Saki Akabane (Business Producer)
A former hotelier who went independent and provides business support to individual entrepreneurs.
Overcoming a period of zero sales for 1 year and 3 months, the company established a "work style that is not bound by location or time."
She values the values she has gained through her travels and works towards creating a society where women can live freely and as they wish.
From hotelier to business world
-- First, please introduce yourself.
My name is Saki Akabane. I provide business consulting and production services for individuals who are starting their own businesses. I propose a way of working that is not bound by time or place.
- How many years have you been independent?
This is my fifth year. I started studying in 2019 and established it as a full-time job in 2020.
--I heard you had a completely different job before.
Yes, I worked as a hotelier at a resort hotel. Women go through big changes in their life stages, don't they? Marriage, childbirth... I wanted a way of working that would allow me to adapt to those changes, so I had the feeling from the beginning that "one day I'd do it myself."
One year and three months with zero sales. Why we didn't stop moving forward
- Did it go smoothly at first?
No, not at all (laughs). For the first year and three months after launch, we had no sales whatsoever.
To be honest, it was a close call, and I thought, "What if I keep going for another six months and it doesn't work out...?" However, with the COVID-19 pandemic and no other sources of income, I was in a situation where I had no choice but to do it.
- What has changed since then?
I let go of perfectionism. I had always lacked confidence and couldn't release products. But it's okay to be immature. It doesn't have to be perfect. Once I resolved to release the "best I can do at the moment," the results started to follow.
"Plan what you want to do first. Work later."
- What kind of life are you living now?
I'm not good at routines, so every day is different (laughs). I have about 3-4 days a month with fixed plans, and the rest is free. I might have a session with a client, suddenly go shopping, or stay at home all day.
--So that's why you travel so often.
That's right. I have a week or two free, so I plan my trip first and then fill the rest of the time with work.
The vastness of the world that I felt in Edinburgh, Scotland
-What's your favorite travel destination so far?
It's Edinburgh, Scotland. The world of Harry Potter remains intact, and the whole city feels like it's set in a story. J.K. Rowling actually wrote there, so I was really happy. I thought, "I've finally made it."
The ability to adapt and the "it'll work out" mentality developed through travel
- Have you had any problems overseas?
On Sunday, I couldn't get a taxi and almost missed my flight. But if you don't give up, you can always make it. The hotel staff desperately searched for me and I managed to get in just in time. And it was 30 minutes late (lol).
-- I understand, traveling is a constant cycle of "things working out somehow."
"Really. It gave me the ability to cope."
Your travel companion, a hoodie, gives you the feeling of "Let's go outside"
- What do you think of the travel hoodie you're wearing today?
The shape is beautiful and the short length makes it easy to coordinate with other items. When I put this on, I feel like going outside. It lowers the hurdle of going out.
It has a zipper, so my wallet and passport are safe. I'm always worried about theft when I travel, so this is really helpful.
-- The hood is also large.
When you're overseas, there are a lot of sudden light rains, so this is perfect for when it's not worth buying an umbrella.
"This is good" instead of "This is good"
When I came across this hoodie, I started to think about choosing "this is good" rather than "this is good enough."
Instead of thinking that it's okay to do whatever you want just because you're traveling, choosing something that will make you feel good will also improve your self-image.
I usually wear a lot of dresses, but this hoodie goes well with both dressy and casual outfits. I love the range of styles.
I want to increase the number of women who can shine freely.
-What are you challenging yourself with right now?
"Increasing the number of free and prosperous women." I myself have always wondered, "Where do I belong?" But traveling and starting my own business have given me the opportunity to realize that it's okay to express myself freely.
In Japan, many people are concerned about what others think. But overseas, no one cares about what others think. In such an environment, I felt relieved and thought, "It's okay for me to do this too."
Finally, to the readers
"No matter how old you are, now is the youngest you'll ever be.
So I want you to do everything you want to do."