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The concept of Ikigai

by Jason Thatcher
7 replies
Just curious to see how many entrepreneurs believe in the concept of Ikigai, the [Japanese term for "a reason for being." The word 'Ikigai' usually refers to the source of value in one's life or the things that make one's life worthwhile. The word roughly translates to the "thing that you live for" but it also has the nuance of "the reason for which you wake up in the morning" similar to a daily purpose. Each individual's ikigai is personal to them and specific to their lives, values and beliefs. It reflects the inner self of an individual and expresses that faithfully, while simultaneously creating a mental state in which the individual feels at ease. Activities that allow one to feel ikigai are never forced on an individual; they are often spontaneous, and always undertaken willingly, giving the individual satisfaction and a sense of meaning to life.]

Are the concepts of Ikigai the underlying basics an entrepreneur strives for in business? The value you provide determines your monetary worth in the market?
#concept #ikigai
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  • Profile picture of the author Kay King
    The value you provide determines your monetary worth in the market?

    That's true in most languages, isn't it?
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  • Profile picture of the author Odahh
    Originally Posted by Jason Thatcher View Post


    Are the concepts of Ikigai the underlying basics an entrepreneur strives for in business? The value you provide determines your monetary worth in the market?
    just remember the video of josh bell playing violin in the subway and barely getting any money like 27 $ ..when he sells out concerts for 150$ tickets ..


    now the story is usually told to make society look bad and make the people who where rushing by him on their way to work in the morning look like they missed something ..

    rather than the real story .. which is not just providing the most value we can.. but are we providing the most value , to those who Value it in a format they can both appreciate it and return value to us ..

    now forget how valuable you think what you are doing is.. if you do not value doing it enough ..to do it where pothers will value it or get the most value out of it ..and pay a lot of money for you to do it ..

    sorry this is a very advanced concept in the modern world a large number of people are willing to drive themselves nut doing what they do for people who don't care much about what they are doing ..

    when you provide value for people who really value it and you get value in return..then you have a reason to jump out of bed in the morning .

    and heads up you know longer have to be an entrepreneur to do it..
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  • Profile picture of the author christyjpp
    I have to say I've never heard of Ikigai before - quite interesting, but the concept is there across probably all cultures. Really it's what we should all strive for to achieve a happy and purposeful life isn't it?

    I've always found that when you are doing something you WANT to be doing, it's much more successful than when you do something solely to get the monetary benefit. A lot less struggle and misery for better results. So yes - I believe in the concept of Ikigai
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  • Profile picture of the author hardraysnight
    i much prefer ecky thump, originated in japan but developed to greatness by the british, especially the goodies

    the path to all encompassing greatness
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  • Profile picture of the author Kay King
    now the story is usually told to make society look bad and make the people who where rushing by him on their way to work in the morning look like they missed something ..
    ...and ignoring the fact that people rushing by have their own concerns, are living their own lives...and can't stop to pay attention to everything on the path.


    It's one of my favorite truths - you wouldn't worry about what other people think of you if you realized how seldom they do.
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    • Profile picture of the author Odahh
      Originally Posted by Kay King View Post

      ...and ignoring the fact that people rushing by have their own concerns, are living their own lives...and can't stop to pay attention to everything on the path.


      It's one of my favorite truths - you wouldn't worry about what other people think of you if you realized how seldom they do.
      yes the tunnel to the subway train station is there for people to get to the train to get to work as fast as possible.. not to congregate and listen for 5 minutes or 25 minutes .. or any length of time .

      I was a street performer in Las Vegas .. there where places that where better for performing and not.. some people like to preform where they shouldn't and eventually got the city to crack down .. there where other reasons .. but that was part of it

      now the other part of your favorite truth.. is that 90 percent of what others wonder when they think of you .. is what you may be thinking of them ..and one thing i learned in the past two years.. is most of the time people are projecting negative thoughts about themselves into other peoples looks .. at them .
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  • Profile picture of the author SanjeevM
    Interesting. Never heard of Ikigai before.

    The idea that the major work in your life has to align with who you are and what you love doing is of course fine.

    But what I find is that to turn anything - even something you are truly passionate about - into a viable business takes plenty of hustle, demolishing obstacles, dealing with demons like fear and doubt and all the rest of it.

    Therefore, the part about all activities being always spontaneous and not forced seems a little out of touch with reality.

    So yes, I do believe in the overall concept. But when the concept meets the real world, well, there's some hard thinking and hard work to be done.

    Just my opinion.
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