Ikigai

Ikigai is a Japanese concept describing a personally meaningful "reason for being". It's the intersection of what you love, what you're good at, what the world needs and what you can be paid for. It's less a career formula than an alignment of daily activities with meaning, competence and contribution.

While the popular Venn diagram is simplified, the core idea is alignment: daily activities that express values and strengths in service of something beyond yourself. Practically, explore ikigai through small experiments. Track energy and engagement, ask what outcomes feel disproportionately meaningful, and reduce obligations that consistently drain you. Alignment compounds: the more your work reflects who you are, the less motivation you need to sustain momentum.

Ikigai is discovered iteratively. Treat it as a direction, not a fixed destination, and use periodic reflection (weekly or quarterly) to course‑correct.