Day-to-day life kept me busy, and I’d put my dreams on hold.

Masako Konishi, Expert Director for Conservation and Energy, WWF Japan

Asami Yamamoto, Hitoshizuku (Yamamoto):
We first met when I was working at WWF Japan, conducting PR. You often shared your PR knowhow, but I was always nervous to talk to you because I admire you so much!

Masako Konishi (Konishi):
I admired you too. You seemed so proactive.

Yamamoto:
It’s an honor to hear that from you.
We went for something to eat after an event, and that’s when you first asked us to help build your website. What inspired you to create the site?

Konishi:
I keep a “dream book”—a written record of my ambitions. I always have a vision of the future, and when I eventually leave my current organization, I want to be able to stand on my own two feet, as Masako Konishi. Working backwards from that idea, I realized that I needed a website to communicate my activities and thoughts. By doing so, I hoped to increase my chance of meeting people who resonate with my thoughts, and possibly spark new developments.

Yamamoto:
A dream book! That’s wonderful. What do you write in it?

Konishi:
It’s a technique I was taught during my time at Harvard. In under 60 seconds, you write about where you’d like to be next year. Then you do it for five years, and ten. You don’t have time to think, you just write. You also envision yourself in your 70s. It’s a very revealing activity. For example, you may realize that something you want to do in the near future won’t contribute to your long-term ambition. When you think about one, five and ten years into the future, you discover how you truly feel. And as you repeat this process, you slowly come to understand what you want to do. In time, I realized that the path towards fulfilment comes from new experiences and encounters—even if they don’t initially seem connected.

Yamamoto:
It’s a wonderful way of thinking. The website will play an important role in your future; why did you ask Hitoshizuku to help create it?

Konishi:
I was hoping to create a website that would eventually help me stand on my own two feet. But I was swamped with everyday work. I was worried that I couldn’t prepare for the future, but that’s when I met you. When I told you about my problem, you suggested creating a website—the very thing I already had in mind. And I suddenly realized that if I asked for your support, I could find the time. I felt fortunate that we’d met up again; it was the perfect moment.

When I reflected on my career, anxiety turned to confidence.

Konishi teaches at Showa Women’s University

Yamamoto:
When building the website, the first step was to consider the self-image you wanted to convey, and to organize your story so far. When looking back on your career, did you make any new discoveries?

Konishi:
It was a great opportunity to evaluate everything I’ve done so far. On your advice, I divided my activities into categories. And when doing so, I had to recall what motivated me to approach these works. This process served as an inventory of my career.
Until that point, I’d always been anxious of the future. I’d often wonder if I could stick with my current job, and I’d take on all sorts of new challenges.
By looking back at my struggles, I saw my underlying skills and values. And I saw what I truly wanted to become.

Yamamoto:
When I saw your work history and your media records, I was very impressed by the breadth. So I was surprised to hear that you’d experienced anxiety.

Konishi:
It happens to everyone, I think. It’s difficult to see your own value. I wasn’t particularly confident, and I’m not now, either. But when I’d finished looking back at my career, I felt a wave of self-belief. I was able to overcome insecurity and adversity to come this far, and that was a really positive feeling. I knew I could conquer any future problems. It really calmed my anxiety.

Yamamoto:
There are elements of a person’s appeal that can only be understood from an outside perspective. I was really delighted to hear that you’d experienced a positive change in your outlook.

Konishi:
Looking back on your career is a bit like exposing your soul, so you have to trust the people involved. It was only with your help that I managed it. You set regular deadlines, and checked in on my progress. I couldn’t have done it on my own.

Yamamoto:
It was the first time that Hitoshizuku had worked on self-branding, but it fit perfectly with our desire to support people working to change the world for the better. Thank you for asking us to get involved. How do you feel about the finished website?

Konishi:
I think it’s wonderful. When I introduce myself to someone new, I point them towards the website. It’s like my business card.
I needed to take photos for the site, and you recommended some makeup and hair professionals. I had budgetary concerns, but since you recommended it, I went ahead. When I saw the final product, I understood the value of pro-level design, photography and makeup. So I’m very glad I asked for your support.

A photograph taken for Konishi’s website.

When it’s time to leave an organization, I want to be my true self. And the website helps me do that.

Yamamoto:
Looking back, what impressions do you have of Hitoshizuku?

Konishi:
You’re flexible with your working methods, and you have many talents. My impression hasn’t changed; I think it’s a very novel approach. I’m very interested to see what you do in the future, and I think a lot of people will benefit from companies like yours.
As a graduate school instructor, I meet a lot of working adults. I think many people struggle within the constraints of their current organization’s style. I hope more people become aware of your approach, which is to let people decide their own working method.

Yamamoto:
Methods are diversifying. I’d like that way of thinking to continue to spread.
Finally, can you tell us your goals for the future? Is there anything you’d like to work on, together with Hitoshizuku?

Konishi:
I was very glad when we completed my website, but I’d say that updating it is difficult. In the future, it would be good to use it in conjunction with social media. You’re very good at that, so perhaps at some point I’ll ask you to share your knowledge.

Yamamoto:
These days, websites and social media posts often lead to work opportunities. So it may be good to post media and details of your lectures, alongside your regular updates.

Konishi:
I’d love to hear more about that! Happily, I’m getting a lot of work offers, so I may also need to consult with you about which to accept, and which direction to move in. It would be wonderful to write a dream book together, and create a shared vision of the future.

Yamamoto:
I agree, that would be wonderful. With your website, I think we were able to support you in areas you couldn’t handle alone, and I’d be delighted to do the same in the future, with a broader perspective. For Hitoshizuku, it’s very meaningful to support people taking sustainability seriously. We look forward to working with you again in the future.

　
Photography: Hiroyuki Horigome
Editing: Mayuki Tsujihara
Translation Editing: Satomi Furukawa