This is a question we don’t ask ourselves very often.
Especially once our adult life begins.
We start defining ourselves by education, school, work, and family.
Yet, under the surface, all these answers are just titles.
They don’t really tell anyone anything about us.
In all cases, we are leaning on the brand or status of the degree, the school, our family, or a company.
With shifts in the economy, I think this is becoming a professional challenge.
Companies looking to hire want to know more than our occupation.
Being a strategist or business consultant or designer isn’t enough.
We need to define our special type of strategist…consultant…designer.
A quick summary of how we are unique.
Why we would be a good fit for the position or project at hand.
Considering the value we bring – without using a title or company – is a good place to start.
My Story
I relied heavily on my titles and companies I worked for over the years.
Here are a few examples:
I’m Lori, an engineering student at the University of Detroit Mercy.
I’m Lori, a Market Research Manager at General Motors.
I’m Lori, Sydney’s (or Noah’s) mom.
I’m Lori, Todd’s wife.
I’m Lori and I lead the General Motors CRM business at MRM//McCann.
I’m Lori, the EVP of Global Business Strategy.
Then, I started my own business, and it all changed.
There is little awareness of my company name.
Many opportunities are with organizations and people who don’t know me.
They aren’t familiar with my work output, or my work ethic.
So, I’ve learned and stumbled my way through good introductions and bad ones.
I’ve felt unmoored.
I’ve asked the “who am I?” question many times.
Today, three years in, I know a lot about myself that I didn’t before.
Your Turn
How would you introduce yourself without the use of your title or the company you work for?
What qualities make you unique in your field?
How do those qualities turn into your introduction?