What are you?
The most common question that we hear when meeting someone new is, what do you do? And many of us are apt to answer in a fashion dictated by the question.
Want a good way to know if the job you are currently engaged in is the one you were meant for? Listen to how you answer this question.
If, when confronted with the question, what do you do?, I answer, I work at an engineering firm, or I paint houses or I fix computers, that may not be sending the best message to the questioner.
If however I answer the question, what do you do? With an answer such as I AM the leader of a team of technology professionals that help small businesses choose technology and use it wisely”, Then I have communicated to that questionee that my job is not just something that I do from 9 to 5. It suggests a dedication and a complete owning of my position that instills confidence and a sense of reliability from me to them.
Business owners and entrepreneurs understand that it’s important to take ownership of your job. A job is something that you do. A passion is something that you are. If you are prone to answer the question, what do you do? With an answer like I work at the library, or I edit childrens books, then there may be a disconnect between your actions and your passions.
Another example, an employee wakes up in the morning at 7 a.m. He wakes up as an individual, and gets ready for the day. He gets in his car as an individual he drives to work as an individual, and the moment he punches in, he becomes a sales person. Or a trainer. Or a construction worker. He is a construction worker, or librarian, or research assistant, until 5 p.m., at which time he clocks out and becomes an individual again.
For entrepreneurs and business owners, we understand that this model does not encourage teamwork, or lend itself to extraordinary customer service, but also does a disservice to our customer.
When I wake up in the morning, I am a consultant. When I Drive to work, I am a consultant. When I leave my office in the evening, I am a consultant, and when I work at home, or go to bed, or go backpacking, or fly a kite, I am a consultant. I am a consultant because I love helping people. It is not something I do, it is something I am.
Every one of us has that one thing. What are you? Are you a coach? Are you a facilitator? What are you passionate about? What do you love? That thing, once identified, is what you ARE and is an important key indicator of the job you were meant for.
If you are not comfortable explaining to people what you ARE in terms of your current employment, go find the job that lets you enthusiastically answer the question, “I am (insert profession here)” not just what you do.
