Ikigai and overlapping the circles

Ikigai is a Japanese concept meaning “a reason for being”. This concept is illustrated with overlapping circles of “what you love” and “what the world needs”.

A few days ago in “Can you do what you love?”, I talked about how we can look to do more of the “what you love” and “what the world needs” circles, and then said, thinking of my own work:

“When I get all four circles overlapping, that is truly a great feeling.”

Well, in response to that post I received an email challenging me.

That email came from my dear friend Ian Armiger, one of the most purpose-driven leaders I have ever known. Ian is one of the top sports coaches in the world, though I’d say perhaps his greatest strength is in being connected to and developing others throughout their careers. As a result, he has not only visibly supported so many swimmers with moving their careers in coaching, he also supports his swimmers over their lives in many ways through staying connected always and often to so many.

Anyway, Ian wrote to me and said:

Not sure why the aim is an overlapping of circles….
Surely, just one circle encompassing…