The Titles I Love to Carry

I bumped into someone I had not met in many years, and as we were exchanging numbers at the end of the conversation, I discovered they already had my previous number, and next to my name was the name of the company I used to work for five years ago! I thought to myself, “Surely there is more to me than who I work for”

In our work and title obssessed world, it’s easy to lose sight of the fact that our jobs are just a part of who we are, not the whole package. My career might take up a chunk of my life, and there’s nothing wrong with taking pride in it. But I am also a lot of other things, like  bookworm, a blogger, an African traveler, and a hiker. Believe it or not, there’s a whole identity just waiting to be celebrated outside of what you do 9 to 5 or whatever scheduleyou are on.

Imagine if, instead of introductions like, “Hi, I’m Tendai, Manager at XYZ,” we said, “Hi, I’m Tendai, proud mom of 3, hiking lover and weekend blogger” Infact each time I have introduced myself without including my job title or who i work for, the conversations have been more interesting and have opened doors to more meaningful and deeper connections.

So, how do you help others see beyond your job title? Start by including in bits of your life and interests into conversations without oversharing. Share that favorite weekend activity or mention a recent trip you loved. Including these small non work details helps others to view us in a fuller, richer light. And if you’re active on social media, consider posting about your hobbies or interests that don’t involve work. People will start associating you with more than just your career. It’s part of building your personal brand, and it should be about more than your career.

The reverse is also true. Encourage people you meet to share more about themselves, too. Instead of the usual, “What do you do?” Try asking, “What do you like to do?” or “What are you passionate about?” This allows others to open up beyond work and shows that you’re genuinely interested in who they are, not just their title or who they work for. By the way, why does it even matter what a person’s job title is?

Of course, the work we do is important. It gives us purpose and hopefully some inspiration. But if the pandemic taught us anything, it’s that a work title doesn’t fully define us. When work gets challenging or if you’ve ever been laid off, knowing you’re valued beyond your job or what you can do for people because of your title can be a huge source of comfort. Remember that you have passions and talents that have nothing to do with a corporate ladder.

The world needs more of our authentic selves and less of the pre-packaged “work version”, elevator pitch ready we think everyone wants to see. So, who are you outside your job title and who you work for? Let me know in the comments section because when we stop defining ourselves by our jobs, life gets a whole lot more interesting.

Gratitude: This week, I am grateful for God’s protection and keeping us from harm’s way. I went to work and returned to my loved ones safely. I think sometimes we take certain things for granted. I don’t ever want to be that person. Thank you, Lord, for protection.

Gratefully

Tendai AKA Mum In Stilettos

PS: join me on social media (@careers_with_mum_in_stilettos on Instagram for more tips, insights, and support on navigating the journey of being a working mom. Together, we can thrive in our careers, nurture our families, and inspire others to do the same. Follow me today and be part of the movement!