What Even Is Work Worth Doing In Our Rapidly Changing World?
AKA why I focus a lot on the hatarakigai aspect of ikigai
🌸 ikigai 生き甲斐 is a reason for being, your purpose in life - from the Japanese iki 生き meaning life and gai 甲斐 meaning worth 🌸
I’m enjoying revisiting my earlier essays as I go through the process of recording them as podcast and video episodes.
I’ve learnt my natural writing style tends to be tricky to read aloud without making a few amends on the fly. An extra pause or two to break up a sentence that should have been shorter. A lot shorter *grin*
WIth a bit of distance I can more easily critically appraise the kernel I was trying to articulate.
For example in my essay Title ≠ Truth: The Identity Illusion in the Ikigai Intersection I noticed my key points were perhaps not as cleary summarised as I now see them;
Job Titles vs. Identity: The essay argues that job titles often fail to capture the essence and multifaceted nature of a person's work and identity, especially in dynamic and evolving career fields.
Professional Identity is Personal Branding: It is helpful to create a professional identity that reflects your holistic and diverse experiences, rather than a total reinvention of your CV and LinkedIn profile with each new job application or role.
I think this best articulates the key reason I am so drawn to the hatarakigai aspect of ikigai;
“.. the beauty and simplicity there is in your purpose aligning with the answer to the common question; what do you do for a living?”
I’ve changed my LinkedIn profile a few times to better try and articulate me as a rounded human professional, with each small tweak I get closer.
The evolving concept of work
In our rapidly changing world, the concept of work is evolving. Some traditional career paths are being replaced by more dynamic and varied trajectories, often referred to as 'squiggly careers' or 'portfolio careers.' This shift reflects a broader societal trend towards valuing work that is meaningful and aligned with our personal values.
Several factors are driving this transformation. The pandemic of course accelerated changes in how and where we work, highlighting the importance of flexibility and adaptability. It was also the first time in a lot of people’s lives they had space to reflect on what truly matters.
The acceleration of tech automation poses a threat as well as an opportunity. Compelling many of us to seek out roles that are less susceptible to displacement and more focused on human-centric skills.
I love that newer generations entering the workforce are bringing with them higher expectations for employment. They often look for organisations that have a clear purpose, demonstrate fairness, and contribute positively to society.
Perhaps this is the beginning of the end of 'bullshit jobs', a theory from David Graeber's book of the same name?
I am exploring what is at the intersection of; what we LOVE, what we are GOOD AT, what the WORLD NEEDS and what we can be PAID FOR because I believe it is a good framework for all of us who want to maximise the benefit we can bring to the world.
The Generalist: Embracing the Squiggle
I felt the word generalist had a negative connotation, even though it was a label I was tentatively trying on for myself. There seems to be more praise heaped on those who specialise. I found myself moulding my story to try and fit in, saying things like “I’ve been a product manager for the longest time in my career”. Don’t get me wrong I loved being one, but that role itself isn’t particularly well defined and you wear MANY hats, a “mini CEO” who understands the P&L in detail as well as all the sales and support processes, a confident tech translator, and depending on whether you have much of a team around you, also being the marketing and branding lead too!
I’m now a proud member of Generalist World, an awesome community of people who have beautifully articulated the benefit of being this way;
“A generalist is an expert learner, problem solver and big picture thinker who can effectively apply these strengths across varied fields and roles. They are skilled at spotting relevant patterns in complexity and are often empathetic and future-focused.”
Linear progression within a single field or company is increasingly becoming a relic of the past. Many professionals embrace their generalist nature, involving changes in roles, industries, and even skill sets. These "squiggly careers" allow individuals to explore a variety of interests and develop a broad skill set, making them more adaptable and resilient in the face of economic and technological changes.
Generalists offer several advantages;
Adaptability: Generalists can pivot more easily in response to market demands and opportunities.
Diverse Skill Set: Exposure to multiple fields and roles fosters a versatile skill set that can be applied in various contexts.
Innovation: The cross-pollination of ideas from different disciplines leads to creative thinking.
Pursuing a squiggly career requires a willingness to embrace uncertainty and a commitment to continuous learning. It challenges the traditional notion of expertise, suggesting that breadth of knowledge can be as valuable as depth. Although given the insatiable appetite for learning, it often also leads to depth too.
