Use ikigai to explore your post-pandemic potential

Many of us are realizing that simply running a team or company for our salary simply isn’t enough. It isn’t enough for our organizations. It isn’t enough for our employees. And it isn’t enough for us. We are looking for something more. Throughout the pandemic we were seeking stability, stillness and significance. But today as we tip our toes into our “new normal” we have a responsibility to ourselves to pause, reflect and re-explore our values. In this article we will explore how to manifest these values into purpose and practice. Take 3 minutes to read on, it will change how you look at your job, how you see yourself and what you truly want to contribute to both. There has never been a better time to explore your personal ikigai.

What is ikigai? [pronounced Ick-ee-guy]

Ikigai is a Japanese concept that literally means “a reason for being”. The word refers to having a direction or purpose in life, which makes our lives worthwhile. Knowing this will enable spontaneous and willing actions that give fulfillment to our work.

Your ikigai is at the intersection of what you are good at and what you love doing.

Ikigai is made up of the following elements ::

• What you love [your passion]
• What the world needs [your mission]
• What you are good at [your vocation]
• What you can get paid for [your profession]

Having a strong sense of ikigai – the place where passion, mission, vocation, and profession intersect—means that every day is driven with meaning. It’s the reason we get up in the morning and make the world better.

How do you find your ikigai?

To discover you Ikigai, you must first find what you’re most passionate about. Then, you find the medium through which you can express that passion.

Example :: I used to think of Steve Jobs only as a tycoon of technology, but I read him wrong. He was actually passionate about fine craftsmanship. Whether he was collecting epic cars or mobile design details, he enveloped himself in his passion for beautifully crafted products. Apple was merely the medium of his expression.

If you want to find your Ikigai ask yourself the following 4 questions ::

1. What do I love? What brings me joy?
2. What does the world need?
3. What am I good at?
4. What can I be paid for?

Answering these questions will provide your personal purpose so you can contribute to something greater.

Match your ikigai to your [future] workplace

For the last 50 years organizations have been dominated by the purpose of profit. This was based on the idea that the social responsibility of a business was to create returns for shareholders. This has created unintended consequences, such as climate change, inequality and knowledge-worker burnout. Today we see this behavior morph into a values-based system and organizations are evolving to support their people and the community around them.

Organizations with a clear and compelling purpose consistently outperform and outlast their competitors. Purpose serves to motivate individuals within organizations, and provide them with an explicit direction. This is increasingly important in complex organizations where strategies shift in response to changes, and decisions must be made amid uncertainty … like right now!

A good example of a company that lives its purpose is the US retail chain, CVS. As a healthcare provider it should have been evident that they focus on health and well being but it was pointed out that they sell cigarettes. Consider the scenario where a patient with a chest infection went to the store to collect medication and bought cigarettes in the same transaction! It wasn’t right and they took the brave decision to eliminate $2 billion in revenue by removing the sales of cigarettes and better align to their mission. To me, this action brought their values to life and I could see combining my ikigai and their purpose easily.

To maximize your professional fulfillment find your Ikigai and pair it to your company’s purpose.

It’s too easy to fall into thinking that our job, family, passions and desires are all separate and unrelated aspects of our lives. The fundamental truth of Ikigai is that nothing is silo’d. Everything is connected. This realization has changed my outlook and potential. It is possible to be true to your passions, ability to live a life of consequence and still use business as a medium of expression. At the intersection of all this you will find fulfillment, and lasting happiness that can sustain us throughout our entire lives.