Have you ever felt like you’re just going through the motions, stuck in a job that leaves you feeling empty and unfulfilled? You’re not alone.

Many people feel lost and unsure about their purpose, but there’s a powerful concept that can help you find clarity and direction.

It’s called Ikigai, and it could transform your life.

The Corporate Trap and the Search for Meaning

Too many people spend their time on work that leaves them feeling empty, lost, and confused.

They lack mental clarity and struggle to know what their actual purpose is or what they truly enjoy.

It’s frustrating to feel disconnected from your purpose. You find yourself lost in life, unsure of what you’re doing.

Distractions and societal pressures only add to the confusion.

This story not only resonates with me, it was me.

I spent 11 years feeling lost and confused about what I wanted to do with my life.

I followed the traditional system. I went to college, got a job, went back to graduate school, climbed the corporate ladder.

But I never had a confident answer to the common question, “What do you want to do?”

I was always confident in answering other questions unrelated to my career. But when it came to my career, I never had the mental clarity to know what I wanted to do or what my calling was.

Do you relate? I suggest you keep reading…

The Toll of a Purpose-Less Life

This disconnection from your true purpose leaves you feeling empty and unfulfilled.

It affects your confidence, your self-worth, and your overall happiness.

The daily grind becomes unbearable, and you feel trapped in a cycle of discontent.

Without solving this problem, you risk spending your life in a job that makes you miserable.

Your personal relationships suffer, your mental health declines, and your dream life drifts further and further out of reach.

Think of it like this… 90-year-olds never talk about all the amazing accomplishments throughout their lives.

They talk about the things they didn’t do that they wish they would’ve.

You have the opportunity, right now, to gain control of your direction in life so you can tell war stories instead of regrets at 90 years old.

Discovering Your Ikigai

First off, let me explain the Ikigai concept.

Ikigai is a Japanese idea referring to your reason for being or your purpose in life.

The framework includes four inputs:

1. What You Love

2. What You’re Good At

3. What You Can Be Paid For

4. What The World Needs

There are four intersections of the above inputs:

1. Passion = What You Love X What You’re Good At

2. Profession = What You’re Good At X What You Can Be Paid For

3. Vocation = What You Can Be Paid For X What The World Needs

4. Mission = What The World Needs X What You Love

Your Ikigai, or your purpose in life, sits in the middle of your passion, profession, vocation, and mission.

You can visualize the concept by drawing four intersecting circles, one for each input.

Why the Ikigai Concept is so Transformational

It’s hard to find mental clarity and self-awareness when you’re struggling through a purpose-less life and searching for meaning.

Ikigai is a framework that can help you find strength and drive yourself to succeed no matter the tough times you find yourself in.

Almost every person I talk to hates their job. Why is that?

Why do people distract themselves from finding their true calling in life?

I never understood why people hated what they did (including myself). But I also never had a good answer to why that was until I learned about Ikigai.

The Ikigai concept quite literally transformed my life, from the empty, lost, and confused soul to the purposeful, fulfilled, and visionary person I am today.

You can also use the framework to figure out what you don’t like to do, and reverse engineer that into what you do like.

When finding purpose is reframed like this, it provides a massive mental shift.

Disputing Objections

But what if you’re not into this type of practical philosophy?

Is this “too deep” for you?

If the answer is yes, that’s ok. This isn’t for everyone.

But if you’re unsure, and resonate with the pains you read above, I suggest you follow this step-by-step framework to find your Ikigai.

• Step 1: Download the Ikigai template I created for you below

• Step 2: List 3 things you love

• Step 3: List 3 things you’re good at

• Step 4: List 3 things you can be paid for

• Step 5: List 3 things the world needs

• Step 6: Share your Ikigai on X and tag me @markfrommktg

I’m willing to bet on those of you who take the time to find your Ikigai.

A transformation is in the works.

And you are a huge step closer to building your dream life.

My Ikigai?

• Building systems

• Coaching

• Brand building

• Learning & sharing

• Winning

• Healthy Lifestyle

Mindset Jujitsu.

As always, I love to chat with you guys! Reply back to this email or DM me on X (@markfrommktg) with any questions, feedback, or to simply kick it.

Thanks for being here.

Talk soon,

Mark