Completion Date: 5/19/2021   |   Partner: @bretthelberg

Background: Ikigai is a Japanese word made up of iki, meaning “life” or “being alive” and gai, meaning “what is worthwhile and has value.” An individual's ikigai is at the center of a Venn diagram of (1) what you love (2) what you are good at (3) what you can be paid for and (4) what the world needs.
Inspiration: Western ideals for life success and purpose are similar, but are generally self-centered and forget about the greater good. I particularly like that Ikigai incorporates "what the WORLD needs" as part of its Venn diagram. ​
Resources: How to Ikigai | Tim Tamashiro | TEDxYYC & Don't wait, find your Ikigai | Gangadharan Menon | TEDxSIESCAS
Fun Facts: The term was coined in a small Japanese village called Ogimi in North Okinawa. It's referred to as the “village of centenarians” or “village of longevity” because its residents had the world’s longest life expectancy and some of the lowest rates of cancer and diabetes.

​Things to consider if you try to find your Ikigai [Ikigai: Find Your Purpose in 5 Steps]: ​

1. Start small - Jot all ideas down, no matter how trivial they may seem. Remove any illusions of grandeur.
2. Free yourself (physically and mentally) - Get away from your day-to-day in order to be focused and thoughtful.
3. Seek harmony and sustainability - Set yourself up for success by aiming for something that brings you peace and energy.
4. Find joy in the little things - Remember that extraordinary lives have more ordinary moments than extraordinary ones.
5. Be in the present moment - Your Ikigai will undoubtedly change over time, so focus your search on the here and now.

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"You can’t connect the dots looking forward; you can only connect them looking backward... believing the dots will connect in the future will give you the self-confidence to follow your heart even when it seems things are not going well. And that is what will make all the difference in your life."

- Steve Jobs

​My Ikigai: To build a company that fosters a community with a culture that encourages, celebrates and empowers people to complete their bucket list, not just dream about it.