When meeting a new person, or bumping into a friend from the past, the first question which always pops to mind is “what do you do?” – It’s amazing how societal pressures, social media and our own, often, unrealistic self expectations make us believe we are our jobs. Talya is a marketer! Is that whom I am? But does your job define you? Are you what you do day in and out? Or is there more to who I am? I am still trying to figure this out…
My whole life, probably together with majority of the Western world, it’s drilled into our heads that we are our job, and a job is an occupation and a career, where you climb the corporate ladder, you report into some kind of managerial leader, you work 9-6pm and at the end of the month you get a pay check. Simple?
Fast forward time, change your circumstances, what about when you have kids? What about a stay at home mum (or dad)? Is that not a job? Are you a nobody as you’re not going through the corporate motions so to speak, be it a lawyer, graphic designer, Dr, teacher or nurse? It appears that often value of a person is closely linked to profession. Wow he’s an associate director, he has done so well. Wow she’s a senior consultant, she must be a superhero. Oh she’s a stay at home mum, that’s easy doing nothing all day!