How to Ikigai | Tim Tamashiro | TEDxYYC

Summary

The speaker introduces 'iki guy,' a Japanese concept representing one's life's purpose, akin to a treasure map guiding individuals to discover and share their unique qualities with the world. He shares his personal journey of self-discovery, from quitting a stable job to pursuing various exciting endeavors, ultimately finding his iki guy in delighting others. He encourages the audience to explore their iki guy through part-time projects or side hustles, emphasizing the importance of aligning one's passion with the world's needs and being rewarded for it, suggesting a path to a meaningful and joyful life.

Takeaways

• 😊 The word 'Ikigai' is pronounced 'iki-guy,' and it means 'life's purpose.'
• 🌟 Ikigai is like a treasure map that helps you find and share wonderful things about yourself with the world.
• 💼 The speaker distinguishes between a job (regular employment for money) and work (something done to achieve a meaningful result).
• 🌍 Ikigai has four directions: do what you love, do what you're good at, do what the world needs, and do what you can be rewarded for.
• 🥋 The speaker compares Ikigai to karate, suggesting you can earn 'belts' or degrees in Ikigai as you progress.
• 🎶 The speaker's personal Ikigai is to delight, which they express in various activities like music, travel, and helping others.
• ⌛ Ikigai can start part-time by focusing on what you love and are good at during your free time, potentially growing into a full-time pursuit.
• 💡 A side hustle can help turn part-time Ikigai into a full-time endeavor, while a side helpful focuses on activities that broaden your heart and happiness.
• 🧘 According to a course at Yale University, real happiness comes from kindness, meditation, time affluence, and spending time with friends and family.
• 🏆 Ikigai is an action verb, and it can be something you enjoy every day, eventually leading to a meaningful life.

Q & A

What is the correct pronunciation of 'iki guy'?

The correct pronunciation of 'iki guy' is with a smiling expression, lifting the cheeks as if smiling, and it sounds like 'ee-kee guy'.

What does the speaker suggest 'iki guy' represents?

The speaker suggests that 'iki guy' represents a treasure map that can guide one to discover wonderful things about oneself to share with the world.

Why did the speaker quit his job at CBC Radio 2?

The speaker quit his job at CBC Radio 2 to focus on his work, which is something he does to achieve a result or purpose, rather than just for regular employment.

What is the difference between a 'job' and 'work' as described by the speaker?

A 'job' is described as a regular form of employment for monetary compensation, while 'work' is something done to achieve a result, such as a product or a more meaningful purpose.

What significant experiences did the speaker have in the past year?

The speaker traveled to Oregon to see a full eclipse, went on an icebreaker across the Northwest Passage, visited Canada's north coast, helped build houses in the Dominican Republic, filmed a documentary, and took a family trip to Okinawa, Japan.

Why is Okinawa special to the speaker?

Okinawa is special to the speaker because it is where the speaker's grandparents were born, and it is also the origin of 'iki guy', a concept that resonates with the speaker.

What is the meaning of 'karate' in Japanese?

In Japanese, 'karate' is a combination of two words: 'kara' meaning 'empty' and 'te' meaning 'hand', which literally translates to 'empty hand'.

What does 'iki guy' stand for in terms of life's purpose?

'Iki guy' stands for 'life's purpose', with 'iki' meaning 'life' and 'guy' being a representation of 'purpose'.

What is the speaker's iki guy according to the script?

The speaker's iki guy is to 'delight', which is the purpose he aims to fulfill in his interactions and work.

How does the speaker suggest one can start discovering their iki guy?

The speaker suggests starting part-time, focusing on what one loves and is good at, and considering side hustles or side helpful activities to explore one's iki guy.

What is the formula for iki guy as presented by the speaker?

The formula for iki guy is time affluence plus your gifts plus rewards in return, which can be practiced repeatedly to enrich one's life.

What is the significance of earning 'belts' in the context of iki guy?

Earning 'belts' in the context of iki guy signifies progress and mastery in understanding and living one's life's purpose, similar to the ranks in martial arts like karate.