The Environment Remakes You
自分を変えたければ環境を変えてみる。
There is a beautiful concept I hold close to my heart.
後生可畏 - “The student surpasses the master”
It is the inspiring idea that those who start behind can grow so fiercely that they eventually outshine their teachers.
I live by this phrase.
I started as a clueless, struggling beginner. But because of the immense love and belief my mentor and sponsor poured into me, I made a promise to myself.
I will become that fierce success story, until I can proudly return the value of their mentorship.
But I didn't always have this conviction.
When I left my stable corporate job to start Atomy, one question constantly haunted me.
“Where do I even start?”
Unlike my office days, where everything was structured, this was an entirely independent business. I felt completely on my own. At seminars, I saw successful leaders smiling, surrounded by countless partners and I would ask myself a lonely question.
“When will I ever have a team like that?”
Trying to carry everything by myself.I eventually hit a severe burnout.
At that breaking point, my sponsor gave me a piece of advice that completely changed my perspective.
They didn’t shout at me or force me into the system.
Instead, they showed an elegant leadership that naturally made me want to participate, guiding me to look inward.
“If you cannot manage your own heart right now, how will you lead a global team of thousands in the future?”
That was a wake-up call.
I realized I lacked self-awareness.
I had been dreaming of a perfect business in my head while only doing what was comfortable. Right at that moment of vulnerability a new environment found me an English Book Club.
The rule was simple but demanding
read one chapter a day, summarize it and post proof.
Having always been someone who leaps first, I joined without hesitation, only to face a harsh reality. My English skills weren’t where I thought they were. The words looked like an unbreakable code and my mind froze. On the first day, it took me a staggering six hours just to finish one chapter.
But I didn’t give up.
I forced myself to stay in that environment every single day.
A week later six hours became four.
A month later, it became two.
When I finally finished reading three whole books cover to cover, tears welled up.
For the first time in a long time, I felt like the hero of my own story.
The real magic happened next.
My mentor didn’t just congratulate me they expanded my boundaries by saying
“Now, let’s challenge yourself to read 100 books.”
They became a true life mentor, listening to me whenever I stumbled and prescribing the exact books my soul needed.
Through this journey, I began to realize that Atomy was not only a business opportunity. It was an environment where people could grow through relationships, discipline and shared values.
It perfectly aligned with the company’s first motto
“Cherish the Spirit”
It meant treating people not as tools for profit, but as the ultimate purpose.
The unconditional love and trust my mentors showed me have now become my ultimate ‘Why’ Now, it is my turn to give back.
My mission is to become a shield and a pillar for the next generation of leaders entering this environment. Just as my mentors pushed me to surpass them,
I want to help my partners fearlessly surpass me.
This environment remade me, and these connections helped me find myself again. Leading with this noble value is the greatest pride of my life.
When we support each other, this space becomes a safe environment where anyone can grow.
Have you ever broken through your own limits to live up to someone’s belief in you?