "Meeting Request" to the LINE below

2. I will reply as soon as I confirm
3. We will schedule a date and have a meeting via Zoom
*First 5 people per month only
April–December 2025: Fully booked
January 2026: Fully booked
February 2026: Accepting applications!!!!!!
March 2026: Applications not yet open

PS.
Social media, especially X, really has the power to change your life if you continue to put in the "right effort." Since I was able to change my situation so significantly with my own "challenge starting at 43," I believe you have plenty of potential to do the same.

Let's realize your ideal future together!