Work Means “Stepping Up to the Batter’s Box by Your Own Will”! [Goto Islands Workation Report (Part 2)]

Continuing from our previous blog post, we share our workation experience in the Goto Islands.

Thinking About the Future of Work on an Island 1,300 km from Tokyo [Goto Islands Workation Report (Part 1)]
https://blog.ssu.co.jp/blog/17301/

Upon arriving in the Goto Islands, we were given stickers and badges to attach to our PCs and bags. They clearly identify us as workation participants. We were also provided with several thousand yen worth of taxi vouchers, making it easy to get around the island.

A handwritten “island map” containing essential information for our stay, including workspaces and recommended spots.

The first floor of our hotel features a coworking space equipped with Wi-Fi. It is in no way inferior to our usual workplace or coworking spaces in Tokyo.

The Goto Islands are rich in tourism resources. On our day off, we visited churches designated as part of the UNESCO World Heritage Site “Hidden Christian Sites in the Nagasaki Region.”

One morning before work, we experienced squid fishing at dawn, then moved to the fishing port to observe the auction. The port is currently recruiting personnel—if you are interested, please consider it!

On the evening before our final day, we attended a gathering with local residents and other workation participants. It was a “potluck party,” where everyone brought their own dish or drinks to share.

The gathering brought together people from various industries and professions—media professionals, programming specialists, employees of large corporations, and more. It was a thought-provoking experience, making me consider what value I could offer to this island.

Above is a very condensed summary of our intense few days!
※The Goto Islands have far more attractions than can be covered in this blog. Reports and articles from previous participants are extremely helpful, so please search for “workation Goto Islands” to learn more!

■Whether on a Southern Island or at the Northern Edge, I Want to Be Someone Needed Anywhere
The main takeaways I gained from this program are the following two points:

The first, though somewhat embarrassing to put into words, is a sense of gratitude toward the people I usually work with. ※Perhaps touching the island’s magnificent nature led me to a small enlightenment (^^;)

My supervisor who encouraged me to take on this program. The members of my department working at the office… The places and environments I took for granted are supported by various people and things. Gaining this “bird’s-eye view” of my daily life was a significant harvest from the workation experience.

The second point is the obvious but important fact that “work that can be done anywhere” is limited. Depending on one’s job type or position, not everyone can easily undertake a workation. Perhaps adding “vacation” to an existing “business trip” might be a more practical approach.

What I realized through this is that I want to be “someone needed anywhere,” whether on a southern island or at the northern edge. It is essential to improve one’s work skills (and, of course, one’s character as well). The workation provided an opportunity to reaffirm this and reflect on myself.

■In Closing: Work Is About Stepping Up to the Batter’s Box
To conclude this blog, I would like to share a favorite quote that came to mind on the flight back to Tokyo. (I apologize—I have forgotten who said it…)

“Working is like stepping up to the batter’s box in baseball. In compulsory education, you must go to school even if you dislike it, but with work, you are free to continue or quit. If you truly dislike it, you can choose not to step up to the batter’s box. However, once you have made the choice of your own will and decided to do it, if you step up to the batter’s box of ‘your work,’ you have the responsibility to swing the bat with all your might.”

Whether through telework, working from home, or regular office attendance, I hope we can create a world where everyone can swing the bat with all their might in any environment. Until then, I will continue “mental training” and face each task at hand one by one.

Spring is just around the corner. Perhaps I should seriously resume physical training as well!

This concludes our Goto Islands workation report!