Hello! I'm Tena, a father of two. This blog documents my journey pursuing FIRE (Financial Independence, Retire Early) while balancing parenting, work, and side projects.

Working as a corporate employee, I had a vague sense of anxiety. "Is this really okay?"

As a corporate employee, work inevitably takes priority, and I have a personality that can't prioritize my own feelings. I couldn't say what I wanted to say. I felt suffocated by this situation.

If I could build an income stream outside of my corporate job, maybe I wouldn't have to suppress my feelings anymore. With that thought, I decided to start app development as a side project.

I developed my first app completely on my own and submitted it for review, but... it was rejected. It never saw the light of day. I'll write about this story in detail in another article.

It's been about 7 years since I started individual development as a side project.

Over these 7 years, I've experienced many hard times and happy moments. I hope to be helpful in some way to others working hard on side projects like me.

I've never shared my experiences publicly before, so I want to start now. I feel it will also help me organize my thoughts and reflect on the past.

1. Transparent Records - Sharing asset amounts and investment details openly
2. Sharing Lessons - Recording both successes and failures as reference for others with similar goals
3. Connecting with Others - Exchanging information with people working toward similar goals
4. Personal Organization - Articulating experiences and reflecting on them

• Age: Late 30s
• Family: Father of two
• Total Assets: ~¥23 million
• Goal: Side FIRE around age 50 (Reach ¥100 million within 10 years)

Side FIRE doesn't mean completely quitting work, but rather quitting corporate employment while maintaining income from side projects. Earning income from what I love while ensuring free time. That's the lifestyle I'm aiming for.

Started app development in May 2019, and have released multiple apps on Android and iOS.

However, to be honest, it's extremely difficult to intentionally make a hit app. Therefore, I couldn't choose the path of immediate independence. I've maintained a side project stance where it's okay to fail.

Started investing in January 2020. Practicing long-term wealth building centered on index fund investing through NISA (tax-advantaged investment system), and also actively contributing to a defined contribution pension plan.

By steadily accumulating investments, I have a sense that my assets are growing surely, even if slowly.

The next obstacle was securing time.

When I was single, I had a lot of overtime and frequent drinking parties, so I couldn't find much time. After getting married and especially after having children, time management became even more challenging.

I carved out focused time by escaping to cafes on weekends. This has only been possible through my partner's understanding and support, and by maximizing the hours when the children are asleep.

For parents juggling childcare, time is the most precious resource.

All of these walls were overcome with the help of various people and some luck.

It would have been absolutely impossible alone. Family, friends, and members of online communities. I'm here today because of the support of many people.

Through this blog, I hope to support those pursuing FIRE and those working hard on side projects while raising children.

What I've learned from 7 years of continuing is the importance of persistence, that you can't accomplish it alone, and how crucial family understanding and support truly is.

Balancing work, family, and side projects isn't easy. But it's not impossible either.

Let's exchange information and work toward our goals together!