How the Porsche Blog Became a Turning Point

It’s been four years since I launched my blog, “Welcome Home, PORSCHE”. Somehow, it feels like I’ve been doing this forever, even though it’s only been four years. To everyone who reads regularly and to those visiting for the first time, I truly owe this journey to you.

Thank you so much.

Lately, I’ve come to realize that starting this Porsche blog and sharing time with Porsche has made me aware of what truly matters.

And that important thing is the value of family.

Everyone probably thinks, “Of course, family is important.” But in the past, while family was important, work was just as important—if not more so. Since I started my own business, I saw my company as something like a child I gave birth to myself. So when my eldest daughter was born about eight years ago, I was working on my laptop in the hospital room right after delivery and returned to work full throttle just a month later.

However, after that, a combination of my own health issues, my second daughter’s pregnancy and birth, and not being able to get my eldest into the nursery she wanted—ending up with her attending a kindergarten that dismissed at 2 p.m.—led me to take a step back from work around winter 2016. While the company continued to operate, I scaled it down to a one-person business.

From then on, my days revolved around parenting. “Still, I wanted a bit more excitement in life,” I thought. That’s when my husband said:

“You’re always saying how great the Panamera (the 970 Panamera Edition we had at the time) is. Why not start a blog and write about it?”

So, on a whim, I started the blog.

Thanks to you, the blog grew, and gradually I began combining it with coverage—going to Porsche races at circuits, taking long drives, running laps at Fuji Speedway, attending Porsche driving schools… and all these adventures became family outings.

Traveling with small children was challenging, but the memories we made together were priceless. I’m really glad we took the plunge back then.

I’m not a confident or particularly passionate driver, yet with Porsche, I can fully trust the car and enjoy long drives or driving schools without worry. I’ve come to truly think, “Porsche is amazing.”

Also, my husband and I started talking about cars and Porsche almost every day, increasing our conversations.

“Porsche is just so great! We’re not Porsche salespeople, and we don’t earn a single yen from the blog even if it helps sell cars, so why do we keep promoting Porsche every day?”

We say things like that, but now we even talk about our family car life weekly on Twitter Spaces.

Originally, we weren’t the type to share much or talk a lot, but since starting the blog, our conversations have increased, and through casual car chats, we often discuss our future and goals.

Wishing for Family Safety

Still, I struggled with the feeling, “I want to put more energy into the blog, but with small kids, I just can’t.” But that changed last year with the birth of our son.

The new baby was so adorable and precious, and our two older daughters took care of him like little mothers. Seeing their growth was reassuring and heartwarming, and I found myself thinking more and more, “Family is truly wonderful.”

Of course, I still get frustrated daily, yelling things like, “Be quiet! Clean up! The room’s a mess! Close the door properly! Put trash in the bin!” (Especially now during summer vacation, haha.)

Then in April this year, when we visited Kumano Nachi Taisha Shrine, I wrote my wish on a wooden prayer plaque—and was surprised to find myself naturally writing “family safety.” Until last year, I would have only thought of “business prosperity.” But this time,

“I can focus on work fully once the kids are older, and I’ll keep blogging at my own pace. For now, the health and happiness of my children and family come first.”

I honestly felt that way.

At that moment, it truly sank in that family is the most important thing to me right now.

What Porsche Has Made Me Realize

About two months later, I had a chance to talk with a senior entrepreneur who helped me when I first started my business. They asked me to join an exciting project. When I told them, “My priority is family first,” they said, “That’s fine. Prioritize parenting, and let’s do everything online.” So now I’m right in the middle of that challenge.

It feels like the start of a second chapter in life, where I get to spend time with my kids while living a busy but fulfilling life.

Recently, I casually tweeted this:

When I was younger, I was all about work and gave it my all. After having children, I felt frustrated being “half-hearted” at both family and work. But now I can say without hesitation: family is the most important thing to me. I’m building an environment where family comes first and I can earn a living, and I’m challenging myself to make that happen. Almost 40 years old, and finally, I see the path ahead.

若い頃は「仕事が一番大事」と無我夢中でやってきて、出産してからは「家庭と仕事、どちらも中途半端」な自分が歯痒かった。でも今は迷わずこう言える。今の私にとっては、家族が一番大事。家族第一で成り立つ、稼げる環境を整え、その実現に向けてチャレンジする。もうすぐ40歳、やっと道が見えた。

— Mina – ポルシェブロガー (@Mina_Panamera) August 4, 2021

Writing something like this would have been unthinkable for the me from a few years ago, who believed “work is everything.”

There’s no doubt this change came from starting the Porsche blog. Exploring Porsche brought my husband and me closer, created more family memories, and—no exaggeration—deepened our family bonds.

On the flip side, I sometimes wonder what life would be like now if I hadn’t started the blog… and that thought scares me a little. (Though I’m sure I would have found something to do anyway.)

From now on, family comes first, and I’ll also pursue what I want to do with all my heart. When I’m tired, I’ll rest, take care of my body, and keep challenging myself at my own pace. I hope to celebrate my 40th birthday next year full of excitement and joy.