Let’s take a Japanese detour.
Like many Sanskrit words, there is no direct and simple translation of the word 'Ikigai'. Ikigai can be explained in the form of the question - “What makes you jump up out of bed each morning?”. It is the idea that life is more than job title, status and money. This concept is a lot different from the usual motivational rhetoric - Follow your passion. Instead, it tells you to find happiness in everyday activities. Even when a person is chopping onions, the wrist moves in delightful rhythm with the knife. In the process, the person not only makes oneself useful but also becomes instrumental in raising the overall tempo of the action.
Now, let’s see how the Ikigai framework will help you assess the question - 'Why MBA'?
As you see in the figure, Ikigai can be visualized as the intersection of answers to these four questions:
- What do you love?
- What are you good at?
- What can you be paid for?
- What does the world need?
Steps To Find Your Ikigai
Step 1: Answer the above questions honestly.
Step 2: If the answers to the above question did not spark much insight into answering your question of MBA. Try these questions to get more clarity in the answers specific to MBA.
- If you were concerned about the money, status, would you still go for MBA?
- With some more education in MBA and experience in B school, can you excel as a manager?
- Are you not already making a good living? Can you eventually make a good living after MBA?
- Will an MBA degree increase your value tremendously?
- Are you helping solve an actual problem after your MBA?
- Could you enthusiastically talk about management as a profession for hours together?
Step 3: If your answer is “yes” to four or more questions to the questions in step 2, iterate and ask the same questions over and again. When you are truly convinced with the “yes” answers, congratulate yourself for finding your Ikigai - the reason for being.
Ikigai framework is not a magical tool to find the purpose of ones’ life. Purpose, per se, evolves over a period of time. However, Ikigai entails a fulfilling profession not only on a professional scale but also on a spiritual angle. Of course, to whoever bothers to wake up in the morning!
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Comments
Namrata Patil
Amazing article.
15 Mar 2019, 09.23 PM
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MAHANTESH S GOUDAR
I am studying MBA at IIM Ranchi. I am an avid reader and love to write on anything that catches my eyes and picks my brain. I'm featured in newspapers like Telegraph and Deccan Herald. My articles and stories have been published on InsideIIM and other reputed sites. An artist? Yes. I am also a teetotaler, a tad bit asocial and a failed hockey player. I have an immense interest and curiosity in art, literature, philosophy and also love to discuss on the same. Movies like "Into the wild" and "Goodwill Hunting" inspire my thoughts. I am pragmatic and a rational atheist who neither imposes his views on others nor likes to be imposed upon by others.
Thank you
16 Mar 2019, 05.20 PM |
A Karthic
Concept of Ikigai if everything good.
15 Mar 2019, 09.56 PM
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A Karthic
Concept of Ikigai is good.*
15 Mar 2019, 09.57 PM |
MAHANTESH S GOUDAR
I am studying MBA at IIM Ranchi. I am an avid reader and love to write on anything that catches my eyes and picks my brain. I'm featured in newspapers like Telegraph and Deccan Herald. My articles and stories have been published on InsideIIM and other reputed sites. An artist? Yes. I am also a teetotaler, a tad bit asocial and a failed hockey player. I have an immense interest and curiosity in art, literature, philosophy and also love to discuss on the same. Movies like "Into the wild" and "Goodwill Hunting" inspire my thoughts. I am pragmatic and a rational atheist who neither imposes his views on others nor likes to be imposed upon by others.
Glad that you liked
16 Mar 2019, 05.20 PM |
Sanjana Paul
Very well articulated.
15 Mar 2019, 10.00 PM
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MAHANTESH S GOUDAR
I am studying MBA at IIM Ranchi. I am an avid reader and love to write on anything that catches my eyes and picks my brain. I'm featured in newspapers like Telegraph and Deccan Herald. My articles and stories have been published on InsideIIM and other reputed sites. An artist? Yes. I am also a teetotaler, a tad bit asocial and a failed hockey player. I have an immense interest and curiosity in art, literature, philosophy and also love to discuss on the same. Movies like "Into the wild" and "Goodwill Hunting" inspire my thoughts. I am pragmatic and a rational atheist who neither imposes his views on others nor likes to be imposed upon by others.
Thank you
16 Mar 2019, 05.20 PM |
Kanupriya Jain
Kanupriya studies MBA-HR at IIM Ranchi. She is OPJEMS Scholar 2019, and the winner of Mercer Mettl scholarship for emerging leaders 2019. She is an avid reader and authored a collection of poetry and prose named "Love Knot".
Wonderful articulation. Proud of you.
15 Mar 2019, 10.13 PM
Kanupriya Jain
Kanupriya studies MBA-HR at IIM Ranchi. She is OPJEMS Scholar 2019, and the winner of Mercer Mettl scholarship for emerging leaders 2019. She is an avid reader and authored a collection of poetry and prose named "Love Knot".
Wonderful articulation. Proud of your work
15 Mar 2019, 10.14 PM
+Read Replies (1)
MAHANTESH S GOUDAR
I am studying MBA at IIM Ranchi. I am an avid reader and love to write on anything that catches my eyes and picks my brain. I'm featured in newspapers like Telegraph and Deccan Herald. My articles and stories have been published on InsideIIM and other reputed sites. An artist? Yes. I am also a teetotaler, a tad bit asocial and a failed hockey player. I have an immense interest and curiosity in art, literature, philosophy and also love to discuss on the same. Movies like "Into the wild" and "Goodwill Hunting" inspire my thoughts. I am pragmatic and a rational atheist who neither imposes his views on others nor likes to be imposed upon by others.
Thank you
16 Mar 2019, 05.21 PM |
sanjeev sah
IIM Ranchi ll Worked as Engineer with Design and Optimization Tools at Ericsson
It's a great insight. Excellent.
