_{Benoit Malige}

Ever wake up staring at the ceiling, wondering if your whole life is just a simulation?

• Why all the hustle?
• Why all the stress?
• Why are you pretending to care about Susan’s PowerPoint presentation?

Here’s the thing: Purpose fixes almost everything. (Except bad PowerPoints. Sorry, Susan.)

It’s your North Star. Your fuel. The thing that makes you unstoppable.

And if you don’t know your purpose yet? No big deal.

Let’s reverse-engineer it.The Framework: Ikigai

Ikigai is a Japanese concept that combines:

• What you love
• What you’re good at
• What the world needs
• What you can get paid for

Think of it as a Venn diagram. And in the center of that diagram, where all the circles overlap? That’s your Ikigai—your reason for getting out of bed that isn’t coffee.

Let’s break it down.

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1. What Do You Love?

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This is your passion. The stuff that makes you forget time exists.

Ask yourself:

• What excited you as a kid? (Remember when life was fun?)
• What do you lose hours doing now?
• What would you keep doing even if no one paid you?

Example:
I always loved creative endeavors. It started with drawing instead of taking notes in class, then music, now writing newsletters like this one.

Passion isn’t random—it’s the breadcrumb trail leading to your purpose.

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2. What Are You Good At?

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This is your unfair advantage. Your thing. The skill that makes people say, “How the hell do you make that look so easy?”

Ask yourself:

• What skills feel effortless for you but impossible for others?
• What do people always come to you for advice on?
• When were you at your absolute best?

Tip: Take the StrengthsFinder test. It’s basically a cheat code for discovering what you naturally crush.

And if you don’t think you’re good at anything? You’re probably just overthinking it. (Which, ironically, you might be really good at.)

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3. What Does the World Need?

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This is where passion meets impact.

Ask yourself:

• What problems piss you off?
• Who or what do you feel compelled to help?
• What would make the world slightly less terrible if you fixed it?

Key Insight:
You’re not here to save the planet in one day. (Unless you’re Batman, and if you are—hi, love your work.) Sometimes it’s as simple as being useful to the people around you.

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4. What Can You Be Paid For?

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This is where the dream becomes sustainable. Because let’s be real—passion is great, but so is not starving.

Ask yourself:

• How can your skills solve problems for other people?
• How can you save someone time or money?
• How can you entertain or inspire someone?

Translation: If it creates value, someone will pay for it. And no, I don’t mean “exposure.” Exposure doesn’t pay rent.

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The Exercise

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Write down your answers to all four questions. Seriously, grab a pen. (Or open a Google Doc if you’re allergic to stationery.)

Look for the overlaps. That’s where your Ikigai lives.

And take your time.

Finding your purpose isn’t a 10-minute hack. It’s a process. Be patient. Stay curious. And if you feel stuck, bribe yourself with snacks.

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Maintenance Mode

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Finding your Ikigai is just the start. Living it daily? That’s where transformation happens.

For me, it began with storytelling. I didn’t start with a grand plan—I just knew I had things to say and people to reach. So, every evening, after long hours spent building someone else’s vision, I carved out 30 minutes to build mine.

It wasn’t glamorous. It was messy, inconsistent, and sometimes downright frustrating. But I kept showing up.

As James Clear says:

"You do not rise to the level of your goals. You fall to the level of your systems."

I built systems to make it work—small, repeatable habits that moved me forward one step at a time. Over time, those steps turned into strides.

And eventually, I made the leap. Not a free fall, but a calculated jump I’d prepared for.

Risk isn’t the enemy. Stagnation is.

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Final Thought

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Purpose isn’t some magical, one-time epiphany. It’s the engine that keeps you going, especially on the days you don’t feel like starting the car.

It’s why you get out of bed when life punches you in the face. It’s why the happiest people aren’t chasing something—they’re living it.

And the best part? Purpose isn’t found. It’s built.

So, grab a shovel. Your Ikigai isn’t going to dig itself.

Until next time,

Ben

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