Banking on Antiques : Gary Myers, 48, Pasadena

“Be in the world as you are at home,” say the Zen masters. After 14 years spent living two entirely separate lives, I took this advice four years ago and am now living one integrated, and very satisfying, life as the owner of Yoshino Japanese Antiques.

In the world, I’d been a first vice president with Security Pacific National Bank, where my duties included bank acquisition, project management in establishing bank operations, product offerings and systems architecture. At home, I’d been a longtime student of Japanese culture, with an emphasis on swordsmanship and tea ceremony, and a collector of Japanese art and antiques.

This split ended when Bank of America acquired Security Pacific, and I elected to take the displacement package. I didn’t have to cast around for something to do, though, since I already had the beginnings of a viable business. When you’re a collector, you buy and sell and trade to make your collection better, and almost de facto you become a dealer.

Obviously, there have been quite a number of changes in my work environment, salary and lifestyle. Although I wore many hats in my banking job, it does not compare with my new business. I now hold all the concurrent jobs of president, marketer, head of sales, appraiser, furniture restorer, interior design consultant, delivery driver and janitor.

Now that Yoshino Antiques has found its feet, and is even turning a small profit after only four years, I’ve begun planning for the future. Since I’m not just a hobbyist with a store, these plans include expanding my operation until Yoshino is the largest Japanese antique store in Southern California.