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Ikigai: Are You Doing What Brings You Joy?

Ikigai is a Japanese concept and is comprised of two Japanese charactersâiki (meaning life) and gai (meaning value or worth) which together signify values that make life worth living or your âreason to get up in the morning.â It encompasses a sense of purpose and fulfillment in daily life including the pursuit of personal passions, hobbies, family/personal/social relationships, and community. So not only does ikigai represent finding joy, but it recognizes how individuals are interconnected, and their impact in a broader social sense.

You may have more than one ikigai with different things fulfilling different parts of your life. Also, depending on your experiences or stage of life, your ikigai can change or evolve over time. For example, if you have a baby, that child may become your ikigai (or a grandparentâs ikigai).

The concept of ikigai originated in Japan. A high concentration of centenarians (100+-year-olds) live in Okinawa, and they believe that finding ikigai improves your overall well-being and longevity and provides a sense of purpose (with a healthy diet, regular exercise, social connections, and a positive attitude). These individuals have figured out that finding their ikigai gives them a reason to get up in the morning, giving them fulfillment each day to live such long active lives. Ikigai doesnât have to be complicated and may be as simple as gardening, dancing/singing, or even sipping a favorite tea. My momâs friend, Tsuchino (who is over 90 years old), told me that her ikigai is playing sudoku.

My ikigai is cooking, which was inspired by my mom. Not only did she cook every day for our family, but she loved to cook for friends and neighbors. I remember them sitting around the kitchen table, talking/laughing, and savoring her homemade gyozas. My mom was sharing a part of herself, and I cherish her gyoza recipe. Despite how hectic my life can be sometimes, it energizes me to cook for others (curiously trying new recipes). I even bake and mail cookies to unsuspecting family/friends. Someone may not be having a âgreatâ day and that box of cookies shows them that I was thinking of them. Sharing my love for cooking gives me immense joy and is my ikigai!

The Western Interpretation Of Ikigai

The Western interpretation of ikigai captures some of the original Japanese concept, but it focuses on career-centric aspects and is typically depicted by the above Venn diagram. Even within the Japanese concept, your ikigai could be work. The philosophy is to align personal passions with professional pursuits to find meaningful work by determining:

What you love,
What you are good at,
What you can be paid for, and
What the world needs.

The intersection and convergence of these four elements is your ikigai (although ikigai is not necessarily something you need to be paid for within the Japanese concept). Again, depending on the stage of your career, your ikigai can change or evolve over time. For example, maybe youâre considering pivoting and starting your own company or buying a franchise. Also, you can have more than one ikigai. Besides your regular job, maybe you get fulfilled from volunteering or helping the community.

There is a quote by Confucius, âChoose a job you love, and you will never have to work a day in your life.â So donât wait until youâve retired to find your ikigai. Finding your passion and mission can increase your work satisfaction and overall career fulfillment.

For me, I gravitate towards roles where I transform chaos into calm and figured out that this is my âworkâ ikigai. I understand why Iâm passionate about helping companies that have been enduring too much distress and solving those complex problems with practical solutions. I also love sharing my knowledge through mentoring, volunteering (such as STEM organizations), and even creating LinkedIn content.

Understanding Your Ikigai

Ikigai is understanding your whole self over your lifetime, and the key is to appreciate the present moment and do the things you value and give your life meaning. Even after you âretire from work,â what will bring you joy and give you a reason to get up in the morning?

What is your ikigai? If you donât know, you can start by self-reflecting. When are you the happiest (putting a smile on your face just thinking about it)? Or what activities do you look forward to doing in the future? Realizing whatâs important to you and what you enjoy actively doing will bring you closer to finding your ikigai. To me, life is too short not to enjoy it . . . and find the simple things that will bring you joy each day!

For more information about ikigai and finding values that make life worth living, follow me on LinkedIn!

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Ikigai: Are You Doing What Brings You …

In a world where life's challenges seem to test us at every turn, I embarked on a transformative journey over five years agoâa journey that has led me to embrace the power of an abundance mindset. As a thirty-something striving to find my way in a fast-paced and demanding world, I've learned firsthand that progress is a product of practice, patience (not exactly my forte), and rewiring my thought patterns. Yet, amid this personal evolution, I stumbled upon a game-changer, a hidden gem that propelled my growth to astonishing heights: community.

