独立について思うこと / What I think about starting a business
会社勤めだったころの後輩の倉地が今月、井の頭線の池ノ上にBAR"KOTOBUKI"を出した。これまでは代々木上原の"カームス"というBARで雇われ社長だったんだけど、思い切って完全独立に踏み切り晴れてオーナーになった。
オープン当日に顔を出したんだけど、"KOTOBUKI"は22時の時点で立ち飲み客も出るほどの超満員状態。さらにどんどんお客さんが入店してきてたので、倉地オリジナルの上原ハイボールで乾杯しただけで早々に切り上げた。
後輩の倉地は、KATSUYUKIKODAMAの展示会にも陣中見舞いのビール持参でちょいちょい顔を出してくれるいいヤツ。会社勤め時代、倉地が先にその会社を辞めることになった。若かった僕はそれが不満で不満で、倉地の出社最終日はケンカして別れた。
それから約10年後、倉地がいる代々木上原の"カームス"にひょこっと顔を出して雪解して以来、倉地が一人で切り盛りするその店によく飲みに行った。
"KOTOBUKI"のオープン初日から大忙しの彼を見て、本当におめでとう！ってしみじみ感じたよ。
僕自身、20代のころから35歳で独立することを前提に会社勤めをしてた。35歳よりももっと早く独立することも可能だったんだけど、焦らずにまずはしっかりと会社勤めをしながら多くのことを学んでいく道を選んだ。
色々あって結果的には個人事業主を立ち上げたのは37歳の夏になったんだけど、今考えると、会社勤め期間が充分あってからの独立は正解だったなって思う。
会社勤めしながら、仕入先や得意先との関係を築いていって人脈を広げていくのは独立後の糧となるけれど、それよりも何よりも、遅刻せずにちゃんと朝に出社するとか、1日完全に拘束されるとか、売上目標の必達が常に求められる環境にいるとか、上司や同僚との関係構築とか、一定期間自分が会社に管理されるって事を経験した事が、独立後に本当に役に立ってる。
僕がもし20代で独立していたら、自由になったって勘違いしたに違いない。時間も自由だし、やりたい事も自由にできるしって。朝の時間もゆっくりできるし、帰りも早めに帰れるとか。誰にも拘束されず、自由奔放な人生を謳歌してたよ、絶対。
15年間の会社勤めで学んだ一つ一つの出来事の積み重ねがあってこそ、いまのPARADIDDLE LABやKATSUYUKIKODAMAが成立するんだろうな。
さて、そろそろまた"KOTOBUKI"に顔を出そう。
My ex colleague Kurachi, who I used to work with in a company before, started a bar called "KOTOBUKI" in Ikenoue. Until then he was a hired-hand president at the bar “Calms” in Yoyogiuehara. He finally decided to run his own business and became a owner today.
I visited him on the opening day, and I saw a full of people at around 10:00pm. Some were even standing to drink. Even more customers were coming in, so I decided to leave right after having his original drink, Uehara whisky soda.
Kurachi is a nice buddy. He always brings us some beer during the exhibitions for a visit. When we were colleague in the previous company, he quit earlier than me. Since I was still pretty young that time, I could not figure out why he did that. So i had a fight with him on his last day and just got separated.
About 10 years later, I just dropped in the bar, “calms” in Yoyogiuehara where Kurachi was. We made up and since then I would often go to this place to see him.
So I was really pleased to see him being very busy from the opening day of "KOTOBUKI”.
I had been thinking about start up my business by 35 years old since I was in my twenties as an office worker. I actually could do it even much before 35 years old, but I chose not to rush and decided to work as an employee learning a lot of things there.
With one thing and another, I finally became a sole proprietorship when I was 37 years old, in summer. I think it was a right choice to start it having a plenty of experience in a previous company.
Of course, one of good points is building relationships with clients, so that I can expand my connections in the future. However, more than that, being punctual at work, going to the office in the morning everyday, being stuck in the office all day, the environment with the goals that you must reach, the relationship with various colleagues, etc. that I have experienced in the company actually satisfy my days after I launched my business.
If I started my business in my twenties, I would think that I was so free that I could do anything I wanted. I would wake up late and leave the office early and I would never be bound by anybody. I would absolutely enjoy too much my own way to live my life.
PARADIDDLE LAB and KATSUYUKIKODAMA cannot exist without every single piece that I have gained in the company for 15 years.
Well, now it’s about time to go to "KOTOBUKI".
