Understanding Ikigai: A Framework for Purpose and Impact
Ikigai is a Japanese concept meaning “reason for being”. It represents the intersection where personal fulfilment meets societal value, offering a structured way to align passion, skill, demand, and sustainability.
At its core, ikigai is the convergence of four overlapping dimensions:
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What You Love
The activities and challenges that energise you and provide intrinsic satisfaction. -
What You Are Good At
Your expertise, strengths, and unique abilities that set you apart. -
What The World Needs
Problems worth solving, market gaps, and opportunities for meaningful change. -
What You Can Be Paid For
Economic viability — ensuring that your work is not only impactful but also sustainable.
The Overlap Zones
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Passion = What you love + What you are good at
Fulfilment without necessarily addressing external needs. -
Mission = What you love + What the world needs
Inspiring, but potentially unsustainable if not compensated. -
Vocation = What the world needs + What you can be paid for
Useful and market-aligned, but not always personally satisfying. -
Profession = What you are good at + What you can be paid for
Reliable, but may lack deeper meaning.
The Sweet Spot
The ikigai lies at the centre where all four dimensions meet — a state where work delivers personal joy, plays to your strengths, meets real-world demand, and ensures economic stability.
For leaders and decision-makers, applying ikigai thinking can help:
- Prioritise projects that balance passion and market relevance.
- Align team skills with high-impact opportunities.
- Create long-term strategies that sustain both motivation and revenue.
In essence, ikigai is not a static goal, but an evolving alignment between self, market, and mission.