Career: A Journey of Life Guided by Your Intentions

At some point in our lives, we all think about our careers. But what a career means can differ greatly from person to person. Is it simply about having an employment contract? Or is it about how you design your workday, choose to grow, and live your life?

When we aim to improve our careers, it can feel challenging, especially when some factors seem beyond our control. To address this, Noriko Takagi shared reflective tools to help individuals look back on their past experiences and uncover insights about their life's journey. These reflections reveal clues about what brings positivity and fulfillment, enabling each of us to design a career—a life journey—that aligns with our values. Expressing and sharing these experiences cannot only deepen our understanding but also help others rediscover what truly matters to them.

This was the theme of an inspiring event hosted by the German Chamber of Commerce in Japan, where Noriko Takagi, our Managing Partner in Asia, facilitated a dialogue for the Women in Business group. She began by asking participants what the word "career" meant to them and what they associated with it. Most answered that "career" was closely tied to personal growth.

Through this reflective process, Noriko offered a powerful definition of career: "A Journey of Life Guided by Your Own Intentions" (自分の意思で活動する人生の旅 in Japanese). She emphasized that a career is deeply personal and fully owned by each individual. When we feel a sense of ownership over our lives, it unlocks many positive outcomes:

• Greater optimism and a positive mindset
• Clarity about what we truly enjoy (often, what we love is also what we excel at)
• A broader perspective on the world, fostering a sense of connection as a global citizen (地球人)
• Strengthened leadership, enabling us to guide our lives with purpose

These qualities are often found in successful and fulfilled leaders and entrepreneurs. By embracing these elements, it becomes easier to craft a career—and a life—that aligns with your aspirations.