Power Up with a Side Job (1) Extra Stimulation and Awareness Gained from Crossing Work Boundaries

What kind of side job do you have?

I am in charge of all aspects of manufacturing technology at a company that plans and sells a children’s furniture brand, for which my wife is the CEO. It is also an initiative to find solutions to child-rearing issues that we ourselves feel as parents. My wife, originally a freelance marketer, is mainly responsible for management and planning, while manufacturing is outsourced to an OEM company in China.

Have you become busier since you started your side job?

I enjoy my side job and my day job. On weekdays, I am busy with my day job, child-rearing, and housework, so I do not have much time to spare at all. I do my side job mainly on my days off, or before and after my day job on weekdays. I review reports and inspect drawings from the manufacturer. Since the furniture is used by precious children, I strictly check whether variations are within the designed range, that quality and safety are perfect, and so on.

Does your side job ever affect your day job?

I think it has many positive effects on my day job. I am entrusted with the design and development of a part of a huge project, but there are no boundaries of work in my side job. My main job is to be an advisor on technical development and manufacturing technology, but in my side job I am also involved in product planning and marketing, which is very stimulating. I learned firsthand what I need to do to be chosen by customers and gained a lot of insight.