Mother CEO's Struggle Diary

A 'frugal housewife' who does everything herself

I was born in Aichi Prefecture. My parents ran a noodle shop, and I helped out at the store and home from the age of four or five to assist my busy parents. Perhaps because of that, cooking, laundry, and cleaning became my 'special skills.'

I encountered Happy Science through my aunt when I was in junior high school and was fascinated by the teachings of the heart, such as 'Humans are polishing their souls through various experiences while being reborn many times' and 'True love is not something you receive, but something you give,' and I became a member.

Then, after reading 'Modern Success Philosophy' open_in_new by President Ryuho Okawa (now known as the Law of Success), I gained clarity about the direction of my life. That book stated that true success is about making others happy.

(You're right. Someday, I want to do work that brings joy to others—)

I was deeply moved and began to hold that thought strongly.
After dropping out of junior college, I got a job in an office and married my husband, whom I met through an acquaintance. We were blessed with six adorable children, and our whole family began to learn President Okawa's teachings.

My husband, who works at a can manufacturing factory, became more motivated at work with each additional child and was promoted to factory manager, but there was still no financial leeway.

However, since I had learned at Happy Science since my teenage years that 'what seems like suffering can be turned into an opportunity by changing your perspective,' I did not become resentful.

A nostalgic 'hamburger shop' play

This was when my eldest and second daughters were still in elementary school. We went shopping as a family and passed by a fast-food hamburger shop. The air was filled with the delicious smell of hamburgers and fries.

"Hey, Mom, I'm hungry,"

(I wonder if they want hamburgers. But it would be a waste of money to buy them... Oh, I know!)

"Today, Mom will open a hamburger shop at home!"
"Huh, at home?"
I bought ingredients like bread and cheese and decided to have a 'hamburger shop play.'

"Customer, what would you like to order?"
"Um, I'll have a cheeseburger and fries, please!"

This way, it's cheaper than buying at a store, and we can eat as much of what we like as we want, plus there's the fun of cooking with the kids. Even if there are 'negative' things, we can turn them into 'positive' with ideas and ingenuity—. That's how I managed our household finances skillfully.

However, as the children grew, the limits of frugality were approaching.

(Education costs will increase from now on, and I need to take some action...)
I started making efforts to increase my income, such as starting a part-time job early in the morning.

Mom decided to become a CEO

In 2013, my third daughter, who was in the fifth grade, aimed to take the entrance exam for a private integrated junior and senior high school that her two older sisters also attended. At that time, my eldest daughter was in her first year of high school, and my second daughter was in her first year of junior high, both attending the same private school at their own request.

Of course, our family couldn't afford to send them to a private school, but since that school recognized and nurtured each student's talents, both my husband and I listened to our children's wishes.

(Three children's school fees... That's quite tough...)
However, the option of making my children give up their hopes for further education was not in my mind. At that time, the youngest child was only two years old.
I knew that even if I worked from morning till night while sending them to daycare, the money wouldn't be enough. I pulled out my passbook from the shelf and stared at the printed numbers in the savings column.

(Why don't I have any money? I've been living frugally since I got married, but will it always be like this?)

Cutting waste is a good thing. However, upon reflection, I felt that in my desire not to spend money, I was also shrinking my heart. I actually wanted to engage more with people and be of help to others, but I had been cutting back on social expenses.

At that moment, the words from 'Think Big!' open_in_new (by Ryuho Okawa) crossed my mind.

"Let's stop making excuses. It's important to think a little more proactively about whether there are ways to do it. (Omitted) It's about changing your attitude."

(That's right... I've been complacent about being poor.)
For the first time, I seriously resolved to 'become abundant.' And I thought, 'If part-time wages and frugality aren't enough, I can start my own company.'

Some time later, one day, the kitchen sink was draining poorly, so I called a plumbing contractor to fix it. However, even after paying several tens of thousands of yen, the clog was not improved at all. In the end, I bought a clog-removing wire at a home center and fixed it myself through trial and error.

