From Paris To Purpose: What a happy "Emily In Paris" can teach us about Reasons to start New Work now

Bringing a Little Hollywood Spark to Real Life — Purpose, Action, and Ikigai

“If you’re not happy at work, you cannot be happy in life.” - The new guy Marcello in Emily in Paris

Emily in Paris is probably the last place I expected to find inspiration for New Work, but here we are. For me, the show is full of fun moments, fashion inspiration and the dream of going back to Paris.

And yes, I’m already thinking about how to work the scarf-in-the-hair look.

But beyond the fashion and lightheartedness, there is more to it.

“We let go of the best girl in the world,” Alfie says.

I couldn’t help but wonder (yes, needed to copy this one at some point…)

… what makes Emily the best for them? What sets her apart? Why do so many people keep on watching her? Or, whilst I have already started with Sex and the City: what is it about Carrie?

Yes, of course, I am very much aware this is Hollywood. But whilst we live in reality, isn’t it nice to from time to time at leat glance at movies and series and get inspired.

So, what makes Emily different? Also, what makes it such a successful show?

Sure, she’s confident and always dresses the part. And this is definitely one of the reasons I can’t stop watching it.

But it’s more than just her looks or style. She is driven. She has got purpose.

She shows up.

From what we see, she knows what she’s doing and why she’s doing it. She is good at it and makes a good income. I believe this is where her power comes from.

Emily moved from Chicago to Paris for work, not knowing anyone, not speaking the language, and facing a lot of pushback.

But she kept going, found her rhythm, and stayed true to her passion. Some might even call it purpose.

She didn’t wait for the perfect moment—she simply showed up.

That got me thinking about purpose in life and work.

Why do some people seem to know their purpose so clearly, despite all the challenges—work stress, children, life’s unpredictability—while others wait, hoping to figure it out "later"?

And what if "later" never comes?

And yes, there might be a certain fear to it. Discovering your purpose can feel intimidating.

• What if it’s something completely different from what you’re doing now?

• What if it doesn’t pay the bills?

• Or what if it feels risky?

We’re often conditioned to “play it safe,” and sometimes that fear of failure or lack of confidence holds us back.

It’s easier to imagine ourselves as brilliant writers (or successful entrepreneurs) in our heads than to take the risk of starting and potentially struggling before we improve. - Benedict Wells

But what if we start to dig a little deeper?

What if we begin to explore what we’re really good at, what drives us, and what our purpose in life could be?

That doesn’t mean you have to jump right in and change everything at once. It could be, but as they say, many roads lead to Rome (even for Emily!).

You might take the bold leap or go step by step—there’s no one right way to find your path.

The importance of your Why in New Work

For me New Work starts with a "strong me"—understanding myself, my purpose, and what drives me.

From there, it expands to "we," building stronger teams and then extending outward to "us," making a broader impact on society.

Personal Purpose is the key to unlocking every layer of this framework.

But how do I find my purpose?

One concept I find really helpful when thinking about purpose is Ikigai, the Japanese idea of finding your reason for being.

It’s about finding that balance that brings meaning and fulfilment to your life and work, at the intersection of what you love, what you are good, what the world needs and what you can get paid for.

So, rather than waiting for "later," why not start exploring your purpose now? Whether it's through small steps or big leaps, purpose is what helps us create a life—and work—that truly fulfils us.

A first step into New Work.

"Amateurs wait for inspiration. Pros show up and work." Philip Roth

But what is Ikigai?

Let’s just say right now is “later”. Take a cup of tea (it is a Japanese concept after all) or Sake and go with it. Even if it feels uncomfortable for a while.

The Oxford English Dictionary describes Ikigai as "a motivating force; something or someone that gives a person a sense of purpose or a reason for living".

The explanation in the book “The Ikigai Journey” feels a bit more inspirational.

But in the end it is about your purpose.

And remember, now is “later”. Ok, you can also wait until the kids are in bed or you finally got these Coldplay tickets (Dubai insider here).

But don’t wait too long.

Looking at the 4 components of Ikigai, our society is designed to focus on the lowest part and to invest our time there. Earning money.

And don’t get me wrong, for many of us, this is the focus. And I know that anything else might come from a very privileged place.

But if we want to drive New Work forward, making a “workshift” for everyone, understanding that it is about more then “just” making money, is essential.

But wait.. let’s not get too philosophical here.

And because this has been already quite a read you can stop here.

I hope this was already something to get you thinking Out Of The Box.

And of course about “Emily in Paris”.

Time for action

I wanted to leave you with something practical to get started. Initially, I thought about sharing an AI prompt to help you map out your Ikigai.

I even tested it, and yes, ChatGPT generated an image—it was interesting! But honestly, this is one of those things I believe we should do by hand, for ourselves.

So, grab a piece of paper and a pen. Yes, pen and paper—trust me on this. And think about the below.

Take your time. It’s a personal process, and there’s power in doing it by hand.

Once you’ve done the deep thinking and filled out all those quadrants (which can take hours, weeks, months), Iwould love to say: you are done.

But here’s the thing: none of that means much without action.

It’s like planting a seed—you can’t just sit there and wait for it to grow. You’ve got to water it, nurture it, and give it what it needs to thrive.

In this case, that means making decisions that move you forward.

We sometimes think our purpose will magically appear one day—like we’ll stumble on it by accident or get a sudden epiphany.

But that’s not how it works.

Your Ikigai emerges when you roll up your sleeves and start doing things, even when it feels uncertain or hard.

Remember, Pros show up and work.

Check your list now.

• What are you focusing on?

• Are you including all 4 Ikigai components in your daily life?

If not, take action.

Get rid of unnecessary stuff or take new action (also changing the quadrants is an option).

But don’t stand still.

Nothing new or exciting will happen if you do not take steps to make it happen.

Emily even changes the name of her series to Emily in Rome. I mean… If this is not taking action.

Keep staying positive, stay curious (about yourself too!), think outside the box, and keep moving forward.

Constanze

My Inspiration

• “Die Geschichten in uns”, Benedikt Wells, 2024

• “The Ikigai Journey”, Hector Garcia and Francesc Miralles, 2017

• And of course…. Emily in Paris by Netflix :)