Rory Vaden’s Band Helix
I was recently introduced to Rory Vaden’s Brand DNA Helix, a series of questions Rory created to help find and clarify your personal brand. While the Brand DNA Helix is focused on your personal brand, I found the questions to be similar to the Japanese concept of Ikigai.
You’ve probably seen the diagram of overlapping circles with the center labeled “ikigai”, representing life’s purpose—when you break down Ikigai, it means life (“iki”) worth (“gai”). The four circles that overlap to help find your Ikigai are:
What do you love?
What does the world need?
What are you good at?
What can you be paid for?*
*the last time I wrote and spoke about Ikigai, I was informed that true Ikigai does not include money as a part of life’s purpose. I’m still including it here because when you read about Ikigai or research it you’ll see the “paid for” circle.
The concept of Ikigai was introduced to me by a fellow financial advisor in The AGC. He had heard me share my desire to help more people pursue their passions in life and told me about Ikigai and how he thought I’d like it. I immediately identified with the Ikigai, and while I don’t specifically reference it in my work with clients or my writing, it is what I’m hoping to help more people find.
If you can find something that includes all four circles, including the components that make them up, then why not pursue it?
About a week ago a podcast featuring Rory Vaden was shared with me and in the episode he shared his Brand DNA Helix. As soon as he explained it, I backed up the podcast, listened again, and wrote down the six questions. With the questions down on paper, I realized they were very similar to the concept of Ikigai, but for some reason, the structure of the questions vs. the diagram seemed more applicable and actionable for the work I’m doing.
I plan on using Rory’s Brand DNA Helix with clients to help guide where we start their Pursuit—maybe over time tweaking them to my style and approach to LifeDesign+.
I thought I’d share them with you.
Take a few minutes and give them some thought, write down your answers if you have the time, see how far away you are, and identify how you might be able to move closer to them.
Rory Vaden’s Brand DNA Helix
What problem do I solve?
What am I passionate about?
What do I enjoy researching (spending time learning about)?
What do I have results in?
What are things people will buy from me?
What business do I want to be in?
I’m curious…
Does your current professional life resemble these answers?
How far away from your Helix professional life are you?
How does your authentic personal life fit into the Helix?
See you tomorrow and keep pursuing,
JC
