The other day, someone asked me, “When did you start blogging?” I did the math, and realized it’s already been eight years. I started in June 2017. It’s hard to believe I’ve been at it that long.

Maybe I’ve Been Overthinking Things Lately

Lately, I’ve caught myself overthinking things more often than I’d like.

Take something small, like posting on X. I’ll think, “Maybe I should post something,” then immediately wonder, “What on earth should I write? No, this isn’t even worth posting about.” Before I know it, I’ve talked myself out of it. I often end up just scrolling without posting anything.

It happens at work, too. I might have an idea and think, “Oh, maybe I could do it this way!” But then I start thinking realistically about how we don’t have the resources, decide it’s not possible, and let the idea go.

Of course, that doesn’t mean you should do everything that crosses your mind. You need to choose what to pursue based on your priorities and goals. Still, I’m reminded that I shouldn’t lose the lightness of spirit—or the readiness to take that first step—that I had when I started this blog.

A Blog That Started on a Whim

In 2017, just as our second child was born, I decided to devote myself to raising our children. I’d worked incredibly hard on a company I’d started before, but it hadn’t gone well. I realized I wasn’t cut out to run a business, and, with something of a snapped thread, I became a full-time homemaker.

But day after day, I changed my youngest’s diapers, cooked meals, barely spoke to anyone, struggled with sleep deprivation, picked up my older child from preschool, and took her to the park. I started to feel as though I might fall apart.

“I want to connect with the world outside my home—any way I can.” “I want to feel connected to society.”

I think those feelings are what led me to start the blog.

At first, I wrote almost exclusively about the Panamera. In fact, the blog’s domain name is “panamera-life.” (Looking back, I probably should have gone with “porsche-life”! Haha.)

I never expected to run the blog as a team with my husband, or imagined that so many people would read it. I simply started on a whim, thinking I’d give writing a try and see if I could keep it up. (It was originally hosted on Hatena Blog, a Japanese blogging platform.)

Maybe I’ve Been Overthinking Things Lately

When I first started blogging, traffic didn’t grow the way I’d hoped, and naturally, hardly anyone read my posts. I knew nothing about cars, either, so I got things wrong—even the terminology—and sometimes received sharp corrections in the comments. There were all kinds of ups and downs.

Even back then, though, I had a vague dream: “Someday, I want to buy a Porsche with my own money.” But it felt like a fantasy—something I could never actually do.

Then one day, I wrote on the blog, “Someday, I want to buy a Porsche with my own money. Maybe I’ll write about the journey until then here.” After that, traffic started to climb, and I began receiving lots of comments saying, “We’re rooting for you!”

Of course, as more people found the blog, I also received more kinds of comments. Whenever I thought, “If I write another post, will someone criticize that, too?” I found it harder to write. In fact, I stopped updating the blog entirely for about three months back in my Hatena Blog days.

But three months later, I noticed that traffic hadn’t dropped, even though I hadn’t posted a single thing. I thought, “Wow—if there are this many people looking forward to the blog, I should really commit to it.” I made up my mind, asked my husband to help, and from then on, the blog became a joint effort.

I bought a used BMW with a manual transmission and learned to drive stick. I went to a Porsche driving school. I even went to Porsche Japan in person to make the case for the blog and ask them to recognize it… (haha).

Along the way, I made some wonderful connections, which led me to start another company. Then, in 2023, I got my first Porsche of my own. And here I am today.

Looking back, I realize that if I’d carefully mapped out a strategy before starting the blog, I don’t think things would have turned out this way.

There were already well-established automotive media outlets, along with blogs and YouTube channels run by plenty of car journalists. If I’d started by analyzing the market, working out my positioning, and figuring out how to grow traffic, I’d never have thought I stood a chance. (Not that this was ever about winning or losing.) I might not even have taken that first step.

Back then, I knew nothing and hadn’t thought anything through. I was simply doing it on a whim. That’s why I was able to start—and why I’m where I am now.

The Value Comes Later

The other day, I had a chance to talk with a YouTuber who reads this blog. They told me:

“This blog isn’t paid to write reviews, which means it can offer the kind of honest opinions and reviews that automotive journalists can’t. And it doesn’t just review cars after a test drive—the writer actually owns them and drives them long distances, so they can explain what a car is really like. There’s also value in hearing about other cars from someone who’s spent so much time driving Porsches. This is a really valuable blog!”

I hadn’t set out to create that kind of blog, but that’s how it turned out. Maybe value isn’t something you deliberately set out to create. Maybe it emerges naturally from sticking with something over time. That’s what I felt in that moment.

Work is busy now, and with the kids, there never seem to be enough hours in the day. Next year, our oldest will start middle school, our second child will be in elementary school, and our youngest will be in preschool. They’ll all be attending different schools, and their routines will change, so I have a feeling life will get even more hectic. (That’s one reason I’ve had so much less time for the blog lately…)

But when the kids are a little older and I have more time to myself, I’d love to post here more often. I imagine that choosing a car for myself once the kids are more independent will look completely different from how it does now. By then, I’m sure I’ll see the world in a whole new way. (And I hope I’ll be earning more, too.)

Until then, I don’t want to forget the importance of staying nimble and being willing to take that first step. I’ve ended up writing about something that has almost nothing to do with cars, but thank you, as always, for reading—and I hope you’ll keep following the blog.