Stop Hiding Behind Your Title

It is easy to say that I am a nurse and a lawyer and expect to be given endless opportunities. The US has 1.3 million lawyers and over 5.3 million nurses; a small fraction is both. Neither title encompasses who I am, what I have done, or what I can do. So how did I find opportunities and leverage my experience beyond my titles and roles? I leveraged my skills and focused on opportunities that aligned with my desires.

That is the answer, but how do you start leveraging your skills? You start by identifying your skill set and aligning those skills with your desired lifestyle design. I started by listing all the skills I had acquired since I started working, from my job as a cashier at ShopRite in high school to my chaotic experience as a travel nurse through the pandemic. I focused on the technical and interpersonal skills that made me great at some jobs and not at others.

I looked at my current and past experiences and identified what I had learned. There were so many lessons at every job, internship, or volunteer opportunity. As I wrote those lessons down so many thing began to become clear. During this time, I worked tirelessly to help build a community for a Peloton instructor. I created and posted content, organized weekly scheduled rides, and hosted events for FREE. I was committing hours to an opportunity that would not help me reach my goals. That was a critical turning point for me, and I told myself, "If you can do all this for someone else, you can do this for yourself."

The last big thing I did was identify my lifestyle design and deep desires beyond my skills and business. Most people struggle with this aspect. Asking yourself what is most important to you and what you want your life to look like feels selfish, but it is necessary. I wanted my day to start later but be structured and flexible. I wanted to be able to do pick-up, drop-off, and after-school activities with my kids. I dug deep and realized that I wanted the flexibility to travel but not be forced to travel constantly.

This work took time, but it also has changed over time. If your title is not giving you the opportunities you desire, start leading with your skills. Don't hide behind your title and wonder why you can't find the desired opportunities. It is time to focus on your skills and leverage them.