Abstract

How can you break free from "self-exploitative" work and work authentically for the long term?

Instead of pushing yourself to 100%, consistently giving 70% leads to more stable results and energy levels—this is the realistic answer for those of us who are too busy.

● For those of you for whom "working hard" is the norm:
As a working adult, "working hard" becomes the norm, and you come to believe it's the "right" way, something you can't doubt. You strive to produce results, meet expectations, and constantly run at 100%, sometimes even 120%. But have you ever stopped and felt a sense of unease?

"Can I continue working this way forever?"
"My life revolves around work, and I've forgotten what I used to love."
"I have more things I want to cherish in life, but my work style remains unchanged."

This book reveals the true nature of this unease and offers solutions. The author of this book was once caught in the midst of a "macho work style." However, a sudden resignation due to caregiving responsibilities in his 20s left him with the despair of having his career plan wiped clean.

"Is this the end for me if I can't work hard?" The answer I found through that struggle and through career counseling with over 1500 people is "working at 70%."

"Working at 70%" doesn't mean slacking off. It's about redesigning a sustainable way of working that allows you to work at your own pace without overexerting yourself, while still having the energy to shift into 100% when needed.

Let's use "working at 70%" as a keyword to find a "fun way of working" where you feel like you're "working" rather than "being made to work."

Author’s Information

Researcher of Retirement Studies® / Editor-in-Chief of the email newsletter "Career Break Room"

Born in Hamamatsu City, Shizuoka Prefecture in 1988, and raised in Yokohama City, Kanagawa Prefecture. After graduating from the Department of Political Science, Faculty of Law, Keio University, he joined a major comprehensive human resources service company as a new graduate. As a recruitment agent, he supported mid-career recruitment for venture companies and large corporations, as well as job seekers' career changes. He moved to a think tank but left after only one month. He returned to his previous company as a contract employee, where he launched a job posting platform as the head of a new business, and concurrently served as editor-in-chief of a web media and in charge of recruitment. In 2017, he became an independent researcher of Retirement Studies® after leaving his job to care for a family member. Based on his own "I want to quit my job" loop and career consultations with over 1500 people, he systematized "the best way to quit a company so that you are still contacted after leaving." As an AI consultant, he has worked on new business development for local newspapers, planning AI services for publishing seminars, and creating AI for recruitment public relations for major human resources companies and AI interviewers for music agencies.
His published works and supervised books include "Breaking Free from the 'Want to Quit Your Job' Loop" (Sunmark Publishing), "Zero-Stress Job Change" (PHP Institute), and "The Complete Guide to Everything You Need to Know When Considering Changing Jobs or Quitting (Things You Want to Know Series)" (Shufunotomo Co., Ltd.).