Another way to look at this idea of “personal fit” is through the lens of ikigai, an ancient Japanese ideology.
A combination of the Japanese words “iki,” which means “life,” and “gai,” which is used to describe value or worth, ikigai is about finding meaning in life through purpose.
Your ikigai is what gets you up every morning, and keeps your idea going.
The best way to illustrate the comprehensive nature of ikigai is by looking at a Venn diagram, which displays four overlapping qualities:
- What you’re good at
- What the world needs
- What you can be paid for
- And of course, what you love
Boiling it down to its most basic theory, the central crossover of these points is where your ikigai – your purpose – resides.
From “Cumulative Advantage: How to Build Momentum for Your Ideas, Business, and Life Against All Odds” by Mark Schaefer
