I read ‘Boku wa Kimi no “Netsu” ni Tōshi Shiyō ― Benchākyanitarisuto ga Chōhatsu suru Nanokakan no Tokubetsu Kōgi’ (I’ll Invest in Your “Passion” ― Seven Days of Special Lectures Provoked by a Venture Capitalist) by Anri Samata, so I’ll share the insights I gained from the book.

Background for Reading 'I'll Invest in Your "Passion"'

I saw it on my Twitter timeline and thought “this looks like a book full of passion,” so I immediately purchased and read it 😊

The following are quotes from memorable sections and my notes.

DAY 1: If You Have Passion, Let's Channel It

Entrepreneurship is a Way of Life Where You "Keep Dreaming"

However, entrepreneurship, especially for internet businesses like app development, is an ultra-low-risk game that complete amateurs can start right now, this very moment, with virtually zero capital.

Of course, you’ll need a computer, internet, and programming knowledge for development, but you can get equipment cheaply through flea market apps, and programming now has educational courses for children. A little googling will give you free textbooks and affordable online courses.

💡 Entrepreneurship = Ultra-low risk, high/medium return

Entrepreneurship is nothing other than starting a business. In this world, there are entrepreneurs who make vast fortunes through niche businesses so obscure that no one notices them, and there are entrepreneurs who run businesses with moderate profits that allow them to balance their hobbies with work and enjoy life.

You don’t need to achieve great success that earns people’s praise; if you can just succeed moderately in obscurity, you can make a living.

There’s no being released from the team like professional baseball players, nor ending your career due to injury. There are no age limits. If things don’t work out, you can change your business and chase success again.

💡 Examples of entrepreneurship’s low risk that I want everyone to know

DAY 3: If You Don't Grow, You Die

"Working Hard" and "Growing" are Different

Don't misunderstand. "Working hard" and "growing" are completely different things. An entrepreneur's mission is to grow their business. After all, once you've received investment, you're running a business with other people's money. If you work hard but the business doesn't grow, that hard work is meaningless.

💡 “Working hard” and “growing” are completely different things.

Entrepreneur Growth Means Business Growth Only

Entrepreneurs grow only through business.

If the business doesn’t expand, whether you do it for 3 years, continue for 30 years, or only do it for 3 minutes, there’s no big difference. No matter how much time you spend or how much you sacrifice yourself, growth that doesn’t take shape is all an illusion.

💡 Entrepreneurs grow only through business.

To manage dozens of employees, get cooperation from people outside the company, and have users understand, agree, and continue using your service, entrepreneurs inevitably must become "good people."

💡 For business growth, entrepreneurs inevitably become good people.

In other words, whatever kind of person you are, if your business is growing, you'll develop a personality that matches that. Your statements will become more socially conscious, and your facial expression will definitely change from that of an entrepreneur to that of a business manager.

But this happens as a rational result, and morality has absolutely nothing to do with it. Let me state this clearly: Growing businesses create excellent character. The reverse is not true.

💡 Growing businesses create excellent character.

The Man Who Grew More Than Anyone

His awesomeness lies in his sincerity and the extraordinary work ethic that supports it. He's thoroughly humble with everyone he meets, never breaks deadlines or promises. He always does what he decides to do. He has something that makes everyone think, "I can't turn down this person's request."

💡 Sincerity, work volume, humble attitude. Doing seemingly ordinary things earnestly leads to success.

DAY 7: Let's Create an Overwhelming Future

Young People in Japan are Extraordinarily Excellent

Japan, on the other hand, only seriously began the game around 2000, and there are a few people here and there who have cleared it once or twice. Overall, we're still around level 10. We can easily defeat slimes, but when slightly stronger enemies appear, we struggle quite a bit.

💡 I feel there are significant advantages to starting a business with serial entrepreneurs who know the strategy even from level 10.

I want to keep growing my business relentlessly. That’s all from the Gemba.