Ikigai, a beautiful Japanese concept, embodies the essence of a fulfilling life. It’s about finding that sweet spot where what you love, what you’re good at, what the world needs, and what you can be paid for intersect.

The graphic shows the four elements of Ikigai. It’s a harmonious blend that we strive for but find elusive.

Most people can find alignment of two of these elements—finding a job and becoming good at it. The lucky ones hit a trifecta – loving their work, excelling in it, and being well-compensated.

But, how do you hit this trifecta?

Scott Galloway offers an interesting answer in his new book, The Algebra of Wealth. He writes:

“Your mission is to find something you’re good at and put in the thousands of hours of grit and sacrifice necessary to become great at it. As you progress, the feeling of growth and increasing mastery, coupled with economic rewards, recognition, and camaraderie, will ignite a passion for whatever ‘it’ is. While it’s rare to become great at something you dislike, mastery can often lead to passion.”

I find Galloway’s reasoning quite practical. What do you think? Is he on the mark or not, from your perspective?