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When you’re young you’re often asked the
question, “What do you want to be
[when you grow up]?” Once you reach a
certain age the question becomes, “What do you do [for a living]?”
This slight change in wording can alter your
perception of everything, including yourself.
Somewhere along the line, the sense of passion, personality, and
possibility has a tendency to fade away.
The original question that we often hear as youngsters, is centered
around “us,” you and I as individuals.
It hints at a future in which you will “be” something, stand for
something, and act purposefully. The
second question lacks the personality component that the first contains. It hints at an existence where tasks are
performed to sustain oneself and fails to acknowledge the core values driving
those actions.
Some people might say something to the contrary,
proposing that doing is more important than being, by saying, “aren’t actions
more important than words, and don’t your actions define who you are?” I would say that yes, your actions are
important. They do define you in a sense;
more precisely, they define the “you” that
you become. Our actions, though, are driven by who we are, which includes
who we want to be. Our actions
are things that follow and result from those initial values and ideas.
So obviously, who we “are” is important.
So
to maintain that meaningful perception of ourselves and others I propose a few
things:
- Think of yourself first as a collection of values, and meaningful ideas and then secondly as the things you do as a result
- Respond to inquiries about what you do by talking about who you are (your past, your interests, key personality traits, values, wants etc.) and then lead into the things you do (your profession, roles, functions, activities)
- This doesn’t have to be a long drawn out story either
- Frame questions to others with the word “being” in mind; rather than asking, “what do you do?” which is very limiting, you can say, “tell me about yourself,” which will reveal qualities, characteristics, and reasons behind a person’s actions
(I could give a dull answer and then follow up with more information or…)
“Well, I really love working with people and enjoy being part of a creative process. I have a strong interest in business, especially the strategies used to reach customers. I am Assistant Account Executive at The Verdi Group, a marketing firm that helps clients gain strong customer and prospect response through the implementation of unique and powerful solutions. I coordinate projects for clients, ensuring their timely, cost effective, and quality completion and successful implementation.”
A couple of sentences at the beginning
of the response gives some insight into who I am and why I am doing what I
do.
Using this perspective might even
lead you to realize that what you are doing doesn't parallel who you are or who
you want to be.
Be
something!
Since
Halloween is right around the corner I have been hard at work brainstorming
what I will be. I’m going as some type of “duo” with my friend. I thought I would share some of the best ideas:
- One of us with a t-shirt reading, “Legen,” the other, “Dary”
- One of us with a t-shirt reading, “Somebody, that you used to know,” and the other, “Somebody, that you’ll call… maybe”
- Prince William (dressed very preppy) and Prince Harry (no clothes needed!)
- Hockey player and coach with locks around our necks (NHL Lockout)
- Scientist and Scientologist
- iPhone 4S and iPhone 5 (both dressed in white, but one slightly taller than the other)
BOOm!
