“What do you want to be when you grow up?”
Remember when you were a kid and adults would ask you this question? Maybe you wanted to be a teacher, or a doctor, an astronaut, or a mommy, or an artist, or a truck driver, or maybe you didn’t know and you were just happy digging for worms or coloring.
Now I want you to think about how that question changes when you’re an adult.
You know how it goes. You’re at an office holiday party, or a networking event, or your kid’s soccer game, and after exchanging pleasantries, you get asked “What do you do?”.
What changed from when you were a kid and the focus was on BEING to becoming an adult when the focus is on DOING?
While I promise not to quote the Oxford Dictionary on a regular basis, for the purposes of this post, stay with me for a moment. Oxford Dictionary defines being as 1. existence and 2. the nature or essence of a person. Now, Oxford Dictionary defines doing as 1. the activities in which a particular person engages.
When did we become defined by our activities and not by our essence or nature?
Let me give you an example. When asked what I do, I share something along the following lines: “I partner with parents in leadership roles to discover their untapped potential, whether it’s growing in their careers, improving an area of development, tackling imposter syndrome, creating space for more balance or leaving a lasting impact….and I do that through the modality of Executive and Leadership Coaching.”
How do you answer the question of “What do you do?”? Take a minute. Jot it down.
Now, how would you answer the question kids are fortunate to get – “What do you want to be?”?
Ok, ok, I’ll go first. “I want to be a contributor to the world by using my abilities to connect deeply with others, to listen intensely and to empower those around me in order to help as many people as I can live in a way that is of conscious choice. I want to help people completely express their gifts and their strengths, because I believe that as they find fulfillment, it will have a ripple effect on everyone around them. I want to elevate myself as a working mom, a wife, a daughter, a sister, a cousin, an aunt, a board member, a volunteer and a friend. I want to embrace my serious, silly, smart, sassy, sweet and very adventurous self. I want to organize drawers and linen closets, dress up, get muddy, eat delectable food while also having breakfast for dinner every once in a while.”
Your turn. What, or who, do you want to be?
While answering the question of “What do you do?” is great for happy hours and school pick-ups, knowing for yourself who you ARE allows you to make choices that align with your deepest values in order to access and unleash your amazing strengths.
That’s what drives and excites me so much as a coach. I get to focus on who people want to BE, not just what they want to DO.
Read below to see how we can connect to further discover who you are and how you can become the best version of yourself by applying for one of my complimentary Discovery Calls.