Finding My Flow: From Small Town to Ikigai

I grew up in the small country town of Holly Hill, South Carolina. Life there was simple, steady, and shaped by community. But from an early age, I carried a sense that my path would bend in unexpected ways. In Holly Hill, I learned the value of steady beginnings.

I always knew I wanted to pursue a career in engineering. Education felt like my golden ticket to explore the world. With curiosity as my compass, I decided early on to push beyond the status quo, earn as much education as I could, and dedicate myself to a career in engineering.

My Path Has Been Anything but Linear

• From The Citadel, where I studied electrical engineering,
• To the power industry, beginning my career as an engineer,
• To Clemson University, where I pursued a PhD in bioengineering,
• To a role in the nuclear field as a health physicist,
• To a career in software engineering, developing AI/ML technologies for Naval applications,
• And now, back to the power engineering world, stepping into a leadership role.

Each chapter built on the last, layering discipline, adaptability, and technical expertise with a deeper realization: I am most fulfilled when leading and empowering others.

Beyond Engineering: Building New Ventures

While my professional journey has come full circle, my entrepreneurial spirit keeps pushing forward. I’m actively launching a company that blends my passions in AI/ML, cellular automata and Boolean inferencing, power system maintenance automation, and advanced analytics—a space where cutting-edge computation meets real-world impact.

At the same time, I’m becoming co-owner of a K–12 tutoring business, designed not only to strengthen core academic subjects but also to spark creative learning avenues for students. It’s another way of living my Ikigai: combining my skills and passions to empower the next generation.

The Ikigai Connection

In the Japanese concept of Ikigai, purpose lies at the intersection of four things:

• What you love
• What you are good at
• What the world needs
• What you can be paid for

For years, I thought my work had to fit neatly into just one box. But life rarely works like that. The shifts between engineering fields, academia, the military, and software taught me that Ikigai isn’t about choosing one path—it’s about weaving your experiences together into something uniquely yours.

Each stop on my journey added a layer: technical skills, discipline, adaptability, leadership, and, most importantly, the passion to empower others.

The Power of Small Habits

Another book that shaped me is Atomic Habits by James Clear. His message is simple but transformative: big changes come from small, consistent actions.

When I look back, the turning points in my career weren’t sudden leaps—they were habits stacked over time:

• Early mornings at The Citadel, embracing discipline.
• Long nights in Clemson labs, building resilience.
• Daily problem-solving as a software engineer, sharpening adaptability.
• Consistent leadership practice in the military, where I realized my passion for empowering others.

These small habits compounded to prepare me for where I am today—a leadership role in the power industry where I can combine technical expertise with the purpose of guiding and uplifting others.

Coming Full Circle

Coming back to power engineering doesn’t feel like going backwards. It feels like coming full circle with more tools, wisdom, and clarity than I had when I started.

My Ikigai is becoming clearer:
🔹 To lead.
🔹 To empower others.
🔹 To bridge technology, people, and purpose.

Why Ikigai Motion?

This blog is my way of sharing that journey. To explore the balance between purpose, passion, and daily action. To spark conversations about how we can all find our flow—whether through leadership, creativity, or simply the habits we choose every day.

✨ If you’ve ever felt like your path was “too scattered” or wondered how your story connects, know this: your Ikigai is rarely a straight line. It’s the unique pattern only you can create.

By,

Craig Miller, PhD