I've experienced firsthand how building a strong network of like-minded individuals who support and challenge you can elevate both your career and personal trajectory. It's not just about having the right people in your network, but also knowing how to network effectively. Let's dive into the key elements that can help you foster a community for your career and personal success.

Surrounding Yourself With The Right People

I've learned the importance of surrounding myself with diverse individuals who share my passions and vision. Seeking out mentors, colleagues, and friends who can offer valuable insights and constructive feedback has been invaluable to my professional growth. Beyond traditional settings, I've engaged with people from various industries and backgrounds to gain fresh perspectives.

Leveraging Social Media

In today's digital age, social media platforms have become powerful tools for networking. Platforms like LinkedIn, Twitter, and even TikTok have connected me with industry leaders, potential employers, and peers who share my interests. Engaging in meaningful conversations, sharing my expertise, and participating in relevant groups have allowed me to expand my reach and connect with like-minded professionals.

When utilizing social media, I can relate to those who are âover it.â However, branding yourself is imperative in this day and age, even in job search/career management. Here is a quick strategy I use to keep myself in check on my social media usage.

Think of this strategy like when you go to the grocery store. If you go in with a list, you give yourself guidelines to adhere to: get in, get what you need, get out! If you donât go with a list, things are forgotten, too many snacks are purchased and you blew your budget, and you may have to go back (eek!).

Making a simple strategy for leveraging social media will keep you focused on managing your time, protecting your mental and physical health, and keeping your productivity intact. Follow the "get in, get what you need, get out" strategyâit will keep your social media usage under control.

1.) Get in.

Lead with your content, expertise, or value-add that you want to share with your network. This provides information to your network about you, your expertise, your experiences, etc.

2.) Get what you need (networking is about supporting/nurturing others).

Create a cadence every day or week on how many reach-outs you will make. Whether it's commenting, liking, or messaging other brands/connections, you are supporting another personâs efforts (also valuable to the trust, connection, and rapport of that individual/brand).

3.) Get out!

Log off or immediately swipe away the app on your phone so you arenât tempted to scroll. Just donât do it!

Attending Networking Events

Despite the digital era, face-to-face interactions remain crucial for building authentic connections. I've made it a point to attend conferences, seminars, workshops, and industry events to meet professionals in my field. Approaching these events with an open mind and a genuine interest in learning from others has helped me establish meaningful connections. Following up afterward to solidify those connections is essential.

Reciprocating And Offering Value

Networking is a two-way street, and I've learned the importance of being willing to assist others in their professional pursuits. By offering insights and support, I've been able to build genuine relationships based on reciprocity and mutual trust. Giving back and nurturing my connections in my community has grown my confidence and has also strengthened my network.

Embracing Authenticity And Vulnerability

I have been inspired by so many different people across many industries. Why? Their authenticity and vulnerability. What you think it took to get where they are is only the tip of the iceberg on their true journey. Remember that for EVERY individual you encounter. Embracing my own journey, including the challenges I've faced and the lessons I've learned, has allowed me to foster genuine connections with others. Sharing my story has not only inspired others but also deepened the sense of community we share.

Adopting A Growth Mindset

Approaching networking with a growth mindset has been crucial for my development. Being open to new experiences, challenges, and opportunities and viewing setbacks as learning experiences rather than failures has helped me adapt and grow in my career. Can we just get rid of the word "failure"? (Asking for a friend!)

Elevating My Online Presence

I've taken steps to ensure that my online presence reflects my professional brand. Crafting a well-designed LinkedIn profile and curating content, practicing being on video (I prefer behind the camera but oh well), and maintaining consistent social media activity have enhanced my credibility and given me even more opportunities to connect with others.

Listening And Learning

I've come to understand that effective networking involves active listening. STOP! Read that again! Taking the time to understand the perspectives and experiences of others and learning from their successes and challenges has enriched my own knowledge and understanding.

In conclusion, building a community for your career is about more than just collecting contacts; it's about creating meaningful connections that support your growth and elevate your trajectory. Surrounding myself with the right people, being authentic and vulnerable, and contributing value to my community has been the key to growth. I now understand that success is not a solitary journey but a collective effort toward mutual growth and prosperity.

Ready to take your career to new heights? Start by building a community that fuels your success. Connect with like-minded individuals, embrace authenticity, and make a difference.

