Today, I want to talk to you about the danger of embedding your work into who you are.

 

How many times do we go to a party to network? We meet people, whether it's a birthday, a wedding, or any event where you can meet new people. And somebody says, "Hey, how's it going?" You introduce yourselves, and then comes the inevitable question: "What do you do?"

 

"I'm an architect."

"I'm a realtor."

"I'm a mortgage agent."

 

Notice how often we become embedded in our job titles. There's a danger to that. What happens when you retire? When you no longer have that job title? What if your job changes? What if you don't get the same job or that promotion? You become embedded in that title, and it can lead to depression.

 

When someone asks, "Who are you?" it shouldn't be:

 

"I'm a CEO."

"I'm a president."

"I'm a realtor."

"I'm a mortgage guy."

 

Talk about who you truly are—your interests, values, and beliefs. Discuss who you actually are, not just your job title. Embedding your work into your identity can be dangerous, especially when you retire. It often leads to depression because people don't know who they are or what their purpose is anymore.

 

To combat this, figure out who you are beyond your job title.

Just a suggestion from #MondayMotivation