Finding Ikigai
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Ikigai (生き甲斐) is a Japanese concept that means a “reason for being.”
I found my Ikigai at young age. Video games. I had a twenty plus year career making, operating, and launching video games. It was my “dream job” … until it wasn’t. I suppose I was lucky that I was able to combine my passions and my career, until, well, I wasn’t really able to find meaning in it anymore.
In this new age, with automation, artificial intelligence, and other disruptive technologies, the Future of Work is changing rapidly. The idea of a Talent Stack is an interesting idea that Scott Adams wrote an entire book about.
It’s a brave new world, and there is no clear career path anymore. Kevin Kelly’s 1000 True Fans is also an interesting frame for the Future of Work.
To be a successful creator you don’t need millions. You don’t need millions of dollars or millions of customers, millions of clients or millions of fans. To make a living as a craftsperson, photographer, musician, designer, author, animator, app maker, entrepreneur, or inventor you need only thousands of true fans.
The creator economy is here. The content on YouTube and TikTok is amazing for learning and developing a Talent Stack. Khan Academy and other educational sites have democratized learning so that hopefully, everyone can one day find their Ikigai while the robots run our manufacturing supply chains. The idea of a Universal Basic Income and how to develop the proper Future of Work socioeconomic structure is an important conversation.
Here are takes from a couple of Jordans. Jordan Peterson and Jordan Hall.
Day 24: Khan Academy #GivingChristmas
Finding Ikigai
"there is no clear career path anymore"
Was there ever a clear path? Many of the traditional career paths remain, doctor, lawyer, teacher, fireman, police... OK... maybe not that one. The challenge of this era is that anything is possible. With infinite range of choices, we encounter decision paralysis. Fear of lost opportunity. Fear of the sacrifice discussed by JBP; to pursue one path is to sacrifice all the others. Move forward courageously. Pick one, build your skills, pursue your passion, and pivot when it's time.
Very few can see their career path looking forward. It's only when looking back that you can connect the dots and see how you've built a career.
I'm screwed! all my work and none of it has been directed towards making other people like me.
I will Have to build a new talent stack with communication in mind.