CSZ Rambles: 12/1/2018

Entry #7

This entry contains an Ikigai exercise as I tried to hone in on my career aspirations. Here is an article explaining the concept and a diagram which is what I based my exercise off of. If you really want to get into it, there is a book by Hector Garcia and Albert Lieberman that you can also pick up to learn more about it.

For added context since this entry was written months after the last one: at this point, I am finishing up my first semester of grad school, I spent the summer working a job on campus and I became a Graduate Assistant during the semester. The GA checks were barely able to cover my rent expenses, let alone other expenses. I was pursuing an MBA without a clear career goal in mind. I was looking into opportunities related to Social Media Management, the Non-Profit sector, and Diversity and Inclusion. I was also a few weeks away from launching the podcast.

I’m caught in a weird place: I’m ready to have a regular job, and make ~$800 per week and add things to my resume. I’m also not ready to give up the schedule that I have where I go to class at night and wake up between 9 and 12 noon (at my discretion). The pros of having the job all tie back to having an income, and that’s really it. I’ve really been trying to look into myself to find the things that I really like/want to do as far as an occupation goes. But, I still don’t have a clear answer. The pros of my current situation all tie back to the freedom. We all know I’m capable of waking up and playing the game and doing that whole thing. I’m just working on really looking out for myself in all aspects but it’s so hard. And it’s not even the act of looking out for myself that is proving to be difficult, but finding the things that actually do please me. 

There was an Ikigai Venn Diagram that I found on Twitter and it means “a reason for being”. The diagram has four circles instead of 2. I’m going to work on it here.

Circle 1

Passion: myself, equity, fairness, self-sufficiency

Mission: fairness/justice/equity

What You Love: Helping others find their focus, social justice

=Delight and fullness, but no wealth

Circle 2

Mission: fairness/justice/equity

Vocation: Diversity & Inclusion, Public Speaking

What the world needs: peace, happiness, a wake up call

=Excitement and complacency, but sense of uncertainty

Circle 3

Vocation: Diversity & Inclusion, Public Speaking

Profession: Diversity & Inclusion in Business, Social Media Marketing/Strategy, Management, Entertainment

What you can be paid for: Speaking engagements, lifestyle coaching

=Comfortable, but feeling of emptiness

Circle 4
Profession: Diversity & Inclusion in Business, Social Media Marketing/Strategy, Management, Entertainment

Passion: myself, equity, fairness, self-sufficiency

What you are good at: Public Speaking, 

=Satisfaction, but feeling of uselessness

As it turns out, I was somewhat able to fill it in. The common denominators include me having some kind of public platform to send a message. All of the internet quizzes that I take usually tell me that I should be president or in PR or a development fundraiser or a CEO….which is all great but, I just feel like I don’t really have the chance to make that stuff happen. Not saying I don’t have the ability, it just seems so...random. I know that it will all become clear. I’ve been praying about finding myself on the right path. The task just seems way more daunting when January rent will be due but December rent is about to wipe me out. BUT, I’m not worried, I am simply working on finding a good plan.