From Job Titles to Your Why

The Path to a Remarkable Life

Who are you without your job title?

A few weeks after leaving my job in corporate leadership, I found myself in a professional context being asked the most famous question of questions, “And, what do you do?”

I hadn’t thought about it beforehand, and then the moment was suddenly…there! I got tongue-tied – landing somewhere between repeating my old job title and explaining what I was doing at the time. It was an awkward moment. Very awkward.

I was reminded of this when discussing someone's transition from a senior leadership job to consulting for multiple clients. She, too, felt challenged when shedding her title.

Today I’m able to look back at that experience as incredibly freeing.

The loss of a title made space to reconnect with my purpose, expertise, and strengths, allowing me to identify the work I prefer and am incredibly gifted at doing. In that space, I could reimagine how I might put all of that to use in new ways.

But I still wish I’d known back then that feeling lost without a job title is normal. For many working people, titles provide the primary sense of occupational identity.

Yet experts suggest that learning to shed your occupational identity is a critical skill for the future of work.

Instead of focusing on titles, or occupational identity, they suggest focusing on “a purpose-driven identity – a sense of self that transcends job title and skillsets.” (McGowan & Shipley, 2020, p. 84)

Why?

With the demands of both the present and future workplace, it's essential for individuals to be adaptable and possess the ability to learn and generate fresh value for their organizations and personal growth.

So, having a clear grasp of your purpose is the most effective way to defy “work-related obsolescence.” (McGowan & Shipley, 2020, p. 84)

The Myth of Purpose

Although purpose can be a complicated topic, it boils down to this: purpose comes from understanding why you do what you do.  

• Maybe you’re a teacher. Why?

• Maybe you’re a venture capitalist. Why?

• Or, maybe you’re a communications specialist. Why?

For example, I am a coach, consultant, and advisor.

I coach because I love supporting high-achieving people to unlock new perspectives, ideas, and ways of being so they can attain their goals in life or business or succeed in ways they never thought possible.

Why I coach connects directly to why I write this blog and why I cofounded and lead a start-up: because my mission is helping people and organizations to thrive in our modern world.

Sure, I have working identities as a coach, founder, and writer, but it’s my why that ties them all together.

Like many people, my purpose has evolved throughout my life and career; elements of it have remained steady, but, in my experience, purpose is anything but static.

Your Why Transcends Your Occupational Identity

A few years ago, I conducted a research project on reinvention. Within those were some incredible stories of changing roles, careers, and, at times, identities.

My friend Greg told me about his reinvention – transitioning from tech sales to pursuing an MBA to running his dance company – and the why that provided the throughline. He’s graciously given permission for me to share that here with you.

Here's the context:

• After a twelve-year sales career with a major tech company - where he was known for his expertise in explaining technology to non-technical customers - Greg left tech and went back to school for an MBA. He enrolled at a prominent ivy league institution to broaden his understanding of business and learn how to run a business.

• While there, Greg, who trained as a dancer in high school, started to attend dance classes. The freedom of dance greatly contrasted with the intensity of the MBA program.

• In time, he was invited to teach a dance class. Later, he was invited to join the company. He taught one class, loved it, and considered joining the company. But then Greg realized he could combine his interests and run his own company.

Here’s how Greg describes his experience reinventing himself and the throughline of his why:

“I had this love of dance and love of teaching and a love of helping people in a business context…So there was this throughline of wanting to help and support other people to become unstuck…Whether it was helping business executives do that by using a technology solution, or helping individuals do that by learning how to move with and gain control their body better and relate in a social way through dance… I was still helping people.

I’m still giving information, still consulting, still mentoring, still teaching. So those are the transferable skills that I found worked in these major transitions. And then I decided, well, I can run my own company. I know how to do that. I know how to relate to and communicate with customers, how to lead operations and finance, and how to build products and take them to market….in this case, switching over entirely was a big change, so I did it gradually over four years.”

Today Greg runs a thriving dance company and set of dance and music experiences that delight. His why remains constant and shows up in everything he does; it fuels his business and inspires the community that’s been created as a result.

Purpose First, Job Last

In the book Adaptation Advantage, the authors lay out a framework that suggests that you focus first on your purpose, then on your superpower, and, finally, your job.¹ This is essentially the process I went through with a coach when I left corporate.

• Your purpose is about what interests or motivates you; it’s your why.
  

• Your superpowers are your unique skills, knowledge, or ways of being; it’s your how.
  

• Your job or occupation is about how you apply your superpowers; it’s your what.

Unfortunately, this is not what most of us learn in college or university when we’re gearing up to launch our careers. That support typically focuses on the resume and job search, and the mindset inherent in that support is - job first. And we take that mindset forward into our careers.

Once we have a job – we gain occupational identity and income. With income, we invest in a life or lifestyle which we associate with that identity.  And then, when we are no longer happy or engaged in a particular role, we look for a new organization where we can place our occupational identity. And so forth.

But, purpose? Purpose often takes time to recognize.

In my experience, people often seek out purpose more formally in midlife or during a life transition – job loss, recovery from illness, divorce, bereavement or the death of a close friend or relative, empty-nesting, etc.

Why wait for a catastrophe to strike to gain awakening?

Discover your why. 

Lead with your why.  Doing so will make any occupational identity you take on more enjoyable.

Then, when you’re ready for a change – or life throws you a curve ball – you’ll know exactly what you need to do: find new ways to bring your why to life.  

1. McGowan, H. & Shipley, C. (2020). The Adaptation Advantage. Wiley.