“So, what do you do?”

When meeting someone for the first time, one of the first questions we are usually asked is: “So, what do you do for living?”

Some people have a quick and easy answer: “I’m an accountant” or “I’m a corporate lawyer.”  Others, like me, struggle to choose the right words to articulate our work (because “circus performer” or “producer” or “blogger” just won’t cut it).

I think it’s time to end the era of cookie-cutter labels which we use to define ourselves.

Don’t get me wrong – I think it’s important to be able to articulate what it is that we do in a succinct manner, I’m just divided as to how to go about doing it.

Any thoughts?

Just suppose you’re a teacher. Is that it? Of course not!

What do you teach?  Who are your students? What is it about teaching that makes you passionate about your work?

So you see, you’re not JUST any old (insert inside-the-box term here) you’re something special.

Defining ourselves while at the same time avoiding the “box” is what I’m after.

Recently my friend Martin Perelmuter of Speakers’ Spotlight wrote a great piece on elevator speeches which speaks to some solutions.  Check it out here.

I’d love to hear what you think about this dilemma and how it can be remedied.

I’m all ears.

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Tagged as: Arts, circus, Cookie cutter, Lawyer, Performing Arts, Teacher