IKIGAI for Mother Entrepreneurs: Find Your Purpose & Thrive
- (Admin) The Thrivology Company
- Jun 14
- 9 min read
Updated: Jul 11
From Passion to Profit: How to Forge a Fulfilling Business Path (Even with Four Kids in Tow!)
Okay, lovely, let’s have a real chat. You, me, a cuppa (or something stronger, no judgement here – it’s definitely wine o’clock somewhere!). So many of us ambitious mother-entrepreneurs dive headfirst into building our businesses fuelled by a brilliant idea, a desire for freedom, or frankly, the need to create an income that works around our families. But somewhere along the way, amidst the school runs, the nappy changes (oh, the glamour!), the client calls, & the never-ending to-do list, do you ever find yourself wondering… “Is this really IT?”
Maybe the passion feels a bit… diluted. Or you’re making money, but there’s a niggle, a feeling that something deeper is missing. You’re not alone. So many incredible women I speak to, particularly those of us juggling the beautiful chaos of motherhood, struggle to connect their business to a core purpose that truly lights them up beyond the balance sheet. They often lack a concrete tool to help them find that clarity, that deep, soul-satisfying alignment. While we've previously discussed the vital role of purpose in your entrepreneurial journey (Femmeprenista Female Entrepreneur Support: Find Your Purpose), today we're exploring a specific, wonderfully practical framework to help you uncover it, & it’s called IKIGAI.
And as a CEO & mum of four myself – yes, currently navigating the delightful whirlwind of a new baby, a toddler, a school-aged child, andand a teenager, all while pursuing my PhD – I can tell you, finding that strategic sweet spot where your passion meets profit, guided by purpose, isn’t just a nice-to-have. It’s the secret sauce to building a business that not only thrives financially but also deeply fulfils you and, crucially, doesn’t burn you to a crisp. Honestly, I think of the importance of purpose as finding the heart of your business so you can love what you do & live life on your terms. As a bonus, I can tell you that finding that perfect fit helps you avoid Preventing Entrepreneurial Burnout Women: Real Talk & Strategies, & that's what we're all about here, finding Work-Life Integration for Mums: Ditch the Myth & Flourish!
What on Earth is IKIGAI (and Why Should a Busy Mum-Boss Actually Care)?
Now, I know what you might be thinking. “IKIGAI? Carlene, honestly, another philosophical concept? I’m trying to find time to shower with both eyes open, let alone contemplate the meaning of life!” And I hear you! Believe me, with my house often sounding like a recording studio for a kids' TV show (the current chart-topper seems to be a particularly enthusiastic rendition of something involving animated puppies), I get that time is precious.
But here’s the thing: IKIGAI (pronounced ‘ee-kee-guy’) isn’t just some lofty, abstract idea. It’s a Japanese concept that translates roughly to “a reason for being” or “a reason to jump out of bed in the morning.” Think of it as a practical, actionable compass. It’s found at the intersection of four crucial elements:
What You LOVE: The things that make your heart sing, that you could do for hours without noticing time pass.
What The World NEEDS: The problems you can solve, the value you can offer that others are seeking.
What You Can Be PAID FOR: The skills & offerings that have market value & can generate income.
What You Are GOOD AT: Your natural talents, skills & strengths.
When you find that sweet spot where all four overlap, that’s your IKIGAI. And for us mother-entrepreneurs, it’s gold. It’s about moving beyond just “what can I sell?” to “what can I offer that aligns my passion, my skills, a genuine market need, & my financial goals?” It’s about strategically designing a business that feels deeply you.
I remember when I was doing my MBA at Cranfield. It was an incredible experience, a real “mini explosion in my head” moment with all the new information. I was juggling a young baby at the time (the one now terrorizing the house as a six-year-old!) & trying to figure out how to apply all these high-level business concepts to my life. Even with all that strategic knowledge, I realised that simply climbing another rung on the corporate ladder, even for more money, wouldn’t bring me the quality of life or direct impact I craved. It was uncovering my own “why,” my own intersection of passion & purpose, that guided me to build Femmeprenista. And even after understanding the theory, I remember trying to launch a high-end fashion line, driven by my love for design (a lingering passion from my fashion degree!), only to discover the market wasn’t there, and I felt completely depleted by the effort... It taught me the hard way that passion alone isn’t enough; you have to find that sweet spot where it aligns with a real need & commercial viability. IKIGAI is a fantastic tool to help you do just that, providing a framework for that essential clarity.
