Yuji Higashi’s Post

Life’s too short to not follow your heart. This summer, I made the decision to leave full time corporate to make space pursuing more of what I love. I’ve been cultivating my portfolio career for years now, and it’s time for me to lean into this new season. My career has been centered around building impactful products and building high-performing teams. Now I’m on a mission to help other leaders do the same as a fractional/part time Product Consultant. Even more fulfilling than launching products has been launching other people’s career and potential. So I’m spending more energy as a Career Coach helping mid-career professionals confidently navigate their next career move, and as a Teacher in higher academia forging the next generation of creative thinkers and thought leaders. Rounding out my portfolio, I’m investing more time in connections, serving my communities, and exploring my identities as a Caregiver and as a Maker. It sounds like I'm doing more than before, but honestly, I've never felt freer. In short, I’m living my best semi-retired life. If you’re interested in partnering with me on any projects, career guidance, or simply to catch up, DM me! I’d love to hear from you.

Reflecting on my journey over the past 2 years in tech. I vividly recall my first week - it was the first time in a long time where I felt nervous, unsure, feeling like I had little to offer among a sea of extremely talented individuals. Transitioning from managing freight to diving headfirst into software was daunting, but I embraced the challenge wholeheartedly, taking each day as it came. What became clear was that my 18 years of industry experience, despite its challenges, provided a wealth of knowledge applicable to my new role. I leaned into this, tackling unfamiliar territory, and embracing challenges as opportunities for growth. The lesson? Our only limits are those we impose on ourselves, and the support of a great team can propel us to new heights. Grateful for the unwavering support of my colleagues, who embraced my unique perspective, allowing me to flourish in an industry I never imagined being a part of. Life is a journey of growth and transformation. If you're not content, change it. Age is no barrier to progress; find your value and lean into it. Embrace challenges, seize opportunities, and relish the process. Remember, your only limitation is the belief in your own potential. You can achieve anything you set your mind to!

It’s two years ago to the day that I found out – together with about 3,000+ others – I was laid off. The night before the official announcement, as everyone sent their final 🫡💙 emojis on Slack, my access was suddenly terminated. I didn’t know it then, but that marked the moment when my time in corporate was up. I cried for a bit but quickly felt energized by the possibilities of what I could do next. I traveled with family, applied for jobs, and took courses I’d had on my list for a while. Then I took a hard look at my past, reconsidered my future path, and reprioritized. It was my chance to bring my skills closer to home – to support people who, like me, were ready to make bold changes and pursue growth in purposeful ways. This shift gave rise to my consultancy, Noctilume. Over the past year and a half, Noctilume (and I) have provided strategy services to small and micro businesses, primarily in creative and adjacent industries. Working with clients worldwide, I support them in varying capacities with 0-1, optimization, and guidance services. This new direction has given me the time to focus on what matters most. I’m able to make a deeper impact with clients, keep learning new skills, be present for my family, prioritize my health, and work on projects that are both interesting and rewarding. If you or someone you know is ready to take the leap to start out on your own, or if you’ve been in business for a while and are trying to get unstuck or move into the next growth phase, give me a shout! I’d love to see how I can help.

What's the riskiest decision you've ever made in your professional career? For me, there's one clear decision. In 2010 I was working at Adobe as a senior product manager, having been at that company for 5 years. I had two young boys - just 1 and 2 years old. We had just moved to a bigger house to hold our growing family. And I decided to quit my job and start a company. It was a huge risk. I had a great job at a great company and was making lots of money. But I saw all these companies raising investment with nothing more than an idea, and I thought if they can do it I can do it. So I took the leap. It was both the dumbest and smartest decision I've ever made. A few months in I had a product, but no customers, no revenue, a team of 3 and not a lot of money. It was clear that things weren't going well. I had never wanted something so badly in all my life. Ever since I was in university I wanted to run my own software company. It was 𝙩𝙝𝙚 goal for my professional career. For my life. And now that I had the chance, I was failing. Badly. I separated from my wife. I had panic attacks. I spent one night crying on my mom's shoulder. Eventually we sold the company to return the investors their money. Nothing substantial. Luckily I saved my marriage, and vowed never to do that again. It was also the smartest decision I never made because I learned a lot from that experience. And those learnings helped me when we started Rewind. I'll save that for another post... What's the biggest risk you've taken in your professional career?