15 Mar 2019, 10.28 PM
+Read Replies (1)
MAHANTESH S GOUDAR
I am studying MBA at IIM Ranchi. I am an avid reader and love to write on anything that catches my eyes and picks my brain. I'm featured in newspapers like Telegraph and Deccan Herald. My articles and stories have been published on InsideIIM and other reputed sites. An artist? Yes. I am also a teetotaler, a tad bit asocial and a failed hockey player. I have an immense interest and curiosity in art, literature, philosophy and also love to discuss on the same. Movies like "Into the wild" and "Goodwill Hunting" inspire my thoughts. I am pragmatic and a rational atheist who neither imposes his views on others nor likes to be imposed upon by others.
My work of writing this article realises satisfaction if it helped to give you a new insight, a new way ahead.
23 Mar 2019, 03.20 AM |
vishak bharadwaj prasad
Great insights... Interesting read
15 Mar 2019, 10.49 PM
+Read Replies (1)
MAHANTESH S GOUDAR
I am studying MBA at IIM Ranchi. I am an avid reader and love to write on anything that catches my eyes and picks my brain. I'm featured in newspapers like Telegraph and Deccan Herald. My articles and stories have been published on InsideIIM and other reputed sites. An artist? Yes. I am also a teetotaler, a tad bit asocial and a failed hockey player. I have an immense interest and curiosity in art, literature, philosophy and also love to discuss on the same. Movies like "Into the wild" and "Goodwill Hunting" inspire my thoughts. I am pragmatic and a rational atheist who neither imposes his views on others nor likes to be imposed upon by others.
Thanks, glad to know :)
27 Mar 2019, 11.56 PM |
akshata mk
An undergraduate well aspirant student from bagalkot
Very interesting concept
16 Mar 2019, 09.16 AM
Hema S
I have been meaning to learn about Ikigai since a long time. This article provided a great insight to it. Good work!
16 Mar 2019, 12.11 PM
+Read Replies (1)
MAHANTESH S GOUDAR
I am studying MBA at IIM Ranchi. I am an avid reader and love to write on anything that catches my eyes and picks my brain. I'm featured in newspapers like Telegraph and Deccan Herald. My articles and stories have been published on InsideIIM and other reputed sites. An artist? Yes. I am also a teetotaler, a tad bit asocial and a failed hockey player. I have an immense interest and curiosity in art, literature, philosophy and also love to discuss on the same. Movies like "Into the wild" and "Goodwill Hunting" inspire my thoughts. I am pragmatic and a rational atheist who neither imposes his views on others nor likes to be imposed upon by others.
I'm delighted to hear that my article helped you with insights on Ikigai. Ikigai is a powerful framework to find ones reason for being. This article of mine is a mere direction to the path to explore it. You can always learn more about ikigai by exploring in google. I'm glad that I'm of a bit of help to you in that direction.
23 Mar 2019, 12.44 AM |
sahana sn
Amazing article
17 Mar 2019, 12.40 AM
Amogh Javali
Nice Article
19 Mar 2019, 10.07 PM
Manj J
It's Really Cool Bro ... Keep sharing informations like this and enlighten the world ...
21 Mar 2019, 10.40 PM
+Read Replies (1)
MAHANTESH S GOUDAR
I am studying MBA at IIM Ranchi. I am an avid reader and love to write on anything that catches my eyes and picks my brain. I'm featured in newspapers like Telegraph and Deccan Herald. My articles and stories have been published on InsideIIM and other reputed sites. An artist? Yes. I am also a teetotaler, a tad bit asocial and a failed hockey player. I have an immense interest and curiosity in art, literature, philosophy and also love to discuss on the same. Movies like "Into the wild" and "Goodwill Hunting" inspire my thoughts. I am pragmatic and a rational atheist who neither imposes his views on others nor likes to be imposed upon by others.
Thank you for your compliments. Although I am insignificant to enlighten another soul, I'd be happy to share my own thoughts and experiences which may help in making a better decision to a fellow human being.
23 Mar 2019, 12.36 AM |
Manjunath Koleri
Nice article
22 Mar 2019, 05.48 PM
Nikkie Rockzz
This is something that i can relate to myself and I have concluded that MBA is not my cup of tea. I find this Ikigai in programming and perhaps its fine for me. If u works for 10 hours on something and still u have the same enthusiasm then thats your ikigai
22 Mar 2019, 06.52 PM
+Read Replies (1)
MAHANTESH S GOUDAR
I am studying MBA at IIM Ranchi. I am an avid reader and love to write on anything that catches my eyes and picks my brain. I'm featured in newspapers like Telegraph and Deccan Herald. My articles and stories have been published on InsideIIM and other reputed sites. An artist? Yes. I am also a teetotaler, a tad bit asocial and a failed hockey player. I have an immense interest and curiosity in art, literature, philosophy and also love to discuss on the same. Movies like "Into the wild" and "Goodwill Hunting" inspire my thoughts. I am pragmatic and a rational atheist who neither imposes his views on others nor likes to be imposed upon by others.
Yeah. Ikigai is more about discovering what you love to do. My idea was to apply the framework to make decision to choose MBA. You found your ikigai in coding. One can apply it to anything and get the reason for being :) In the end all that matters is - are you doing the same thing that is same as your reason for being.
22 Mar 2019, 11.29 PM |
Praful P
A must read and share
22 Mar 2019, 11.14 PM
Jimmy Dharsandia
Jimmy Dharsandia, PGDHRM at Indian Institute of Management, Ranchi (2018-2020). She has prior work experience of 2.5 years in Talent Acquisition.
Very nice article!
26 Mar 2019, 02.15 PM
Ankita Bhongade
Well put Man!
28 Mar 2019, 12.03 AM