Talk about what you do as a manager and what you feel

Today, I would like to talk about what I (Tsuji) do as a manager and share my honest thoughts.

It's been about a year and a half since I started a company called Cross Trade.
Since it is a one-man business, I basically run the company and do all of the business by myself.

The business model involves purchasing apparel products and raw materials mainly from impoverished areas, producing them in Japan, and selling them domestically. Sales channels are mainly pop-up shops in department stores and shopping centers, online shops, and select shops.

Of course, there's a lot of work involved.

• Product procurement and management
• Communication with local African companies and suppliers
• Clerical work, ordering work
• Developing pop-up locations, sales channels, and suppliers
• Pop-up storefront sales
• Product description for online shops
• Product photography and pop creation
• Update social media accounts such as Instagram, Facebook, and X
• Website updates and press releases
• Consideration of business strategies
• Cleaning (it's important because it can also scatter your thoughts)

That's roughly what it is like, but since I work alone, I'm swamped every day. Being busy is good, but it can also be mentally tough.

As a newbie, I can see that no matter what I say, many people look at me with distant eyes. I've heard it many times before: "You won't be trusted at first." Furthermore, there are days when sales are tough, so even someone with a strong mentality can feel very stressed.

So why do I continue to do this? It's because I truly want to realize my vision of "creating a society where everyone in the world has opportunities."

Among you, there are probably many who have realized their long-held dreams and are living happily every day, but there are also many who gave up on the job they dreamed of as a child. I'm sure there are also many who have experienced hardships and are still suffering.

But don't you think it's great to be able to "try" something?
Even if the chances of it happening are slim, it's not zero.

Depending on where you are born, there may be an environment where you cannot even live a normal life, let alone try to achieve your dreams.

I think this is extremely unfair. Above all, I think it is a negative thing for society, as there are probably people who are talented but are unable to realize their dreams.

And when I imagine myself in that position, it makes me feel like my heart is being squeezed.

When I was a bit mischievous, I was hospitalized and tried to reform myself and go to university, but my relatives didn't approve. I also felt hopeless when my parents told me that they couldn't let me go to university because they didn't have the money.

When you're trying to get serious about something, it can be really disappointing when you can't take on the challenge for reasons outside of your own control.

Looking back, it was a very small thing, and in the end I was able to go to university on a scholarship, so I was still fortunate.

I've gotten off topic.

The amount of work we actually do every day is enormous, so I often feel at a loss as to how close I am to achieving that vision, but I believe we can make it happen by pursuing business with impoverished areas.

It may not be possible to achieve this in the next 50 years, but I believe it can be achieved within the next 100 years. Right now, I am working alone in the desert to build irrigation channels to make this happen.

I would be happy if more people would help build the irrigation canal, believe in us, and become our allies.

Representative Kaoru Tsuji