Hi, it’s Annie.

I’m turning 25 soon 🎂.

With my short spanned, divided attention recently, I wanted to quickly jot down 24 bullet points about things I've learned, unlearned, or still figuring out ー across Work, Design/Tech, Life, and Money.

These aren’t advice. Just small truths from one version of me to the next.

No, not the job title or the company or the salary. But the people you work with. Specifically, your manager/mentor. Skills can be learned, but knowing which skills to grow and how to design your career? You need a good visionary leader to guide you.

I majored in Marketing, but my first job was in UX/UI. After 2 years of interning across creative roles, I know there's work I want to do for myself, and work I want to contribute to the team. I want to build a personal brand on Social media, but I want to co-create meaningful digital user experiences in corporate.

It was my first month on the job when a recruiter reached out. I was 100% under-qualified, but took the interview anyway. I went into the process with the intention to think forward: What do I need to learn now to grow into this role in 3 years? Since then, I apply for jobs once a year, just to keep perspective.

Working in Japan, freshers start with the same salary. But in 2022, an industry leader told me my work was worth 10 million yen annually. It wasn't a compliment — they knew me and they were serious. It was a confidence booster that changed how I present myself, not just in salary negotiations but in how I value my contributions.

I have a messy resume - business grad, product designer, personal branding coach, design thinking facilitator, keynote speaker. Very early on, I knew I didn't want to climb the corporate ladder. Instead of one career path, build a "portfolio" of transferrable skills and experiences. The key is learning how to "package" what you have into a personal brand.

Documenting your achievements comes in handy for evaluation, but noting down mistakes or missed opportunities will get you your next job. I keep a running doc of wins, fails, and curious reflections. It's like having a conversation with my past self.

I learned from a CTO recently that traditional SEO is becoming less relevant as people use AI to search. Instead of optimizing for Google's algorithm, we need to make our content discoverable for AI systems. I’m skeptic about this, but sounds like a promising field.

The robots can make pretty pictures now, but they need us to tell them what story to tell. I've started thinking less about perfecting Canva skills and more about sharpening my ability to brief, conceptualize, and direct. The human superpower is knowing what questions to ask. But it is a skill we suck at.

With so many no-code design tools, and now agent-powered AI code assistants, even non-technical founders can whip something up. But when you understand how code works, you design better. You know what's possible, what's expensive, and what's just plain impossible. Plus, you can actually talk to developers more convincingly.

Design is pretty, but business pays the bills. I wish someone told me earlier to understand metrics, conversion rates, and how design decisions impact the bottom line. You become infinitely more valuable when you speak both design and business language.

The best UX ideas I’ve had came from books on psychology, improv, and urban design. Creativity needs cross-pollination.

Every design decision includes someone — and leaves someone else out. Accessibility, inclusion, and bias aren’t side notes. They’re part of the work.

I always have a sense of who I want to be. It helps me brainstorm behaviors that will get me there.

Environment > Motivation. I purposefully go to work every day to use the gym before my Japanese class. It's expensive, but I lost -9kg since working full time. Plus, I regained my rhythm in language learning

White teeth, clear skin, fresh body odor. It takes people time to know you, but a split second to form a first impression. Ever since I bought an electric toothbrush and learned about skincare, I've been building a public image that speaks the little voice in me. Happy to say — I get noticed for my distinct 1m52 figure :)

Some people are meant to be in your life for only a few chapters. I used to feel guilty about growing apart from friends, but now I see it as natural. You can appreciate what someone brought without forcing them to stay forever.

I take scrappy notes of interesting conversations I have every day. My notes help me reflect, help me remember, and help me connect.

To be honest, I had a good start (dream job, good salary, big company). But I often feel behind when I see others catching up (or excelling in their field). I just need to remind myself - I’m not building their life. I’m building mine.

Having multiple income sources makes you more responsible with finances. Even when many Japanese companies prohibit side income (ridiculous, IMO), plant your seeds so you can start when it's time. It's not just about money — it's about security and creative freedom.

I planned this when I first started working, but laziness kept putting me off. This year I had an incident that made me realize the importance of long-term investment, so I created a NISA account. Time in the market beats timing the market.

There's this online rule about not allocating more than 30% of your gross monthly income into rent. But I used to live in a 16m² room that was purely a place to sleep, not live. To create, I need mental space, which comes from physical space. I don't hesitate to pay more for the creative freedom I need.

For example, if you're applying for PR by X date, plan the costs and monthly savings needed. Same with study abroad or starting a business. Big dreams need real budgets.

I'm super slow on this topic. My advice: make friends who work in tax, or find case studies where you can imagine yourself in that situation. Adult homework is boring but necessary.

That coaching class, solo trips to Thailand, expensive LEGO® Serious Play® certification — these aren't just activities, they're research. I'm gathering data about what makes me tick and what kind of facilitator I want to become. Sometimes the best ROI is self-discovery.

Any take on this? Reply to this message and let’s share (it will just be between you and me).

(Oh and,

If you have read to this point,

I have turned 25). 🎂