Obstacles are opportunities.

I am Kazuyo Yasuda, the representative of MKY's LLC.

I run a select shop in Kawasaki focusing on beautiful skin, as well as businesses in rental spaces, human resources, and real estate brokerage and sales in Minato Ward.

I am 41 years old.

Having challenged myself on the path of management since I was 24, I have met about 20,000 people over the past 17 years.

Among entrepreneurs, some continue to succeed, while others face setbacks and give up along the way.

These past 17 years of my life have had their ups and downs. There were times when I got carried away, thinking I was the center of the world and invincible, and I have also experienced rock bottom where the survival of my business was threatened because staff and colleagues left. I have continued to manage through events like the Tohoku earthquake and the COVID-19 pandemic. While some entrepreneurs gave up along the way, the reason I have continued to manage is that I have kept changing my way of thinking.

障害はチャンスである。

What I was taught by an entrepreneur I respect is that 'only obstacles that a person can overcome will come their way.'
In other words, obstacles that cannot be overcome will not come.

For example,
I don't get offers to become the President of the United States.
I don't get offers to become the Prime Minister of Japan.
I don't get offers to become the manager of the Japan national team.

Such large obstacles do not come my way.
Only obstacles I can overcome come to me.

When I was 24, my parents were strongly opposed to me becoming an entrepreneur. I think that is natural for parents who invested tens of millions of yen for me to become a pharmacist, but I am glad I chose the path of becoming an entrepreneur that I decided on once, without listening to my parents' opinions.

My boss at the company was also opposed to it.
When I was a pharmacist, I spent seven days a week for the company. On Saturdays, I did my pharmacist work, and on Sundays, I spent time drinking or in circles with people from the company.
With no money and no connections, I started as a weekend entrepreneur using my Saturdays and Sundays to become an entrepreneur. Since I had been using my weekends for the company until then, I think I appeared to my boss as an unmotivated employee.

My friends were also opposed to it.
I prioritized launching my business over going to my friends' weddings.
The groom was a close friend and understood me, but from the friends attending the wedding (who were not as trusted as my close friend), there was a storm of criticism, criticism, and criticism.

Every time that happened, I thought, 'Only obstacles I can overcome come to me,' and I have overcome them to get to where I am today.

There were times when I almost gave up because I couldn't attract customers to my retail store or rental business due to the earthquake or COVID-19, and sales weren't increasing.
Even then, I thought, 'Obstacles are opportunities. Only obstacles I can overcome come to me,' and I overcame them.

In my private life, there was also a crisis of divorce.
My heart broke and I almost gave up.
Even then, I convinced myself that 'obstacles are opportunities.' I told myself over and over, 'Obstacles are opportunities. Obstacles that cannot be overcome do not come.'

Thanks to that, my business is going well now.
My family life is also happy. I have two cute children. I am planning for a third one next year.

Thinking about it now, if I hadn't overcome those obstacles, I think those obstacles would have haunted me forever.

If I hadn't chosen the path of an entrepreneur despite my parents' opposition, I wouldn't have had the financial power to support my precious grandmother and parents.
If I had continued to be a pharmacist on weekends despite my boss's opposition, I think I would have faced many obstacles as a middle manager.
I am glad I didn't give up on the path to becoming an entrepreneur despite my friends' opposition.
After 17 years, my friends have even forgotten that they opposed me, saying, 'I knew you would succeed, Kaz.'

I think obstacles only come to people who are challenging themselves.
I want you to acknowledge yourself for challenging yourself.
I believe that people who challenge themselves will definitely grow, and if they don't give up, they can succeed.

I want you all not to run away from obstacles, but to smash them, or if that is impossible, overcome them and turn them into opportunities.

I think obstacles are the same as summer vacation homework from when we were students.
If you keep avoiding it without doing the homework, the end of August will be a disaster.
If you do the homework steadily and in advance, you can think of the end of August as a fun summer vacation.

If it's summer vacation homework, I think it's fine if you just get scolded by the teacher if you don't do it.

You only live once; if you put off the obstacles you face now, those challenges will eventually return, compounded and grown larger. From the perspective of the future, you are the youngest you will ever be right now. You have the most physical and mental energy.

Furthermore, I believe that obstacles are an inherent part of life at 50, 60, 70, and even 80 years old.

If you overcome obstacles, you will certainly grow.
"Obstacles are opportunities." Please, continue to make the choice to keep growing.

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