In this LinkedIn Live replay, Ryan and Paul reveal how they transformed their recruitment businesses by shifting from contingent chaos to retained success, right in the middle of Japan’s notoriously tough talent market.
One hit his annual target by Valentine's Day.
The other landed a $700,000 single fee.
What changed? Everything.
Japan’s recruitment market is no walk in the cherry blossom park, with only 4% LinkedIn usage, a rapidly aging population, and a small pool of globally-minded, English-speaking candidates. Yet Ryan and Paul pushed past fear, self-doubt, and myths about retained work to build smarter, stronger businesses.
Key takeaways:
- Both recruiters emphasized diagnostic skills as critical – deeply understanding client pain before proposing solutions
- Moving to retained required overcoming mindset barriers like fear, lack of confidence, and misconceptions about the process
- Financial impact has been transformative - more predictable revenue, higher fees, and hitting annual targets faster
- Retained work provides better quality of life – being fully present at work and able to completely disconnect when not working
- Clients appreciate the structured process, with one telling Ryan: "I could sleep well at night knowing you had everything under control"
- The shift isn't about working harder but working smarter – "slowing down" to properly diagnose client needs before rushing to solutions
- For those considering the transition: specialize in a niche, be willing to say no to inappropriate work, and focus on proper diagnostics
Whether you're just starting your retained journey or looking to master it, this episode proves the shift isn’t about working harder, it’s about working wiser.
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