I Lost Myself in the Red Ocean — And Found My Space Again

There is a line from the article that struck me with overwhelming force— a line that didn’t just inspire me, but reminded me of who I used to be:

Arnold Schwarzenegger has reached the pinnacle of success one after another in completely different fields: bodybuilding, acting, and politics. While his extraordinary ambition and hard work certainly played a role, it is his unique philosophy—“Go where the space is”—that truly defined his success.

The true meaning of this phrase is simple: “Don’t follow the same path as the general crowd; stick to what you want to do.” Avoid the crowded “red ocean” and dare to carve out a niche for yourself. Then, set grand goals that only a very few people can achieve.

When I read this, it felt like someone had grabbed my shoulders and shaken me awake.

Because more than twenty years ago, that was exactly the path I chose.

1999: The Beginning of My Space
The Rise: Living in My Own Space
The Fall: Lost in the Red Ocean
The Awakening: Rediscovering My Mission
The Rebirth: Choosing My Space Again

1999: The Beginning of My Space

In Japan, around the year 2000, having a personal website was becoming a cultural phenomenon. Everyone was building pages with self-introductions, diaries, and message boards. I was one of them.

But soon, I realized something: The official Microsoft Office online help was confusing and hard to use.

So I thought, “Then I’ll make it myself. I’ll create something so clear that no one will ever say ‘I don’t understand.’”

That determination became my driving force.

I started writing articles, explaining what others couldn’t, filling the gaps that frustrated users everywhere.

And then, something unexpected happened— a book offer arrived.

In May 2004, I published my first book and officially became a technical writer.

A year later, in April 2005, I was honored as a Microsoft MVP.

It was the moment my passion turned into a profession.

I had created my own space— a space that didn’t exist before.

The Rise: Living in My Own Space

For years, I kept building.

My website grew, my audience expanded, and eventually, I reached a point where I could live entirely on Google AdSense.

It was surreal—proof that passion and persistence could become a livelihood.

I wasn’t competing with anyone. I was simply creating value in a space where no one else was looking.

I was living the philosophy before I even knew it had a name.

The Fall: Lost in the Red Ocean

But life has a way of testing you.

In recent years, I found myself working as a temporary employee in a crowded environment.

Every day, I was surrounded by people—noise, pressure, expectations, and sometimes negativity.

Slowly, the environment began to erode my mental health.

It felt like being thrown into a red ocean, where competition is constant and individuality is crushed.

I was hurt. I was drained.

And I felt far from the creative world I once thrived in.

For a while, I forgot who I was.

The Awakening: Rediscovering My Mission

Then I read that article about Schwarzenegger. His words—“Go where the space is”—echoed in my mind like a call from the universe.

It reminded me of my origin, my mission, my purpose.

I realized that my true work was never about competing. It was about creating.

So I returned to my website—the place where it all began.

But after years away, reality hit hard: my ad revenue keeps falling month after month, and now it’s down to just one‑twentieth of what it used to be.

It’s painful. It’s frustrating.

But I’m not giving up.

Because this is what I truly want to do.

This is the work that makes me feel alive.

This is my calling.

And no matter how long it takes, I will push beyond my limits to rebuild what I started.