Your #1 job: get as big an impact in a day as you can. But it’s not “do more stuff” - it’s do the RIGHT stuff. Yesterday, 1,153 founders learned how to get rid of distractions and hit growth milestones faster. 🔔 Newsletter link on my profile.

Sometimes life bucks you, tramples you, or leaves you lying in the dirt wondering if you can get up. Success isn’t about avoiding failure—it’s about what you do when you fail. Me? I always get back in the saddle. 📖 Losing My Job & Using the Down Time to Write a Book When I was first laid off, it felt like the rug had been pulled out from under me. I lost everything and everyone. Instead of dwelling on the loss, I channeled that energy into writing a book—a labor of love that helped me process my journey and redefine my direction. It created my personal brand and propelled me into my next job. ⚖️ Laid Off Again but Turning Loss Into a Relationship A year later, through a merger, I was laid off again. They brought in someone far less expensive who undid all the hard work I had poured into my role. It stung, but that experience led to a key relationship that ultimately became a bridge to my next role—and, eventually, to Microsoft. Sometimes, the door that closes isn’t the one that matters; it’s the relationships you build along the way that shape your future. 🏆 Surviving My First Year as an AE My first year as an Account Executive was filled with challenges—some fair, some not. I was unfairly targeted, and there were moments I wondered if I could overcome the obstacles in my path. But I didn’t let those moments define me. Instead, I used them to fuel my comeback. Every year since, I’ve earned awards, promotions, and recognition, proving that setbacks are only temporary if you’re willing to put in the work. Survival is a choice. Life has knocked me down more times than I can count. But every time I’ve been thrown, I’ve made the choice to get up, dust myself off, and climb back in the saddle. That’s the real secret to success. What’s your story of getting back up? Let’s inspire each other to keep moving forward. #Resilience #Leadership #FailureToSuccess #GrowthMindset #CareerJourney #NeverGiveUp #TechForSocialImpact #Microsoft #PersonalGrowth

At 35, Mark felt stuck. He had built a successful career in one field, but it no longer brought him joy. The thought of starting over felt daunting, but staying in his current role felt worse. That’s when he took a leap of faith and invested in himself by joining Standout 4 Growth. With the guidance of our program, Mark didn’t just pivot his career—he flourished in a completely new industry. By aligning his personal brand with his passion, he found renewed purpose and success. Is it time to make your own career pivot? https://lnkd.in/dxANAYbD #Standout4Growth #CareerPivot #PersonalGrowth #FindYourPassion #NewBeginnings

Career Pivot Success! 🔄 Tom’s passion for technology was undeniable, yet he was stuck in a sales role he no longer found fulfilling. Together, we explored his transferable skills, upgraded his resume, and connected him with the right networking opportunities in the tech industry. Fast forward six months, Tom secured a position as a Product Manager at a tech startup, proving it’s never too late to follow your passion. 🌐 A recruiter’s role is not just to fill roles but to facilitate career aspirations and drive fulfillment.

The two best pieces of career advice I can give to professionals thinking about making a move: 1) Never run from a job, always make sure you’re going to something. 2) Although tempting and easy, don’t make decisions to stay or go based out of fear or ego. With that in mind, I’m super excited to announce I’ve returned to the front lines and joined the team Confluent as Chief People Officer! You can read more about my decision-making here & why I’m so excited (will link in comments). https://lnkd.in/gmhF_Zip

I can't believe this happened!  We almost gave up... It was 2020 Me and my partner Mihir lived in a tiny appartment We had just left our stable jobs. And didn't have any plans for what we would do next. I can't tell how scared & clueless we were! Still, we kept taking baby steps because we had to figure out. Finally, in 2021 We started our company "Career Alchemy" and soon we got our first client. We thought everything fell back to track from there, But we were wrong! For the next few months we faced, - Sleepless nights - Tears of uncertainty - Extreme fear of failure  - Hours of brainstorming sessions Sometimes, giving up seemed like the only option left. But glad we didn't because what happened next was beyond our imagination... Today, we went from: (I'm astonished to say this): - Just the two of us to an incredible team of five - 16,000 to 4,00,000 INR/ Month  - 10 clients to 250+ clients  - Served in 23+ countries And the most special thing? We moved into our new apartment - It's built on our dreams, hard work, and persistence. So, if you are thinking of giving up today Because you're getting rejected OR Not getting that deserved job promotion, Stay on it. You never know what your efforts and hard work will bring you tomorrow. ✨