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Building A Strong Community For Career Success: …

If you're in a career you hate and you haven't been able to figure out how to get out of it, you've come to the right place. As a career coach for over 20 years, I've worked with thousands of people in your position. The good news is that there are a couple of simple steps you can follow to successfully get out of a career you hate and into one you love.

You Don't Have To Climb The Hill Anymore

@j.t.odonnell How to get out of a career you HATE. ð¤¢ #careertiktok #jobtiktok #careeradvice #jobtok #careertok #job #career #jobshopper #workitdaily #jobsearchtips #careerchange #changecareers â¬ original sound - J.T. O'Donnell

âImagine there are two roads in front of you.

The first road is a huge hill. You would have to go up this hill to see what's on the other side.

The second road is a straight, flat path. It would be easy to take. It's really long. But at the very end of it, far off in the distance, you can see a beautiful house, your dream house. You know if you just got on this path and followed it step by step at your own pace, you would eventually get to this beautiful home.

Which road are you going to take? The huge hill where you don't know what's on the other side? Or the straight path that might take some time to travel, but you can see exactly what you're going to get? Obviously, the straight path.

But here's the thing: you've been climbing the hill because that's what people told you to do, right? Climb that hill, get to the top, and then you weren't happy. So you climbed another hill, got to the top, and weren't happy again. Why would you ever want to do that again?

You don't have to climb the hill. The problem is that school never taught us this. They never taught us how to fix career dissatisfaction. And your employer is never going to teach it to you because that would mean you'd probably leave your job.

So where are you going to learn how to do this? Where do you figure out how to have a straight path to the destination you're looking for?

How To Get Out Of A Career You Hate (In 2 Easy Steps)

Woman on laptop learns how to get out of a career she hates

1. Embrace Microlearning

The first step to getting out of a career you hate is embracing microlearning. Microlearning is a concept that involves taking five to 15 minutes out of your day (every day) to learn something new. These small, but consistent, chunks of time you're dedicating to learning something new are rewiring your brain to help you understand and close your knowledge gaps so that you can get what you want out of your career.

With microlearning, you start at a really slow walk. But over time, you start to get addicted to it. It's exciting, and it becomes a habit. You start to feel empowered and you go from a slow walk to a full-on run, and that's how you get to your destination faster.

2. Tap Into Your Professional Strengths

The second step to getting out of a career you hate is tapping into your unique combination of professional strengths. You need to know how you like to create value on the job. When you understand how you like to create value, you can build a personal brand that you can then use to market to the right employers to land your dream opportunities.

This is how you go from being a random job seeker (climbing a hill) to being a focused job shopper who's getting exactly what he or she wants (straight path). That's the difference.

Want to learn your professional strengths and gain access to a platform built for microlearning?

Become a Work It Daily member. It's time to get out of a career you hate and find one you'll love.

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How To Get Out Of A Career …

As a lifelong member of Greenpeace, an avid recycler, owner of two EVs, and a solar-powered home, I do all I can to make the planet a better place. As a recruiter, I enjoy engaging with companies who also are improving our Mother Earth. With Earth Day coming up on April 22nd, I am sharing my top four favorite ways to engage my team and show respect to the planet we call home.

Volunteer Work

Companies can organize volunteer events to clean litter in a park, beach, or any other public placeâeven sponsor a roadway litter collection and be recognized with a municipal sign. They can encourage their employees, customers, and communities to participate in these events. The EPA also has a âhow-to guideâ on its website.

Some employers choose to pay their employees a few hours to one day a year to volunteer for their community. Most employees would love to step outside in the sunshine and spruce up their community.

Education

Woman learns about eco-friendly and sustainable practices at work

Companies can educate their employees, customers, and communities about the importance of environmental sustainability, climate change, and how they can reduce their ecological footprint.

Before you start educating your employees, it's important to assess the current level of sustainability and recycling. Armed with this information, you will know what to teach your employees.

Create a sustainability policy with details of your goals, expectations, and procedures. Possible topics to cover could include reducing waste, conserving energy, and using eco-friendly products.

Provide employees with training and resources on sustainability. This can include workshops, presentations, videos, and handouts. You can also create an online Earth-friendly resource center with information on best practices, recycling guidelines, and eco-friendly products.

