Using Ikigai to Find Your Brand Niche

Welcome to another weekly edition of Leapfrog Scientist!

This week I am writing from the beautiful Anna Maria Island, embracing some well-deserved downtime, and brainstorming some ideas for future newsletter issues.

In this issue, we will discuss the Japanese concept of Ikigai and its significance for personal branding. A crucial initial step in crafting your brand is defining its essence. If you are having a hard time pinpointing your niche, ikigai can be a great tool. It helps unveil the sweet spot where your strengths, passions, and professional opportunities intersect.

Ikigai, a Japanese term that blends two words: “iki” meaning “to live” and “gai” meaning “reason” which translates to "a reason to live".

Imagine yourself lounging on a pristine beach, the gentle rhythm of the waves lulling you into a state of tranquility. As you bask in the warmth of the sun, surrounded by the beauty of nature, you can't help but ponder the concept of Ikigai. In this serene setting, away from the hustle and bustle of daily life, you find clarity to your innermost desires and passions. The vast expanse of the ocean mirrors the boundless potential within you, while the soft sand beneath your feet grounds you in the present moment. Here, amidst the symphony of nature, you are reminded to seek that perfect balance of joy, purpose, and fulfillment—the essence of Ikigai.

Just as Ikigai encourages individuals to seek the intersection of passion, mission, vocation, and profession, scientists can apply this framework to their research endeavors. By identifying what they love, what the world needs, what they excel at, and what they can contribute to the scientific community, researchers can carve out a niche that aligns with their personal passions.

Whether it's exploring a specific area of study that ignites their curiosity or leveraging their expertise to make a meaningful impact, aligning their scientific pursuits with their Ikigai fosters a sense of purpose and enjoyment. Through strategic communication and branding, scientists can effectively convey their unique value proposition to peers, collaborators, and potential clients, ultimately amplifying their influence and advancing their careers in a way that resonates authentically with who they are and what they excel at.

Ikigai encapsulates the intersection of what you love, what you are good at, what the world needs, and what you can be paid for. It's the sweet spot where passion, mission, vocation, and profession converge.

Identifying your Ikigai requires introspection, self-awareness, and a deep understanding of your values and strengths. Your Ikigai serves as the foundation of your personal brand—it informs your purpose, guides your passions, and shapes your professional identity. By aligning your personal brand with your Ikigai, you create a powerful narrative that resonates with others and attracts opportunities aligned with your values and goals.

By dissecting these realms, you can gradually uncover your unique brand niche. Referencing this model, your passion resides at the convergence of what you love and what you excel at. Consider listing all your activities and assessing their placement within the diagram. If an activity intersects with what you love and what the world needs, it aligns with your mission, but sustainable income is crucial. When you identify endeavors that meet both what the world needs and what you can be compensated for, you've found your vocation. However, it's imperative that it also resonates with your passion; otherwise, no amount of work will compensate. Lastly, your profession lies at the junction of your expertise and income source. At the heart of passion, mission, profession, and vocation lies Ikigai.

For me, this journey started by embracing what I was good at and enjoyed, leading to a successful career in consulting. Another advantage for me is the continual learning and the opportunity to tackle projects that foster personal growth. This means continually engaging with fresh challenges and complex problem-solving.

Experience is also key to finding ikigai. It’s about finding what you are great at and enjoy, as well as figuring out what you hate doing and aren’t so great at.

You can begin by compiling a list of activities you genuinely enjoy and then identifying those that have potential for monetary compensation. If uncertain, consider offering your services for free initially to gauge interest and value perceptions from others. Initially, providing complimentary or discounted services can be beneficial for garnering attention and assessing market interest in your offerings.

For more information on Ikigai and additional resources, be sure to check out Positive Psychology’s Toolkit.

Another way to test whether or not you’ve found something you love, is if it feels like play to you but looks like work to others.

Ikigai can also have a profound impact on how your brain functions. All the more reason to give it a try.

Ikigai can:

• Reduce Anxiety: Research has shown that embracing ikigai contributes to a balance of neurotransmitters like serotonin, dopamine, and endorphins, which play crucial roles in stress reduction.

• Benefit Cardiovascular Health: A 7-yr study with over 40,000 Japanese adults revealed that individuals with a low sense of ikigai had a higher overall mortality risk, primarily due to an increased susceptibility to cardiovascular diseases.

• Enhancing Self-Authorship: Studies have shown that individuals who have found their ikigai tend to undertake tasks for their own personal satisfaction and unlike those without possessing a strong need for external validation.

• Building Resilience: Research suggests that having ikigai can help individuals navigate difficult times more effectively, providing a sense of purpose and motivation to persevere.

• Promoting Longevity: Another study with both men and women who possess a sense of ikigai demonstrate reduced risks of mortality from all causes, indicating that they tend to lead longer, healthier lives.

If you're interested in learning more about the neuroscience behind Ikigai, here’s a great resource.

Still not convinced? Here are some statistics on how not having a personal brand can affect your ability to get hired: CareerBuilder (2017)

• 57% of employers are less likely to interview a candidate they can't find online.

• 54% of employers have decided not to hire a candidate based on their social media profiles.

• 70% of employers use social media to screen candidates, up from 11% in 2006.

Thanks for reading, and I hope you found inspiration for your personal branding journey and for taking some time off to find your ikigai!

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