Thoughts
From time to time I post articles here with new ideas, insights, or information around how to build and grow a business that matters – using your expertise.
Toronto StarThere’s a very popular model for finding work you love.
It’s doing the rounds now.
It’s the Ikigai Venn diagram:
Ikigai, the model tells us, is our “reason for being” – and if we find what is at the intersection of these four circles, we will know our Ikigai.
This is very helpful and motivational for people going through career reinvention, or who want to find their niche in business.
But to use it effectively, it helps to understand some more about it.
Where did the Ikigai diagram come from?
What is the Japanese concept of Ikigai anyway?
Is Ikigai the best model to use to find my purpose or vocation?
Let’s find out …
DepositPhotosA lot of new business owners struggle to find their niche.
“Niching is so restricting.”
“I don’t want to pigeonhole myself like that.”
But what if there was another way to look at it?
What if a niche was simply a choice of where to focus?
Some common advice given in marketing circles is to “date your niche” – not to marry it.
This advice tells us to try out the niche, to give it a go. It’s not our whole life, we don’t have to do it for forever if it doesn’t work out.
But what does it really mean to date a niche?