(What's the difference between a professional and an amateur? If I want to, I can fix the clog too. If it's about home maintenance and cleaning, it might turn into a job.)

Thinking back, I realized that I had been entrusted with cleaning and tidying the house since I was little, and even now, I often receive compliments from my mom friends that 'N-chan's house is always clean.'

(I can utilize my special skills. This is it!)

That evening, while having dinner with my family—
"Hey everyone, I've decided to become a CEO"
"...!?"
At my sudden declaration, my family around the table initially showed surprise, but then they became curious, asking, 'What kind of job?' and 'So, am I a CEO's daughter?' Enjoying the family's reactions, my determination became even stronger.

Believing in the 'future self' who is successful

And in April 2014, as my youngest child entered daycare, I began to move towards starting a business in earnest. First, I decided to start as a sole proprietorship rather than a company. The business name is 'Sukitto.' It embodies the hope that 'both the house and the hearts of the residents can be refreshed and invigorated.' I started by creating original business cards.

"I started a cleaning business. Nice to meet you!"
With my business cards in hand, I visited the homes of friends and acquaintances. However, no requests came in, no matter how long I waited.

(There's only one year left until my third daughter enters junior high. I wonder if it will be okay...)
I'm originally a positive person, but I suddenly felt a wave of anxiety trying to take over my heart. At such times, I prayed to God.

(I want to make many people smile through my work. Please open the way for me—)
When I prayed, my heart felt warm and I gained strength. Then, I reminded myself of the words from President Okawa's 'The Law of Miracles' open_in_new, which I love to read.

Having a positive self-image and continuously picturing the image of 'myself developing more, succeeding, being of help to the world, and becoming happy, which will also make those around me happy' is essential. Even if I feel like I'm about to succumb to negative thoughts, I must muster the courage to send out positive thoughts again.

(I've learned at Happy Science that filling my heart with positive and proactive thoughts is the secret to attracting success. I can't afford to feel anxious)
I steadied my feelings and imagined my successful and abundant self ten years from now.
Then, I thought about how my future successful self would feel if they remembered me now.

(Surely, they would think, 'It was precisely because there were times when things didn't go as planned that I was able to use that as a springboard for success. That was a valuable life experience.' I am living the best time now—)

Thinking this way, feelings of gratitude for my current environment and the people around me welled up. When I think about it, the fact that I, who was just an 'ordinary housewife' until recently, can start working like this is thanks to the support of many people. Above all, I felt that the divine and the Buddha were watching over me at all times.

(I am truly grateful. Now that I have time due to not having a job, I wonder if I can give back in some way—)
Thinking this, I began to cook meals for my family with even more heart, helped my mom friends who were struggling to tidy up their homes, and visited sick acquaintances to be a listening ear.

When I expressed my gratitude to those around me through actions, I felt my heart becoming warmer.

About a month later, I received a phone call on my cell from an acquaintance's aunt.
"My friend who runs a cleaning business is quitting. It seems she's looking for someone to take over her regular clients. N-chan, how about it?"

"Is that okay? Of course, I'll do it!"
The cleaning business that the aunt introduced to me would pass on the cleaning work for regular clients to Sukitto and would teach me the know-how from scratch, even though I had 'no experience.' Furthermore, it was decided that I would also receive the cleaning tools they had been using.

(Ah, this is the chance that God has given me! Let's do our best with gratitude.)

I was filled with joy at the dreamlike true story.

A job that can make customers happy.

I was taught that in the apartment cleaning job, I should sweep the floors from the upper floors down and wipe away dirt, so at first, I just did what I was taught. However, having learned from President Okawa's books that 'it is important to respond to people's needs and do work that brings joy,' I began to feel that the current situation was 'not enough.'

As I walked through the building, imagining where my eyes would go if I were a resident of that apartment, I found many areas where dirt was concerning.

