Have you ever paused to consider why you do what you do?

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I'm not talking about the obvious reasons like paying bills or chasing success. I mean the deeper, more meaningful purpose that gets you out of bed each morning, excited to start your day.

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A purpose that makes you wonder why you would even want to think about retirement.

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It's something that I've been thinking about a lot lately, as it has been a difficult year on many levels.

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There are many tools that you can use to help you find your purpose, and I will undoubtedly discuss many of them as I incorporate the best of them into the Business GPS that I give to my clients.

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Recently, I've been looking at the fascinating Japanese concept of 'ikigai'.

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It's a beautiful idea that could completely change how you approach your business. I particularly like it because it's holistic - which is great for people with a business of one because the nature of our work often means that life and business are intertwined.

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It's about finding that sweet spot where your passions, skills, the world's needs, and financial viability all come together.

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It sounds almost too good to be true, but it doesn't have to be.

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Héctor García and Francesc Miralles, in their book "Ikigai: The Japanese Secret to a Long and Happy Life", suggest that having a clear ikigai brings satisfaction, happiness, and meaning to our lives.

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I would suggest that if you are working on your own and juggling a myriad of responsibilities like managing your business operations, meeting client needs, overseeing household duties, ensuring family care, and finding time for personal well-being, having a clear Ikigai - your reason for being - becomes essential to navigate these complexities and demands with purpose and fulfilment.

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As the Internet Economy grows over the coming years, this will give you a huge advantage. (I'll write out this more in a future email, but essentially if you are using the internet in your business, you are a part of the internet economy.)

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So, how can we apply this to our online businesses?

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Here's a little exercise for you:

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1. Grab a cuppa and a notepad.
2. Jot down your thoughts on these four questions:

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• What aspects of your work genuinely light you up?
• What unique skills or perspectives do you bring to the table?
• What pressing needs can your work address?
• How can you make your offerings financially sustainable?

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The magic happens where your answers intersect. That's where you'll find the key to your purpose-driven business. And when you find that, the desire to retire fades.

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Let's face it: if you are getting paid to do what you love, why would you want to retire?

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What I didn't expect was how this would influence my business strategy in such a positive way.

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If you want to dig deeper into this, I've written about my favourite Big Ideas from "Ikigai: The Japanese Secret to a Long and Happy Life" in this Flourish Note.

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I'd love to hear your thoughts on this! Hit reply and let me know what you discover about your ikigai.

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Before I sign off, here's a quick round-up of the Flourish Gems since my last email:

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Want an easy productivity boost? Discover how integrating gentle movement can boost productivity and well-being whilst combatting the "sitting is the new smoking" phenomenon.

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In this Gem we take a look at unlocking purpose in the Internet Economy.

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And the most recent Flourish Gem is about thriving as a Sovereign Individual.

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Wishing you a week full of purpose and productivity!

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Until next time

Louise

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P.S. If you found this email helpful, why not forward it to a friend who might enjoy it too?

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Louise Beattie

​Forge & Flourish​

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