๐ธ ikigai ็ใ็ฒๆ is a reason for being, your purpose in life - from the Japanese iki ็ใ meaning life and gai ็ฒๆ meaning worth ๐ธ
If you woke up tomorrow as a billionaire, what would you do? Buy a yacht? Travel the world? How about redesigning the very fabric of our work culture and society?
Iโve never been motivated by money beyond a fiercely independent streak and desire for social mobility, to give my daughter a different start in life than my council estate upbringing.
But to be rich just to be able to make the world a better place is a tantalising thought experiment isn't it? To have the resources to test how we could make our world function more effectively and fairly.
A question puzzles me though, why aren't more wealthy peeps doing exactly this? Unless they are and those involved are sworn to secrecy? Hmmm
Breaking the rules that aren't really rules
Imagine having the financial freedom to challenge the 'rules' that govern our work lives. Rules that aren't really rules at all, but deeply ingrained habits we've collectively (and weirdly, given how argumentative lots of us are *grin*) agreed to follow. With billions at your disposal, you could create SO many living labs to test new ways of working, free from the fear of economic fallout.
What if we didn't need to be billionaires to start these experiments?
The four-day work week is an idea that's been floated for years, backed by promising research. Yet widespread adoption remains elusive. Why? Perhaps because it requires a leap of faith that most aren't willing, or financially able, to take.
As AI continues to advance, we're likely to see significant changes in the world of work. Many routine tasks are already being automated, and this trend is only set to accelerate. By moving to a four-day work week now, we would improve our current wellbeing and we'd also be readying ourselves for more fundamental changes on the horizon.
It would be awesome to have an extra day each week to upskill and to exercise our creative muscles. As AI takes over more routine tasks, we need to be prepared to pivot towards work that leverages our core human skills; creativity, empathy, curiosity, general purpose problem-solving and emotional intelligence.
This isn't just about having an extra day off to be healthier, it's about creating a culture of continuous learning and adaptation, where people are comfortable with change and ready to take on new challenges. It's about future-proofing our workforce and our society.
And while we're reimagining our work week, why not rethink our work environment too? Lots of us are still sitting on our bums for nearly eight hours a day, staring at screens, working to someone else's rhythm. It's not productive or healthy, and it's certainly not aligned with what we know about how people function at their best.
The cost of a standing desk or a treadmill desk is minimal compared to the potential health benefits and increased productivity. Imagine an office where movement is encouraged, where sitting for hours on end is a weird exception, not the norm.
Recruiting for purpose; building psychological safety
Perhaps the most important experiments we need to run are in how we recruit, build, and manage our teams. We're seeing a rise in purpose-driven organisations, focused on sustainability, equity, and innovation. Yet many still rely on outdated recruitment and management methods that often alienate or burn out the very people who could bring adaptability and fresh thinking.
It's no coincidence that we're witnessing a surge in solopreneurs. While this trend has its positives, it's also a damning indictment of traditional work environments. For many, especially those who aren't straight white men, the current system simply doesn't work. Bad managers, outdated practices, and a lack of true inclusivity are driving talented individuals out.
Why aren't those at the very top more concerned about this exodus? Surely, in this day and age, it's unacceptable, and frankly unfair, that so many are forced to choose between their wellbeing and their career. Good management and leadership should mean creating work environments that work for everyone.
What if recruitment and management looked entirely different? What if instead of traditional interviews people could demonstrate their skills through hands-on, creative challenges? What ifย we focused on people's capacity to learn, grow and align with the organisation's purpose? What if we prioritised training leaders who could foster psychological safety, encourage diversity of thought and prevent burnout?
Happier, healthier workers are more engaged citizens with more energy to contribute to their communities. To be better partners, parents, friends who are more likely to engage in lifelong learning; to innovate and create.
As a happy byproduct, that also makes us more productive. When we have our psychological safety needs met, when we feel fulfilled and purposeful in our work, weโre naturally more creative and energetic. More likely to go above and beyond, to come up with innovative solutions and to collaborate effectively with others.
A society-level upgrade
Lots of our current work systems don't support finding ikigai. Solely looking at productivity in a blinkered sense; output over joy, wonga over wellbeing.
Imagine if we designed our work lives around ikigai principles. Crafting businesses where the working week was shorter, the work environment healthier, and the recruitment process more inclusive and aligned with purpose.ย
Frustratingly, this isn't some utopian dream, it's entirely possible.
So, I can't help but wonder; where are the billionaires willing to run these experiments? Where are the wealthy visionaries ready to challenge the status quo and potentially unlock new ways of working that benefit not just themselves and their business, but society as a whole?
Perhaps by putting these ideas out into the world, we can inspire those who do have the resources to start running more of these experiments. Or better yet, maybe we'll realise that we don't need billions to start making changes. Maybe all we need is the courage to start trying new ways of living, working, and being - right now.
What do you think? If you had the resources, financial or otherwise, what experiments would you run to reshape our world of work? How might you use your resources to help more people find their ikigai in an AI filled future?
I'd love to hear your thoughts. After all, it's through sharing ideas and challenging each other that we can start to create real change, billionaire or not.
Sarah, seeking ikigai xxx
PS; Iโm nothing if not cheesy *grin*;
PPS; Bullet journal exercise "The Ikigai Billionaire Experiment"
Journal prompt: Imagine you wake up tomorrow with unlimited resources. What kind of work experiments would you run to help society find ikigai, especially in the age of AI?
Dream big โ Describe an experiment that would challenge traditional work systems. Think about aspects like; the structure of a workweek, how teams are built and managed, the role of AI in supporting meaningful work.
Reflect on purpose โ Ask yourself how running this experiment would help you and those around you?
Prototype small changes โ Brainstorm ideas for one small step you could take in your current life, with or without billions, to move closer to this vision. Write down a practical action you can take this week to test a new way of working, learning, or managing your time.
Optional; Take a pic of your journal page and upload it to Claude or ChatGPT, other AI helpers are available *grin*
AI prompt: "Attached is my completed 'Ikigai Billionaire Experiment' journal exercise. Please act as my life coach and help me reflect on this, explore with me how we can bring these ideas to life, both with the resources we currently have and future possibilities. Guide me through the process of testing ideas for change in a way that fits my unique strengths, values, and circumstances."
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