Nikolai Ray

It’s Monday. And once again, a week that looks nothing like the last.

This morning, coffee with two of my VPs after dropping my daughters off at their camp. Honest conversations, strategic and grounded in reality, yet carried by vision.

Then, a few hours at the downtown Sherbrooke office to refine analyses, confirm meetings, and finalize the last details before my departure.

A quick stop home to grab my suitcase and kiss my son goodbye, then off to Montreal for a short night.

Tomorrow early morning, flight to Edmonton.

Upon arrival, a visit of a 78-unit building, followed by coffee with an influential broker.

Wednesday, breakfast with local lawyers who specialize in acquisitions and real estate refinancing. Then five building tours (a 62, a 24, a 21, a 30, and a 37), each one a space to read, to feel, to envision.

Thursday morning, a meeting with a rep from the City. To listen. To understand. To align. Then a visit of a 260-unit property. And by late afternoon, a return flight to Montreal for a late-night arrival.

Friday, a morning of work, then backpack, hiking boots, and an afternoon trek with my kids.

Yes, it’s full. It’s on the move. But above all, it’s a deep pleasure.

Because I know why I do all this.

Building is my passion. Giving shape to the invisible. Creating value where only dormant potential once lived. Leading with responsibility.

My ikigai is clear. It’s that alchemy between what I love, what I’m good at, what the world needs and what, in turn, nourishes me.

This rhythm isn’t a constraint. It’s an offering. A living way of inhabiting time, rather than enduring it.

And if every day is different, it’s because each one plays its part in a greater work.

To build, yes. But to build with meaning, invest with impact, and hold with responsibility - IKIGAI IMPACT.

Yesterday marked a pivotal day of strategic planning for IKIGAI IMPACT.

We move forward with clarity and discipline thanks to the Entrepreneurial Operating System (EOS), developed by Gino Wickman, a rigorous framework that aligns vision, ex*****on, and accountability in high-performing companies.

I’ve been using EOS successfully for over a year in my other company, Collège MREX, guided by the exceptional implementer Thierry Allegrucci.

At Ikigai Impact, we’re fortunate to be mentored by Patrick Lauzon .ICD, a seasoned strategist who sits on the boards of major organizations such as ProFab, Centraide, and Groupe Touchette, as we map out our long-term trajectory.

At the heart of today’s session, defining our course for the years to come.

We refined our mission:

Invest with purpose, build with impact, act with empathy, hold with responsibility.

We also grounded ourselves in the three core values that will guide every decision we make:

♠️ Excellence — Without fanfare or ego, we forge excellence: solid, beautiful, and lasting. Its quality is our only applause.

❤️ Humanism — With open hearts and outstretched hands. To grow is first to help others grow.

♦️ Responsibility — Missionary-stewards, we show who we are when no one is watching. Protect, build, honor, always beyond the call of duty.

Finally, we set our 10-year goal.

By 2035, to become a North American leader in impact real estate investing, a living example of what’s truly possible when consciousness and profitability are united.

The story is just beginning.