(Ah, this place is dirty too. Weeds are growing... If I lived here, I would want everything to be cleaned... Alright, let's do it.)

I was careful to do my work diligently. As a result, the real estate agent who entrusted me with the apartment cleaning began to give me several requests, saying, 'Sukitto-san finishes things beautifully, so can I ask you to take care of other apartments too?' Sukitto's reputation rose steadily, and I started to receive many jobs, including cleaning single-family homes.

(I am truly grateful to receive so many requests. That's right, Chubu Shoshinkan open_in_new is where I should go to express my gratitude to God.)

I decided to go to Chubu Shoshinkan, a temple I had been visiting to offer prayers to God. Inside the hall, the director welcomed me warmly.

"Hello, Y-san. Is your work going well?"
"Yes, thanks to you."

In the flow of that conversation, the director recommended that I participate in the 'Truth Management Professional Course' training that would be held at Chubu Shoshinkan from now on. This training involved the director explaining the management theory series from President Okawa's books, such as 'Introduction to Management' open_in_new and 'Introduction to President Studies' open_in_new, every month.

(To understand the key points of President Okawa's management teachings is amazing!)
I have always loved the success principles taught by President Okawa and have been reading his books for a long time. However, since this was my first time becoming a manager, I wasn't very confident about whether I could actually develop the business.

"This is a chance to deeply learn and practice management theory and work theory," I thought, and I decided to participate right away.

"In 'Introduction to Management,' the importance of 'management philosophy' is explained as the 'banner of brocade' that shows the direction in which the organization is heading. Let's explore this topic this time."

(Management philosophy... I've thought about it several times, but it never felt right. What should Sukitto aim for...?)

I felt that the hint for my management philosophy was hidden in 'my life's mission,' so I decided to think about what I wanted to achieve throughout my life. Then, I realized a certain feeling.

(I have always had the desire to see people happy and to make many people happy. That feeling will surely not change in the future—)

At that moment, I had a sudden inspiration.
(That's right! Let's make the management philosophy 'One Stone, One Trillion.')
The phrase 'One Stone, One Trillion' conveys the meaning of creating a chain of infinite happiness from one job that Sukitto undertakes.

Since then, I made sure to attend the 'Truth Management Professional Course' training every month. In the training, we create a management planning sheet every month. We implement that plan and reflect on whether we achieved results in the next training.

Of course, there are times when things don't go well in the process of implementation, but through that, I can realize my shortcomings and tendencies as a manager, reflect, and grow further.

Since I started participating in the training, Sukitto has been able to develop even further. There have been times when I received so many requests that I couldn't handle them alone, and I even hired a few part-time workers.

I want to be a hope for housewives.

I can work because there are customers who say, 'I want to entrust all my cleaning to Sukitto-san' and trust me with opportunities. 'Having work is not a given.' Therefore, I want to respond to my customers' expectations with the best performance.

About a year after starting my business, I was able to earn about ten times the income I had during my part-time days, and combined with my husband's salary, we could sufficiently cover our children's school fees and our living expenses. However, I don't want to be satisfied with this; I want to improve the quality of my work and contribute to society.

To bring smiles and happiness to everyone—this is my dream. My children support this dream, and it makes me happy to feel that they are proud of their 'hardworking mom.'

Japan has been in a long recession, and many people may be struggling, saying, 'We have no money.' Until recently, I was a 'poor' and 'ordinary housewife' who was afraid to look at my bankbook. However, I was convinced of the truth I learned from the Science of Happiness: 'The heart has power, and the path can be opened with the power of will,' so I was able to change my destiny.

I have personally experienced that whether or not one can grasp a bright future depends on one's mindset.

If there are people who are troubled by 'poverty,' 'illness,' or 'relationships' and think, 'I am done for,' I want to convey that 'the possibilities of humans are infinite.' First, please accept your current self and try to paint a wonderful future on the canvas of your heart.

I want to be a 'hope for housewives.'
And I sincerely wish for as many people as possible to succeed and attain happiness.