IKIGAI Isn't Just Soul-Searching, It's Smart Business Strategy
This is where IKIGAI moves from being a lovely personal development tool to a powerhouse for your business. Discovering your IKIGAI is, frankly, a strategic imperative. It directly informs:
Your Unique Value Proposition (UVP): What makes you different? Your IKIGAI helps you pinpoint this because it’s born from your unique blend of loves, skills, & what the world genuinely needs from you. This clarity helps you articulate exactly why someone should choose you.
Your Ideal Client: When you’re clear on what you love & what problems you’re best equipped to solve, you naturally attract clients who resonate with that specific energy & value. No more trying to be all things to all people!
Your Service Offerings: Your IKIGAI guides you to create services & products that you’re not only good at delivering but also genuinely passionate about. This means you show up with more energy & enthusiasm, & your clients feel it.
Your Authentic Marketing Message: When your business is aligned with your IKIGAI, your marketing stops feeling like a chore & starts feeling like a natural extension of who you are. Your passion shines through, making your messaging far more compelling & magnetic. This is where you really develop that Authentic Branding for Femmeprenistas: Build Your Brand's Soul that connects deeply with your ideal clients.
Think about it – when you’re operating from a place of genuine passion (what you love), addressing a real need (what the world needs), leveraging your innate talents (what you’re good at), & ensuring it’s commercially viable (what you can be paid for), you’re building on an incredibly solid foundation. Understanding your purpose (IKIGAI) is key to the Fuel Pillar of the Business Flourish Framework: Female Entrepreneurs' Blueprint for Success. It’s about crafting a business that truly flourishes because it’s built with intention & deep alignment.
The Unshakeable Ally: Your Resilient, Positive Mindset
Now, uncovering your IKIGAI is a wonderful, illuminating process. But let’s be real: acting on those insights, especially when you’re juggling the demands of Motherhood and Entrepreneurship Journey: My Unfiltered Story & entrepreneurship, requires serious inner strength. And that’s where a resilient, positive mindset becomes your most crucial ally.
One of my core beliefs, something I champion fiercely here at Femmeprenista, is the power of Personal Responsibility & Ownership. Yes, there are systemic challenges. Yes, life throws curveballs (I mean, trying to pitch a new client while your toddler has just redecorated the cat with Sudocrem is a special kind of curveball!). But ultimately, you are the CEO of your life & your business. Taking personal responsibility for uncovering and, crucially, acting upon your IKIGAI is what makes the difference.
A positive, resilient mindset helps you:
Navigate Self-Doubt: Those pesky “who am I to do this?” thoughts? A strong mindset helps you acknowledge them & push through, anchored by your purpose.
Overcome Challenges: Business is a rollercoaster, not a merry-go-round. Resilience helps you bounce back from setbacks, learn the lessons, & keep moving forward. My own PhD journey, undertaken with my youngest two as babies, is certainly slower & has more detours than if I were doing it child-free. But I own that. I take responsibility for my pace & my progress.
Stay Focused Amidst the Chaos: When you’re clear on your “why” & believe in your path, it’s easier to filter out distractions & stay focused on what truly matters for your business growth & personal fulfilment.
Developing this resilient mindset is a cornerstone of entrepreneurial success (Relevant Content Pillar Page (e.g., Mindset & Empowerment)). It’s about sharpening your inner game, cultivating that unshakeable belief in yourself & your vision, even when the path feels more like a muddy obstacle course than a yellow brick road. You know, a strong mind needs time to rest, reflect & recharge, & that's why making time to relax is so important. And so you keep moving!
From "Hustle Harder" to "Align Smarter": The IKIGAI-Mindset Power Duo
So many mother-entrepreneurs I meet are trapped in the “hustle culture” narrative. They believe that to succeed, they have to work all the hours, sacrifice their well-being, & constantly be “on.” And honestly? It’s a recipe for burnout & resentment.
