“What do you do?”

It’s one of those questions that follows you everywhere. Conferences, parties, dates, weddings. Even a curious dentist might ask you!

You likely have a simple, default answer:

• “I’m a brand manager at Nike”
• “I’m a PM at Facebook”
• “I’m a professor at UW.”

But notice how we say “I am…” vs. “I [any other verb]…”? Starting with "I am" is a statement of identity.

Now, imagine you lose your job unexpectedly. (Been there.)

Then, someone asks "What do you do?"

“Well…uhh…I’m between jobs…but, uh, I’m looking…”

Isn’t it odd how an external event wiped away your identity?

As Bill Maher would say, it’s time for “New Rules”:

Replace your ‘what do you do’ answer with two new rules:

• You can’t start with “I am”
• You can’t say your current employer

You then might hear things like:

• "I design marketing campaigns"
• "I optimize websites for accessibility"
• "I teach Philosophy to grad students"

This type of answer is not only more interesting than the original set, but it also begins to reframe your identity around:

• what you actually do day-to-day
• the skills you carry from job-to-job
• the wealth of experience you build from year-to-year
• and NOT around who currently cuts your check

“What do you do?” might be an inevitable social question, but you can also see it as an opportunity for personal positioning centered on your expertise, not your employer.

Give it some thought, then hit 'reply' if you want to share your new answer with me. I’d love to hear it!

As for what do I do? I help people sell their expertise. 🙂

💡

-Wes