Work Collective – A Unique Journey

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Social Enterprise

Work Collective – A Unique Journey

By From The Desk 29 January, 2020

What if you could live longer just by doing more of what you love to do most?

It’s an attractive theory that finds its evidence in a community on the island of Okinawa that’s nicknamed the ‘Village of Longevity’ because its residents have the highest life expectancy in the world. They also largely share a devotion to a Japanese philosophy known as ikigai, over-simplified this translates as the happiness derived from being busy at some activity that holds meaning and purpose for them.

Ogimi is the friendly village of some 3,000 residents who are the world’s longest-living people. It’s is known for its slow pace, ocean views, community gatherings, personal vegetable gardens and residents who smile, laugh and joke incessantly. They also take great pride in living to 100 and beyond. It is said they have found Ikigai.

Ikigai has been pictorialised in books, written about in articles – seen as the center of a Venn diagram in which your answers to the great questions of life all overlap: What do you love? What are you good at? What can you be paid for? What does the world need?

When you find the answer that fits all four questions, that’s your ikigai. Another way of defining your own ikigai is to ask yourself: Why do you get up in the morning? Or, what motivates you?

For people who are discriminated against or marginalised in everyday activities such as work, education and who are consequently disadvantaged socio-economically, grasping the concept of “what get’s you up in the morning” can have a very different look and feel.

Ken Mogi, a Japanese neuroscientist and author of “Awakening Your Ikigai: How the Japanese Wake Up to Joy and Purpose Every Day” equates the ethos for ikigai to the famous British government slogan from World War II posters: “Keep Calm and Carry On.” Frankl’s logotherapy on the other hand aims to help people find their purpose in life. (“Logos” is the Greek word for “meaning.”) He argues if you feel anxious or empty, it’s because you are having an existential crisis.

Therapy might be one way to find your ikigai, which is the “existential fuel” that motivates us to live long and happy, as García and Miralles put it. But less expensive than therapy is asking yourself the question “what is the meaning of my life?” and pursuing activities that support your answer. Even more simple is the question “what do I love doing most?” Your ikigai may well lie in the activities that tend to induce a state of being fully and delightfully immersed in that action.

Our Work Collective Project is all all about finding the illusive Ikigai

For those of us who have never had the opportunity to take up the journey into that ‘ideal job’ or learn new skills in an area of interest because they just didn’t cut-it in mainstream education, or just needed a break and become part of a work group despite their disability; Work Collective might be a path to finding you ikigai

Work Collective takes up projects in partnership with small businesses to achieve a set of business goals. This might be to build a website, run social media campaigns, provide a help desk service, build a community directory, and it can be so much more. Work Collective is only limited by the skills of its group. The more members in the Collective the more work can be sourced.

Work Collective is currently engaged in a number of project partnerships and is gathering teams of volunteers who are looking to expand their skills, and gain work experience and references for the purpose of gaining paid employment – and maybe finding their IKigai. The bigger the Collective membership the greater the scope to also share small financial benefits.

if you are interested in joining the Work Collective there are many paths in:

Volunteer as a driver or walker companion
Volunteer your skills to support participants in our small business partnership projects
If you have a disability or are disadvantaged in mainstream learning or workforce options, see if our Work Collective is a match for your work or education pathway needs.
If you’re unemployed and need to contribute time to a community organisation, Work Collective might be a WIN WIN. Meet your obligation while learning new things, working on real projects, and getting a great reference for your job.

Whatever your interest be sure to contact us and let us know where you see yourself fitting in the Work Collective, what your challenges are, what type of things you want to do, or what type of work-stuff interests you.