■ July 15th, 2015 Started looking for the property (the latter part of the story)
I received cold reactions from most of the real-estate agents that I had visited. However, “Company G” that I visited last of all was different. Mr. N, department manager, attended to me in a friendly manner. He listened without interrupting me, and then he said,
“Wow, I didn’t know this type of business until now. I have no experience with the business, but sounds like fun! I’ll look for properties for you. You’re not telling a joke, right? Somehow you have the atmosphere of making this project possible. Ha ha ha!”
It might be fate that has brought us together.
He explained the process of contract after he found the good property. He also gave me a brochure about a loan for a new business. “A salesperson from Japan Finance Corporation visited a few days ago and gave me this. It’s a present for you. Take it home.”
It might be fate that has brought us together.
■ July 16th, 2015 About Mr. N, department manager
I’d like to make a supplementary statement about Mr. N, department manager of “Company G” that I visited yesterday. I got a feeling that he is going to be a key person.He kindly listened to my new business that he didn’t know at all.“Ah, it’s different from a manga cafe (a coffee shop with a manga library) and a capsule hotel.” Furthermore, he showed interest in my new business.
After we talked a lot (I think I was there for more than an hour), I told him about cold reactions at real-estate agents on that day. And then, he said with a smile, “To be honest, people feel suspicious about you when they get a suspicious-looking business card. You have to give the business card of the company where you ’re working right now.”
Me: “I’m going to quit my current job and planning to begin a business by myself, so I thought it’s not good to use the current company’s name. That’s why I didn’t give the business card of the current company…”
Mr. N: “Are you an idiot? You’ll miss a chance if you don’t use everything in your power including the reliability of the company!”
I didn’t feel like it was my first time to meet him because he gave me the accurate feedback. It’s very difficult to find a person who can express his or her true opinion from the first.
I told him these two things:
・I can launch full preparations toward the hostel inauguration from December, but I’ll prepare as much as possible by then.
・I’m very aware of the importance of timing and luck about finding a good property, so I want him to let me know as soon as possible if there’s a good property. I’m willing to come to Hiroshima from Tokyo.
I’m just lucky that I can meet with good people. I always meet with someone who is willing to help me. It was lucky that Mr. N was a department manager, too. I don’t know how far he has the final word on the decision, but a chance to talk with a department manager has a positive impact on making a good hostel. He has “a long experience in his career,” which means that he has a lot of knowledge about properties, strong relationships with landlords, and a speedy response, etc. I think he’s related to all of them.
In any case, you have to have a lucky break to meet with good people.
