The Ikigai Method: Use AI to Figure Out What Business You're Meant to Start
You’ve read the niche guides. You’ve seen the viral AI workflows. But every time you try to pick a business idea, something feels off.
Too risky. Too boring. Too scattered.
The truth? You’re not lacking ideas. You’re lacking alignment.
The kind of alignment that makes you want to show up every day. That gives you momentum even when no one’s watching.
That’s what the concept of Ikigai offers…clarity about the work that fits who you are, how you think, and what other people actually need. I’ve done this exercise several times over the years and trust me - it works wonders!
And now, with AI, you don’t need to spend six months soul-searching. You can surface your patterns, test your assumptions, and find your edge in a single afternoon.
This isn’t about chasing the next big thing. It’s about building the thing that makes sense for you. Here’s how to apply the Ikigai framework with AI in 2025.
What Is Ikigai? (And Why It Beats the “Pick a Niche” Game)
Ikigai is a Japanese concept that means “reason for being.” But in practical terms? It’s the intersection of four things:
What you love
What you're good at
What the world needs
What you can be paid for
Most people start a business chasing just one or two of those. Like:
“This topic makes money.” (But you burn out)
“This sounds fun.” (But no one’s paying for it)
“I’m good at this.” (But you don’t care anymore)
Here’s what I’ve learned: Ikigai is about alignment…not just profitability.
It’s where passion meets skill meets impact meets income. And when you start from that place, the work pulls you forward instead of wearing you down.
So how do you find yours?
You don’t guess. You don’t meditate on a mountaintop.
You use smart prompts and sharper questions…and let AI help you spot the patterns.
Let’s do it together…
Why Most People Get Stuck (And How AI Helps You Move)
If you're like most ambitious people in their 20s or 30s, you've probably tried to "figure it out" before:
Journals full of brainstorms
Podcasts on purpose
Courses on clarity
But clarity rarely shows up when you're stuck in your own head.
You're too close to your skills. You discount your wins. You ignore the problems you've already solved…because they feel normal to you.
That's why it's so easy to stay in research mode. Or idea roulette. Or default back to your day job.
AI flips that. It gives you a mirror. A thinking partner. A second brain that doesn’t carry your self-doubt or overthinking.
It won’t hand you your purpose…but it will help you see what’s been in front of you all along.
The right prompts reveal the through-lines:
What you enjoy. What you’re great at. What other people want from you. All in one view.
So let’s stop guessing…and start uncovering.
Ready to find your ikigai? We’ll start with what you love.
Step 1: What You Love
The first part of ikigai is energy.
What lights you up. What you’d do even if no one paid you.
This isn’t about hobbies or “follow your bliss” fluff. It’s about the tasks, topics, and conversations that make you forget to check the clock.
Here’s how to surface it fast…with help from AI.
Instructions: Write out your answers to this:
What are 10 things I genuinely enjoy doing?
What do I look forward to - even when I’m tired?
What topics do I talk about with friends without forcing it?
Then plug it into ChatGPT:
“I’m trying to identify the kinds of work and topics I naturally love engaging with.
Here are 10 things I enjoy doing: [paste your list]
What themes or patterns do you notice?
Based on that, what types of business categories or industries might align with my interests?”
Why this works:
It gets you out of the default job mindset and into what actually fuels your curiosity and motivation.
Not every interest becomes a business. But most great businesses start with someone who gives a damn.
Step 2: What You’re Good At
This is where your leverage lives.
You don’t need to be a world-class expert. You just need to know what you can do better—or faster—than most people.
Think beyond your job description. Think about the stuff people come to you for, even when it's not your role.
Instructions: Answer these questions first:
What have I been complimented on consistently—inside or outside work?
What skills have people paid me for (even once)?
What do I help friends or coworkers with, without thinking twice?
Then drop it into ChatGPT:
“I’m trying to identify my strongest, most transferable skills for building a business.
Here are things I’ve been complimented on or paid for: [paste your list]
What patterns do you notice?
What kinds of services, products, or outcomes could I realistically deliver based on these skills?”
Why this works:
It gives you a skill inventory you probably don’t realize you’re sitting on.
When you combine this with what you love?
You’re not just building a business…you’re creating momentum you can sustain.
Next: let’s zoom out from you and look at the world.
Step 3: What the World Needs
This is the piece most aspiring founders skip.
They start with what they want - and forget to ask what people are already struggling with.
But here’s the unlock: when your interests intersect with real-world problems? That’s where trust, demand, and cash live.
Instructions: Answer these prompts first:
What groups or communities do I feel connected to or care about?
What kinds of people do I find myself wanting to help?
What problems have I faced that others are still stuck in?
