#33: Beyond Job Titles: Defining Who You Really Are + a huge discount on my course
Remember that our jobs are just a part of who we are.
Hey friends,
As for my American friends, the holidays have already started with Thanksgiving weekend, and we had the first snow of the year yesterday in Bucharest, I feel like Christmas is right around the corner.
But we still have to wait a bit.
By the way, I’ve prepared a great (at least that’s how I see it) Cyber Monday offer for you.
Skip to Part 3 of the newsletter to take advantage of it.
1/ A few updates from my side.
As these are the last weeks before vacation, most companies have some busy weeks. Mine’s not different, as there are projects that need to be finished by the end of the year, so everyone’s focused and working around the clock.
I’ve also managed to pass the last exam I had to take for my MBA admission, “Write and Cite.” It was quite difficult, as it deals with writing academic papers and the standards you need to follow for this.
The final exam was 50 questions long, and you had to have a mark of 80% or above to pass. And I must admit, I didn’t pass on the first try, but I did on the second one (which was the only one I had left).
I remember when I wrote my final thesis for the university, it was something on “quality of service in network applications” or something along those lines. I am pretty sure I didn’t follow any of the standards I read about last week.
Maybe that’s why I got a “less than perfect” grade. But let’s leave it at that.
Also, because my wife spent the weekend in Paris, going to a bachelorette, I managed to decide on the topic of the email course that I wanted to create and even work on the first email.
Initially, the topic I had chosen was “Career Acceleration”, but then I thought about it more, and the subject looked too broad to tackle in a free email course. Career acceleration takes you from interviewing to negotiations, having the right talks with your boss, navigating office politics, getting a fast promotion, and so on.
So, I decided instead to focus on a more specific topic and one in which I have a lot of expertise, and that is applying and interviewing for a job.
The working title for the course is “From job application to offer in 7 days.” and I hope to finish it by Christmas (New Year’s at the latest)
Wish me luck with this, because I want it to be full of actionable tips so my students can get a job they like fast.
2/ Beyond Job Titles: Defining Who You Really Are
"I am not my job."
I recently shared on LinkedIn this simple yet profound statement, and a lot of people reacted to it.
I assume that’s because it challenges a deep-rooted societal norm:
the notion that our jobs are the primary definers of our identity.
The Illusion of Job Titles
We grew up in a society where "What do you do?" is often the first question you ask upon meeting someone new, so it's easy to equate our self-worth with our job titles.
“70% of college graduates say they get a sense of identity from their job”
Gallup Study “
Yet, this mindset can lead to a narrow perception of self, overlooking the rich tapestry of traits, values, and experiences that truly define us.
Uncovering True Identity
There are more significant aspects that define a person:
Values: Your core beliefs and principles guide your actions and decisions. For instance, consider Malala Yousafzai, a Nobel Peace Prize laureate, whose value for education and equality drives her activism far beyond any title.
Experience: Life experiences shape your perspective and skills. Take Steve Jobs, for instance. His calligraphy class, not directly related to his job, significantly influenced the aesthetic design of Apple products.
Treatment of Others: How you interact with and treat others speaks volumes about your character. Mother Teresa's legacy, for instance, is defined by her compassion and service to the needy, not by any formal job role.
Stories of Redefinition
I think we’ve all heard stories of people who were in senior positions but who found their true calling in doing something that they loved, like restoring an old house and turning it into a B&B or teaching underprivileged children.
Their identity shifted from being an executive to someone who finds fulfillment in shaping young minds or bringing joy to people.
Practical Steps to Self-Discovery
Here are some ways to explore and embrace your true identity beyond your job:
Reflect on your values: What beliefs drive your daily life?
Pursue diverse experiences: Engage in activities unrelated to your work.
Focus on how you treat others: Kindness and empathy are powerful identity markers.
It’s not easy to go beyond your own experience and teachings; it’s probably quite discomforting at first, but it might be life-changing.
From “What do you do?” to “What are you passionate about?”
I am trying to change my perspective. Whenever I meet someone new, I don’t ask them about their job; I ask them about their passions.
And some of them will tell me about their work. Others will tell me about CrossFit or about writing, volunteering, or carpenting.
Your job is very important. But you’re too complex to let it define you.
As we navigate through our professional lives, it's crucial to remember that our jobs are just a part of who we are.
We are defined by so much more.
“The privilege of a lifetime is to become who you truly are”
C.G. Jung
3/ Recommendations: A big discount on my Agile Productivity course
As last Friday we had Black Friday and today we have Cyber Monday, I wanted to give you a gift: an 85% discount on my Agile Productivity course.
Just put “BF2023” as a code when you check out.
The coupon is only available for 10 people and a couple of days (whichever comes first), so make sure you grab your spot today.
If something doesn’t work during the checkout process or with the access, reply and let me know; I’ve just created the coupon in a hurry this morning.
It’s the biggest discount I will ever make on this course, and I do it so you can finish it by the end of the year and start the next one with a different mindset.
I’ve talked about the content several times, and you can find all the details on this page, but here’s a quick breakdown of the modules:
And you’ll also get:
Course slides
Time log sheet
Wheel of Life Measurement sheet
Full Second Brain template in Notion
And over 3 hours of video with yours truly.
I hope you take advantage of this offer and end the year in full force.
Thank you for reading, and let me know if you liked something in particular in this newsletter.
Until next time,
Leo
P.S.: If you would like to read my content daily, don’t forget to follow me on Twitter and Linkedin.
P.S. 2: If you want to take your productivity to the next level, check out my extensive Productivity course that can accelerate your career.