What’s your title?

When we talk about things we wish to achieve in life. A question that is synonymous with achieving goals is “Who must you become?” This question asks not “what you have to do” but instead it reframes the question to ask; “what needs to change” After starting my business, I realised that I needed to change my personal identity if I wanted to reach my goals. 

Who are you?

To get started the first question is who are you? After you introduce yourself with your name what’s the first thing you tell people about yourself?

For most of my life I’ve identified myself as a skateboarder. This has always felt comfortable to me. Growing up I spent most of my time skateboarding. If I wasn’t doing It, I was watching, reading or thinking about skateboarding. Most of my friends where skateboarders. I lived and breathed skateboarding. Hopefully It’s easy for you to understand why this feels comfortable for me.

Yeah, but what do you do?

What about your career? People love to the ask the question “what do you do?” Often as you age you no longer answer with what you love. Instead most of us answer with our job title. Your job title usually gives people a clear idea and understanding of who you are. This is because it explains what you spend the majority of your time doing. You might be one of the lucky people who’s job title is what you love doing. If not, don’t you think this should be the norm for everyone? If you’ve ever participated in any sort of networking you’ll likely understand the concept of your personal elevator pitch. For example “I do (your job) for (People you help.)”  To be successful at identifying yourself you need to inform people what you do.

Skateboarding is just something I do for fun. After starting a business, I struggled with my identity. I found it hard to let go of the idea of being a skateboarder. Though I believed that being a skateboarder wouldn’t help me get clients, or be taken seriously by other business owners. I had to ask myself “Who do I need to become for this to work?” I decided I had to change my identity.  

How to change your identity with a new title

If you’re in pursuit of personal development you may have heard a phrase that sounds like “Work for the job you want. Not the job you’re paid to do.” Taking this a step further, and giving yourself the new title of the job you want, is a great way to help step up to the roll you aspire to. I think this speaks to the idea of owning an Identity. What you think about and do every day is what you become. By giving yourself a new title it could make a shift to your mindset that helps you to become the person worthy of your new title. Think of yourself in a future tense and where you want to be. This mindset shift could be the key to unlocking new success.

For 10 years I worked as a Graphic Designer. When I landed my first job as a Graphic Designer, I remember how I pleased I felt to tell people my title. However, over time my skills have evolved and now I am able to provide more than Graphic Design. Today I tell people I’m a business owner and brand designer. Though I still have a passion for graphic design and believe it can have a huge impact on peoples businesses. I don’t want to be seen as just a graphic designer that only cares about colours, fonts and logos . I want to be seen as someone who understands branding and entrepreneurship. The difference is an alteration in perception. The title of Business Owner and Brand Designer opens the door for a different conversation. It allows me to discuss topics such as business goals and brand awareness. These topics relate to business metrics that can be measured and that hold quantifiable value. Providing goods or services that people find valuable is the core principle for any business. It’s how a business can exchange goods or services for money.

You can have many identities

You don’t have to assume only one personal identity though. You likely have multiple different identities, which you can adopt when we need to or the situation calls for it. Who you are at work and who you are at home may be two different people. That’s not to say this is a bad thing. It means you are able to adapt for different needs.

I have many identities; brand designer, business owner, entrepreneur, skateboarder, husband, surfer, foodie, yogi, hip-hop enthusiast, car enthusiast… the list goes on and on. Each of these is a different identity, of which I can become when I need to. For example when I’m at home with my wife I’m a husband first, at work I’m a brand designer, at the skatepark, I’m a skateboarder. You get the idea.

Conclusion

Learn to understand the power of identity and use your identities to help grow your personal brand. Each identity you adopt has the power to benefit another. It’s easy when your boss gives you a job title. But for you to give yourself a title and live by it is a powerful way to achieving future success.

For years I shied away from letting people know that I was a skateboarder in my career. Now I’m more comfortable sharing my many identities. I learned to understand that they each provide extra value to my work. For example skateboarding taught me a lot about branding, health and wellbeing, marketing and resilience. Experience and knowledge that I use to my advantage to help my clients build stronger brands.

What title are you going to give yourself?

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