Did you know my community hosted a Japanese exchange student in high school? Her name was Chiaki.
We became fast friends and I was captivated by her elegance, ease, and cheeky smile. I thought how strange it must have felt to spend a semester in a small town in Australia away from her family, all of the familiar sights, sounds, foods from her busy home in Tokyo. I admired her adventure and I will never forget when she gave me her family kimono to wear (and I still own it)—she taught me so much about the Japanese culture of order, reverence, and beauty and it still fascinates me to this day.
I recently re-read the book Ikigai, and as I reflected on the overwhelm so many of us are feeling right now, and maybe even searching for more meaning in our daily lives, I thought this ancient wisdom and beautiful philosophy might resonate with you too.
What is Ikigai?
Ikigai (pronounced ee-key-guy) roughly translates to “a reason for being” or perhaps you think of it as your life’s purpose (you know, no big deal LOL)—it’s that sweet spot where four elements intersect (if you have the book check out the model on page 9):
- What you love
- What you’re good at
- What the world needs
- What you can be paid for
Originating in Okinawa, Japan—home to some of the world’s longest-living people, it is believed when you find your ikigai, you discover a sense of purpose that gets you excited to jump out of bed each morning. I like that!
Why Executives Need Ikigai
As leaders, we are required to focus intensely on performance and results. But have you considered that sustainable success requires more than just checking boxes and hitting targets? Ikigai offers a framework to create experiences that are not just productive, they are deeply fulfilling.
Aligning your leadership with your ikigai, you naturally elevate your everyday experiences and those of your team members.
You move from merely managing to creating meaningful, exceptional moments in your professional life.
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