Sustainability Initiatives

Sustainability, Earth Day, eco-friendly concept

Encourage your employees to participate in sustainability and recycling efforts. You can do this by setting up recycling bins, providing incentives for eco-friendly behavior, and recognizing employees who make an effort to reduce waste.

Companies can provide incentives for their employees to use public transportation, carpool, or bike to work, reduce the use of paper, energy, and water in their facilities, and implement recycling programs.

Publicly reward one employee per quarter or month for their recycling effortsâa social media shout-out, a reusable water thermos, or a gift card to a garden center.

Partnerships

Companies can partner with other organizations that share their environmental values, such as non-profit groups, local universities, and other businesses, to promote environmental conservation. Some non-profit partners could include Habitat for Humanity using recycled building materials, a Goodwill clothing drive, and a Soles4Souls shoe donation.

Many universities have already embraced recycling and sustainable use policies. You might be able to support their recycling drives or fundraising events to support their colleges that are making technological advances in these areas.

Finally, youâve likely heard of the World Wildlife Fund, Oceana, and the Nature Conservancy. Conservation groups can use business partners to spread their message and encourage sustainable and respectful use of our planetâs resources.

I hope these few ideas spark some Earth-friendly, employer-sponsored initiatives for your team!

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Recognizing Earth Day From A Recruiting Perspective

How To Successfully Manage Your Career Goals

When it comes to having career goals, it's important to aim high. But sometimes the challenge we all face in aiming high is putting too much pressure on ourselves and then becoming overwhelmed. Achieving your career goals is all about balance.

The best way to achieve your career goals without putting too much pressure on yourself is to understand that it's very unlikely that you'll achieve your goals overnight. You have to build a career plan, be flexible about it, and work to chip away at the goals that you set.

Here are three ways that you can successfully manage your career goals:

Set Mini Goals

A business woman celebrates a small win after accomplishing a mini goal

Setting mini goals is a way to help accomplish your overall goals, but in a way that is manageable and less overwhelming. For example, say your goal is, "I want to be promoted in a few years." This is a solid and ambitious goal, but for some, it can be difficult to know where to start in making this goal a reality.

This is where mini goals come into play. In order to put yourself in a position to get promoted, you can start with the mini goal of, "I want to do something every month to help grow my career."

Accomplishing this mini goal could include taking a month to focus on courses or certifications that will help you upskill, using another month to put greater emphasis on your networking efforts, and using yet another month to learn a new skill entirely. All these mini goals help make you a more well-rounded employee, and that type of effort adds up over time.

There's no guarantee that you'll get promoted in a few years. There are so many factors at play, but focusing on career growth will at least put you in a position to be considered.

Build Better Career Habits

This is similar to setting mini career goals in the fact that you're taking small steps to achieve a larger benefit. Changing the smallest habits can make a huge difference in your career.

One habit that many job seekers can improve on is how often they update their resumes. A lot of people don't update their resumes until they're applying for a job, but a better habit would be updating your resume every six months.

Updating your resume every six months helps you keep track of things you've done to learn and grow your skills. It's much easier to remember recent events than to try to go back three years ago to assess what you've learned. It can also be motivating, as it can serve as a good reminder of the skill gaps that you still need to fill.

Other career habits to change could include cutting out 20 minutes of daily social media time to focus on your career instead or making it a point to reconnect with one LinkedIn connection a week.

Creating better habits can go a long way toward helping you accomplish your career goals.

Incorporate The 3 Cs Into Your Career Goals

Young professional on laptop takes online courses to help advance her career goals

At Work It Daily, we're big proponents of the 3 Cs because they can help professionals at all levels of their career journey, including those looking for a job, aiming for a promotion, or exploring other ways to grow their careers.

Here's a refresher on the 3 Cs:

Content: There's a lot of great information on the internet, including at Work It Daily, that can help professionals plan their career goals, including video tutorials, online quizzes, blogs, etc.

Coaching: Whether it's an online coaching platform like Work It Daily, or consulting with a trusted colleague or friend who has had career success, take advantage of the knowledge of others.

Community: Whether it's a coaching community, or someone you know also trying to get their career in order, it's always best to not address career challenges alone. In addition, it never hurts to have positive reinforcement.

All of these small steps can make a big difference in helping you accomplish your career goals, and the best part is that it's all manageable. As long as you have these small goals in mind, and stay organized, you can grow your career without feeling overwhelmed.

