The winning strategy for young professionals: finding areas with thin competition.

Mr. Watanabe has brought numerous works to the world as a screenwriter, including the films "20th Century Boys" and "Attack on Titan." Here are the three principles for moving forward with integrity that emerged from our conversation with Mr. Watanabe.

*Based on Chapter 1, "Dreams in Motion × Screenwriter Yusuke Watanabe," from the book " Waiting Won't Start It. Move Forward Cleanly. "

Moving forward eagerly, even when not asked.

I believe there are two kinds of opportunities. The first kind appears right before your eyes, clearly labeled as an opportunity. Things like award competitions or contests—to win, you need both the time and the skill to match.

The second is seeing the work right in front of you as an opportunity. When the other party isn't expecting much, you respond with passion that exceeds their imagination. Naturally, they'll be surprised. That surprise includes the feeling of, "Did they really go this far?" When that happens, the other party will start to consider entrusting you with bigger tasks.

You've probably experienced moments when your seniors or bosses reacted differently after seeing you go above and beyond. In these situations, who is your real competitor? It's no one else but yourself.

Watanabe-san made his screenwriting debut right after connecting with a TV station producer. The producer told him, "First, I'd like you to try writing a drama script. We have a main writer, so join as a sub and write just two episodes." Watanabe-san then reportedly wrote and submitted scripts for the entire series, even though he wasn't asked to. He conveyed, "Mine is more interesting."

Normally, someone who's just reached the starting line would focus on steadily improving the two episodes they were asked to write, striving for the highest possible quality. But Watanabe was different. He saw this as his chance and ultimately seized it, securing his debut as a screenwriter.

I imagine the producer was also moved by that proactive attitude, thinking, "If he's willing to go that far, maybe I should trust him." What moves people isn't technique, but passion. When the moment arises, it's okay to pour in 120% effort.

 

Find the weak spots and make your move.

That senior is there, that other senior is there, that peer is also working hard... where do I stand? When the field or genre you're in right now is so crowded that breaking through seems impossible.
Of course, I believe it's perfectly fine to never give up, to keep building your strength and challenging yourself. However, if you have a purpose for working within yourself, taking a step back to look at the bigger picture might be one strategy.

While aiming to become a comedy scriptwriter, Watanabe-san met Kankuro Kudo and thought, "I can't compete with him..." After acknowledging defeat, he identified a place where he could win: the manga original script genre, where the competition was thin. He saw that in the world of manga original scripts, the minor leagues were sparse.

As the proverb says, "Better to be the head of a chicken than the tail of a cow" – seek out areas with less competition. Think of it as finding an open space where you can be number one. Then, even if you start as the second-best, challenge yourself to rise up. By honing one skill and excelling at it, the work experience, information, and true thrill you gain will be completely different from anything before.

 

Keep declaring "I want to do this!"

Receive offers and respond to them with all your strength. This is an essential professional attitude. However, rather than being purely passive, adopting an active receptiveness might help you realize what you truly want to do even more.

Specifically, it means declaring "I want to do this!" to those around you. By planting your flag—saying "This is who I am" or "This is what I want to do"—people will notice and gather under that banner, thinking, "Oh, that sounds perfect!"

In this age of social media, Twitter, Facebook—it's a continuous series of encounters. It's filled with serendipity, happy accidents. I think the world is searching for something and eager to find it.

Watanabe-san is the same. For "GANTZ," saying "I love it, I love it!" landed him the job. For "Dragon Ball Z," he kept saying "I want to do it!" until it happened. Of course, having the skill to tackle the work is essential, but raising your flag definitely makes it easier for people to find you.

What matters most at this point is whether you can actually say it. Whether you can declare it without hesitation. Raising your flag means being seen by others, but if you hold it high with confidence, it will surely look impressive.

What did you think? Each of Watanabe's actions and choices truly embodies the feeling that "waiting around won't get you started." First, take action with all your might. Calmly assess the situation. Declare it to those around you. These actions themselves might be something anyone can do. However, surprisingly few people actually take them, and I feel that's precisely where the turning point lies in whether you can move forward or not.

I hope you'll experience Mr. Watanabe's own thoughts through this book. Next time, we'll explore three principles for moving forward decisively, as seen through the lens of author Gen Shiraiwa.