Could One Word Define You?
In a recent conversation about ego, I was challenged to imagine the idea that I am "nobody"... not an executive coach; not a writer; not a father; not a skier. That is, could I just "be", moving through life without a label?
This is a deceptively difficult challenge. We are taught to do the opposite, to have a clear public positioning so as to increase our worth in the marketplace.
Let's dive in a bit and see where it takes us...
What if you replaced your labels (Senior Vice President or Creative Director or Furniture Maker or Stay at Home Dad...) with a single energy or emotion? Could you come up with one that captures who you want to be and how you want to be perceived?
To illustrate, here are a few possibilities:
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I am drawn to "loving", because it pulls me towards my best self. While I am capable of being analytical, forceful or tenacious, those orientations don't bring out the best in me. In contrast, when I accept others for who and what they are, it benefits both others as well as me.
Let's take this one more step... once you choose an energy or emotion, how might that affect the labels that traditionally define you? For example, could you co-exist as both "grateful" and "Business Analyst, Level Three"? Can you be both "Generous" and "Founder and CEO"? If you had to move through life with both one new word as well as your traditional labels, which do you think would predominate?
Recognizing that this is just an exercise—and that you don't actually have to live with one word for the rest of your life—what word first comes to your mind, and why?
Finally, if you are hesitating to share a word, I want to say two things. The first is that to me, the comments section is what makes or breaks each newsletter issue. My intention is to spark a conversation that benefits us all. Second, being open and genuine about what you feel inside is the shortest and most certain path to a life that fills you with joy. For most of us, it's a learned habit; this is a great time to start practicing!
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Bruce Kasanoff is warm, generous, creative, curious and slightly unpredictable. You can get a much better sense of him here .
Senior Commercai Specialty Pharmaceutical Business Leader | APAC | Thunderbird School of Global Management
1 年Joyful
Trust-driven Sales Pro ??| Ocean = Zen ?? |Adventurous Foodie ?? | Manbun Champion ??| Perpetual Student of Fatherhood ?? | Eternal Optimist ?? | Scrappy Midfielder ??
1 年Welcoming The pause and reflection down to a single choice was a challenging and meaningful moment for me this morning. I often think about what I look back on as my proudest moments and what made them so — and one common thread is the inclusion I try incorporate in my everyday. Living in another country as a child, I observed how valuable it was to make a deliberate effort to welcome others into conversations, meals, and everyday life. A few scenarios come to mind: Does someone offer me help (even when I don’t really need it)? Say yes and bring them in anyway. When I meet family members of coworkers? share a personal aspect of that person I appreciate that is not work-related. Does someone offer me a drink or snack or courtesy? always accept to show them their gesture was appreciated When a group is chatting, taking a proactive moment to introduce the individual by name so they don’t have to. Thx Bruce Kasanoff — getting some of these thoughts down and reading others comments made for good reflection today (even if it is a week after your original post ??)
MSc. Cyber Security | AWS Certified Solutions Architect – Associate | Cloud Practitioner | Cybersecurity and Cloud Integration Professional | Excited to explore Cybersecurity & Cloud roles to leverage and enhance skills
1 年Absolutely agree with this statement! Our job title does not define who we are as a person. We all have unique talents, passions, and personalities that make us special and valuable in our own way. It's important to remember that we are more than just the work we do, and we should strive to find fulfillment and purpose beyond our job titles. Let's focus on being the best versions of ourselves, not just the best at our job. Cheers to all the amazing individuals out there who are so much more than their job titles! ??
Retired Operations Executive (11/30/22)
1 年Thanks for another good article. Now that I recently retired (12/22), I'm inclined to choose "adaptable." I'm adapting to new things that augment my identify, beyond work, that give me joy and purpose. Perhaps it would sound better to say redefining, redesigning, rewiring, etc. For now, I'll stick with my first choice.
Healthcare Strategy, Insights, & Education Professional
1 年I like this. It aligns with my own preference for publicly using a summary functional title instead of the position-based one on LI, but then takes it a step further to transcend the 'mundane' and get to the real person behind the professional.