Need more help with your career?

We'd love it if you signed up for Work It Daily's Event Subscription! Get your career questions answered in our next live event!

This article was originally published at an earlier date.

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How To Successfully Manage Your Career Goals

Want To Move Up The Ladder At Work? Focus On The 3 Cs Of Career Growth

Have you heard of the three Cs of career growth? They are the three things you need to focus on in your career if you want to move up the ladder at work and find long-term professional success.

As a career coach for the last 20 years, I've learned that people cannot move their careers forward in a vacuum. You can't grow your career alone. And that's where the three Cs come in...

The 3 Cs Of Career Growth

@j.t.odonnell How to grow your career FAST! @j.t.odonnell #careertiktok #careeradvice #careertips #learnontiktok #ScreamItOut ♬ original sound - J.T. O'Donnell

The first "C" of career growth is courses/content. You need resources in your career that will teach you something new and give you a new perspective.

The second "C" is coaching. In order to truly grow your career, you need a trained expert or a mentor, somebody who can help you interpret what you're learning, especially if you hit roadblocks. A career coach, for example, can tailor their answers to support you and your needs, providing you with the right advice that will help you succeed.

The third "C" of career growth, and the most important, is community. You have to surround yourself with like-minded individuals who are working on the same problem or chasing the same goal. This not only motivates you, but it gives you more information and perspective in order to speed up the success of your learning.

Where To Find The 3 Cs

Woman smiles while talking to someone virtually on laptop

Now, where do you find the three Cs of career growth? Well, I actually founded Work It Daily on the principles of the three 3 Cs. When you join our FREE community, you get access to courses, coaches, and community—all in one place!

Work It Daily is one of the largest online career coaching platforms, and all you have to do is sign up to get FREE access to the 3 Cs of career growth. Sign up, check out our free resources section, and pick courses to learn from. You can post your questions inside the community for the coaches and you can meet other members who are part of the community.

So, if you want to grow your career and move up the ladder at work, you know where to find me.

Sign up for Work It Daily's FREE community today! My team and I are looking forward to working with you soon.

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Want To Move Up The Ladder At …

Are You Ready For The Workplace Revolution? Join Work It Daily’s New FREE Community!

If you're looking for a job, want to make a career change, feel burned out, or all of the above, our new platform is the perfect place for you to overcome your career struggles so you can find career happiness and satisfaction again. The Workplace Revolution is here, and Work It Daily is leading the way!

J.T. O’Donnell, Work It Daily's founder and CEO, and a former staffing industry executive and 20-year career coaching veteran with over 2.6 million followers on LinkedIn and another 1.1 million on TikTok, says that many of the participants in the Great Resignation will struggle to find jobs that are better than what they had previously because they were never taught the “new career rules” for success.

“The pain and depression these folks are experiencing are real and deep. It’s not easy to break through your burnout without the right training and support,” says O’Donnell.

This is why we're launching a new FREE online platform for those looking to find the answers they need to create career satisfaction on their own terms.

Feeling Burned Out In Your Career? Our New FREE Community Is For You...

Man joins Work It Daily's new FREE community

O'Donnell explains, “Our platform is built to provide the 3Cs for career success: coaching, courses, and community.” Ultimately, we're leading the Workplace Revolution by providing a private place for frustrated workers to transform themselves.

When you join our FREE community, you get access to…

Exclusive Career Transformation Courses
Templates & Tools To Optimize Your Resume, LinkedIn & Personal Brand
Expert-Led Group Career Coaching Sessions
Inspiring Live Events & Networking Parties
Supportive Community To Discuss Career & Job Search Challenges

Sign up for FREE today and join thousands of other members who are becoming empowered in their careers and taking back their happiness.

Break Through Your Burnout: How To Go From Crisis To Career Satisfaction

Plus, to kick off the launch of our community, J.T. is hosting “Break Through Your Burnout: How To Go From Crisis To Career Satisfaction,” a 4-week FREE course that starts on Wednesday, March 2nd at 12 pm ET.

“This class will help people understand what is holding them down and making them feel unable to get out of their career funk,” says O'Donnell.

Join The Workplace Revolution For FREE Today!

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The Workplace Revolution is here. We’d love it if you joined us in changing the world of work for the better.

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