Ikigai Thought for Today: 'Be'ing the Best in the World

Quit competing in the job market and start living your purpose.

Audio narration by David Marlow

Professions, unfortunately, come and go, but our Ikigai and who we are in it don't go away.

I separate your more profound purpose as a human from its expression (profession, job, career) because your job or career is just that, an expression.

---

Let's have a serious talk about jobs and Ikigai.

Many coaches and motivational speakers will tell you to aim to be the best in the world at what you do.

Let's say you are an engineer like I was.

There are millions of engineers. I was a highly successful engineer and wasn't anywhere near the best.

How will you even be in the top 10% of engineers, let alone the very best?

How do you live out your Ikigai in that scenario?

When you are employed solely because you can complete the tasks associated with the role, then, by definition, you are always expendable.

Your position is never completely secure when you can be replaced by anyone else that can perform the same duties.

---

The great news is that no one can compete with you being you. You are the world's best at being you!

Quit competing in the job market and start living in the purpose market; here's how.

---

Instead, suppose you are hired because of being able to perform the duties, and you are remarkably good at being you.

In that case, you are no longer entirely so replaceable because no one else can provide that one-of-a-kind combination.

You can escape competition through authenticity when you realize that no one can compete with you on being you.

When you begin to uncover your essence and link it to your Ikigai, you recognize your actual job is being the real you.

How do you become the best in the world at what you do, being you?

I'll use myself as an example.

I'm not the first to talk about Ikigai, and I'm certainly not the most talented writer. However, I am the first to explain how your Essence, Purpose, and Harmony works individually and together to cultivate a complete understanding of Ikigai.

And maybe, more importantly, I am the first person to come at these topics from the perspective of someone who has spent years studying personal transformation.

Keep defining and redefining, adding skills, experiences, and understanding until you create a combination that represents the real you.

---

One way to start is to explore who and what 'needs' you.

Find the people who need you the most, the business that requires you the most, the cause and the art that needs you the most.

There is something out there just for you. As you explore these areas of interest and need, your Ikigai becomes more apparent.

As you ponder career and or life goals, what does this notion from artist Hugh MacLeod mean to you?

"Eventually, you need to start being you, and then– you need to get really good at it."

Quest well!