Accidental Ikigai

or: How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Love My Work

(as originally published in inc. magazine)

I recently received an invitation to deliver a speech to a conference full of young adults. The topic: ‘Preparing for Professional Life’.

This struck me as patently vague, but interesting and in my wheelhouse, considering some of my recent work on career management.

I hopped on the horn with the event planner to see if she might help me tighten up my slippery grip on the topic.

“Happily.” She said. “Specifically, we’re looking for someone to give them a point of view as to what matters most… as they prepare for professional life.”

Me (now awash in twice the ambiguity): “…”

Her: “It is of course a paid speaking engagement.”

I said what any self-respecting entrepreneur would: “Happy to help.”

1. Follow the Money
“If there’s a steady paycheck in it, I’ll believe anything you say.”
~Winston Zeddemore (Ghostbusters)

1994: As the first person in my family to attend college, I was light on rich uncles to help me ‘prepare for professional life’. Working class kids like me were relegated to the freshman guidance…