The beautiful thing about integrating IKIGAI with a positive mindset is that it allows you to move beyond this. It’s not about hustling harder; it’s about aligning smarter. When your business is deeply connected to your core purpose, it stops feeling like a drain & starts feeling like a source of energy. You’re not just chasing income; you’re building something meaningful, something that contributes, something that genuinely excites you. This intrinsic motivation is incredibly powerful & sustainable.
This allows you to:
Create a Business That Fuels You: Imagine work that doesn’t leave you feeling depleted, but actually energised & inspired. That’s the power of alignment. It becomes about prioritising your well-being because your business supports it, rather than detracting from it.
Make More Impactful Decisions: With clarity on your IKIGAI, your decision-making becomes more streamlined. You know what opportunities to say “yes” to and, just as importantly, what to decline because it doesn’t align with your core path.
Build True Work-Life Integration: Instead of seeing work & life as warring factions, you can start to weave them together more harmoniously. Your business becomes an authentic expression of who you are & what you value, making that “juggle” feel a little less like a battle. I remember the constraints of corporate life, feeling like a replaceable cog with limited flexibility for family. Entrepreneurship, built on purpose, offers the autonomy to design a life where I can be present for my children’s “little pottery cups from school” moments, even amidst the beautiful chaos. Seriously, those moments are priceless & I love being there for them!
Your IKIGAI in Action: A Few Practical Starting Points
Feeling inspired to explore your own IKIGAI? Fantastic! Here are a few simple ways to begin, even if you only have 15-minute pockets of time (perhaps while the baby naps or during that surprisingly quiet car journey after school drop-off!):
Grab a Journal (or the Notes App on Your Phone!):
What I Love: List activities, topics, or tasks that genuinely make you lose track of time. What did you love doing as a child? What are you curious about now? No judgement, just jot it all down. (e.g., Painting, hiking, reading historical fiction)(e.g., Painting, hiking, reading historical fiction)
What The World Needs: What problems do you see around you? What conversations are happening that resonate with you? What do people frequently ask you for help with? (e.g., Better time management for busy parents, sustainable fashion options, clearer communication in teams)(e.g., Better time management for busy parents, sustainable fashion options, clearer communication in teams)
What I Can Be Paid For: What skills do you have that people currently pay for, or could pay for? What services or products could you offer? (e.g., Social media management, website design, coaching services, handcrafted jewelry)(e.g., Social media management, website design, coaching services, handcrafted jewelry)
What I Am Good At: What are your natural talents? What do people compliment you on? What tasks feel easy or intuitive to you? (e.g., Writing compelling copy, organizing complex projects, connecting with people on a deep level)(e.g., Writing compelling copy, organizing complex projects, connecting with people on a deep level)
Chat to Trusted Friends or Mentors: Sometimes, others see our strengths & passions more clearly than we do. Ask a few trusted people what they think you’re brilliant at or what problems they see you being uniquely equipped to solve.
Look for Overlaps: Once you have your lists, start looking for the intersections. Where do your passions meet a genuine need? Where do your skills align with what people will pay for? That sweet spot is where your IKIGAI starts to emerge. For instance, if you love writing (passion) & see many businesses struggling with their website copy (need), your IKIGAI might be offering copywriting services.
Remember, this isn't a one-time exercise. It's an ongoing exploration. As you grow & evolve, so too might your understanding of your IKIGAI. The key is to start, to get curious, & to take that first step towards building a business that is not only profitable but profoundly purposeful & deeply fulfilling.
Finding your IKIGAI & pairing it with a resilient, positive mindset is like handing yourself the keys to a business that truly fits you – your values, your life as a mother, & your biggest ambitions. It’s about creating success without sacrifice, & impact without burnout. And that, lovely, is a journey worth embarking on.
If you're a feeling that spark of excitement & looking for direct support in clarifying your business idea, finding that all-important purpose & laying these vital foundations using powerful frameworks like IKIGAI, then our 1:1 Coaching program is designed specifically to help you do just that. We’d love to guide you.
Carlene Nisbett
Founder & CEO, Femmeprenista
Wife, Mother of four, Business Owner, PhD Researcher, Pet mom, Plant mom, 5'0" tall Passionate Multitasker & Wine Lover, You get the drift
P.S. This is just the beginning! - If you're looking for a supportive community of like-minded female entrepreneurs who get it, why not pop over and say hello?
We'd love to welcome you!
Comments