■ Introduction: A Cautionary Tale The story of a once-popular blogger who fell from earning millions to relying on welfare sparked widespread discussion. Kinoshita, having met over 10,000 entrepreneurs since his teenage years, shares what separates those who endure from those who collapse. “I’ve seen people who flaunted success only to disappear overnight, and others who failed despite sincerity. Both fell into predictable traps,” he explains. ■ The Difference Between Earning Fast and Earning Long Short-term income and sustainable wealth are entirely different games. Every business faces ups and downs; surviving both requires discipline, financial literacy, and humility. ■ The Five Traps of Self-Employment 1️⃣ The Vanity Trap – Spending time and money on image over substance, chasing social approval instead of real growth. 2️⃣ The Margin Trap – Growing sales without profits due to unchecked costs and lifestyle inflation. 3️⃣ The Financial Ignorance Trap – Ignoring bookkeeping and cash flow, leading to emotional and short-sighted decisions. 4️⃣ The Values Trap – Replacing customer value with personal validation, losing sight of purpose. 5️⃣ The Dependency Trap – Filling your schedule with outsourced work, never developing your own business foundation. ■ Kinoshita’s Core Message: Build a Structure That Endures “Don’t fill your time with requests—fill it with what you create,” he insists. In an inflationary society, those who can raise their own prices survive. The goal isn’t flash—it’s continuity, structure, and autonomy. “Whether you’re a blogger, a café owner, or a factory worker, the rule is the same: applause on social media doesn’t pay your bills. Invoices do.” In Part 2, Kinoshita delves deeper into each trap with real-world examples and practical strategies.