Portfolio Careers: Crafting a Patchwork of Passions
Related to this is the rise of portfolio careers, holding multiple part-time or freelance roles simultaneously. This approach allows individuals to diversify their income streams and engage in a variety of projects that align with their passions and values.
Benefits of portfolio careers include;
Flexibility: Portfolio careers offer greater control over your schedule and workload, enabling better work-life balance.
Purpose and Fulfilment: By combining different roles, individuals can ensure that their work aligns with their passions and values.
Risk Management: Diversifying income sources can provide financial stability and reduce dependency on a single employer or income stream.
Portfolio careers are particularly well-suited to the growing creator economy, where individuals leverage digital platforms to monetise their skills and passions. This includes bloggers, YouTubers, podcasters, and other content creators who build personal brands and engage with audiences directly.
The Creator Economy and Solopreneurship
The creator economy is also reshaping the landscape of work, driven by the democratisation of technology and the rise of digital platforms. This allows people to turn passions into viable careers, often as solopreneurs, entrepreneurs who run their businesses single-handedly.
Key characteristics of the creator economy and solopreneurship include:
Direct Audience Engagement: Creators can build and engage with their audiences directly, bypassing traditional gatekeepers.
Monetisation Opportunities: Platforms like Patreon, YouTube, and Substack enable creators to monetise their content through subscriptions, advertising, and crowdfunding.
Independence and Autonomy: Solopreneurs have full control over their work, from content creation to business strategy.
This shift towards individual entrepreneurship aligns closely with the principles of hatarakigai, as it prioritises work that is personally fulfilling and impactful. Solopreneurs often find greater satisfaction in their work because they are directly connected to their audience and can see the tangible impact of their efforts on their community.
Effective Altruism: Making a Meaningful Impact
As we explore the concept of hatarakigai we consider how our work can contribute to the greater good. Effective altruism, a movement popularised by organisations like 80,000 Hours, advocates for using evidence and reason to determine the most effective ways to improve the world. Do you have more impact in the world as a doctor or as a policymaker? The answers can be surprising to consider, but helpful for those who haven’t yet chosen their degree for example, or when looking to make a career change and wondering which path to take.
80,000 Hours provides resources and guidance for individuals seeking to maximise the positive impact of their careers. The organisation's name reflects the average amount of time a person spends working over their lifetime, emphasising the importance of making those hours count.
Core principles of effective altruism include;
Cause Prioritisation: Identifying the most pressing global issues and directing efforts towards them.
Evidence-Based Decision Making: Using data and research to inform career choices and philanthropic efforts.
Long-Term Thinking: Considering the long-term impact of one's actions on future generations.
By considering the principles of effective altruism in our career planning, we can ensure that our work is not only fulfilling but also contributes to meaningful and lasting change.
Embracing Change and Making the World a Better Place
The world of work is undergoing a profound transformation, driven by technological advancements, shifting societal values, and the rise of new economic paradigms. As we navigate this changing landscape, the concept of hatarakigai provides a valuable framework for finding fulfilment and purpose in our professional lives.
Whether through squiggly careers, portfolio careers, or the creator economy, individuals today have more opportunities than ever to craft careers that align with their passions and values.
The changing world of work is a topic that fascinates me and I’ve barely scratched the surface. We haven’t talked about other movements like Universal Basic Income or the 4 Day Work Week. I feel this is a topic I will come back to again and again especially as it is on my list of 12 favourite problems.
It is a key part of why I am so passionate about Digital Inclusion and especially ensuring that everyone is equipped with the skills they need to thrive. I’m hugely concerned about the risks there are if ethics and inequity is ignored in AI development. A lot of our world has already been designed for men for example, often causing real harm to the half that aren’t, we need to reverse this type of societal challenge not perpetuate it.
I am grateful to be working in a team within Government with opportunity to influence change for some key societal challenges, which is definitely ticking several boxes for me at present.
How close do you feel to hatarakigai?
Sarah, seeking ikigai xxx
PS - any excuse to bring out one of the bestest, Mr Bowie with Changes;
PPS - Also, discovered a beautiful song this week by Lucy Spraggan thanks to the end credits of the finale of the Outlaws, LOVE this song and it encapsulates that feeling of freeing yourself that starting a new role also gives ;