Then plug into ChatGPT:
“I want to build a business that’s useful to people I care about. Here are the audiences or communities I feel connected to: [list them]
What recurring pain points or unmet needs do people in these groups often talk about?
Give me 3 types of problems I could help solve—especially if I’ve been through something similar.”
Why this works:
You stop guessing what to sell…and start listening to what people already want help with.
That’s where business gets easy. Because you’re not selling - you’re solving.
Step 4: What You Can Be Paid For
Loving it is great. Being good at it helps. But if no one’s willing to pay for it, it’s a hobby…not a business.
This step turns your insights into income.
You’re not looking for the perfect offer yet - just proof that people already pay for results tied to your skills, interests, and values.
Instructions: Review your answers from the last 3 steps. Then ask:
What problems have I helped others solve that were worth money to them?
Are there existing offers (courses, services, tools) that do something similar?
Would someone pay to save time, stress, money, or confusion around this?
Now give it to ChatGPT:
“I want to validate whether my skills and interests align with real market demand.
Here’s what I enjoy, what I’m good at, and who I want to help: [Paste in a summary from previous steps]
What are 3 business ideas I could test based on common problems, willingness to pay, and how I could deliver real value?”
Why this works:
You don’t need to guess what’s “viable.” You use AI to bridge your story with market demand…so you can build a business that matters and makes money.
How to Turn Your Ikigai Into a Real Offer
Knowing your ikigai is powerful. But the game changes when you turn that insight into something someone can buy.
Don’t wait until it’s perfect. Don’t try to build a brand first. Start with a simple offer…one sentence, one page, one call-to-action. Here’s how to do it using AI:
Step 1: Craft Your One-Liner Offer
Use this prompt to turn your ikigai into a clear business idea:
“Based on this summary of what I love, what I’m good at, who I want to help, and what people need—[paste your notes]—write a one-sentence business idea.
Make it feel clear, confident, and valuable. I want to test this with real people.”
Example output:
“I help overwhelmed creatives organize their life and work with custom Notion setups that save them 10+ hours a week.”
Step 2: Build a Landing Page or Booking Link
Use tools like Carrd, Notion, or Tally. Keep it simple:
One clear headline (your one-liner)
3 bullet points on what you help with
One CTA: “Book a call” or “Join waitlist” or “Buy now”
You can even use ChatGPT to draft the whole thing.
Step 3: Share It With Real Humans
Post it in relevant communities. DM a few friends. Drop it in a Slack group.
The goal isn’t to go viral…it’s to learn if the idea lands.
Watch what questions people ask. What they get excited about. What they hesitate on. Refine from there.
Bottom line:
Your ikigai isn’t just an idea. It’s a signal. A path.
AI just helped you find it. Now it’s your turn to move on it.
Real Examples of Ikigai-Aligned Businesses (Powered by AI)
These aren’t unicorn startups.
These are solo operators who used what they already knew…and turned it into something profitable, purposeful, and real.
🧠 From Lawyer to Career Clarity Coach
She hated the grind but loved mentoring others out of it.
Katie used AI to brainstorm her framework, write her landing page, and build a lead magnet.
Now sells a 4-week career clarity program for burned-out professionals.
Ikigai breakdown:
Loves helping people pivot
Great at breaking down complex paths
Solves a real pain (career confusion)
Gets paid for strategic, high-trust outcomes
🛠 Designer → Digital Systems Builder for Creatives
A graphic designer who got obsessed with Notion.
Samantha started selling Notion dashboards tailored for neurodivergent creators.
Used ChatGPT to map out product features, write sales copy, and create tutorials.
Ikigai breakdown:
Loves simplifying chaos
Skilled in design + systems
Solves overwhelm for a niche audience
Earns from digital product sales + workshops
✍️ Writer → Journaling-Based Personal Growth Shop
Corey always journaled. Never thought it was a business.
Then he built guided prompts, AI-enhanced writing templates, and digital workbooks.
Used AI to test product ideas and format content fast.
Ikigai breakdown:
Loves reflection + growth
Good at storytelling + writing
Solves “I don’t know where to start” for self-improvement seekers
Sells digital downloads + hosts a weekly email challenge
You don’t have to copy these models.
Just notice how each one flowed from clarity → small offer → audience fit → momentum.
You’ve already done the clarity work.
Build the Business That Wants You Back
You’re not just trying to make money.
You’re trying to create work that feels right. That energizes you. That fits your brain, your values, your life.
That’s what ikigai unlocks.
And with AI, you don’t have to wander for years to find it.
You’ve got the prompts. You’ve got the insight. Now you’ve got zero excuses.
The only thing left to do?
Start.
👉 Want all favorite AI tools and prompts in 2025?
No more waiting. No more guessing.
Your path is already in you. Let’s pull it out and make it real.
