I spend a lot of time helping people discover who they are and answer the question, “why do I do what I do?”

There are reasons for everything we do, whether we are aware of them at a conscious level or not. Our behavior just flows out of our being. We don’t really even think about it much. We just react to or at times proactively engage with our environment (people, circumstances)  It’s usually automatic.

And we do it all day….when we drive, shop at the grocery store, pay our bills, cook dinner, talk with a friend, run errands, manage our time, relate to others. We are always living from who we are.

I was thinking about how we answer that question we get when we meet someone new, “What do you do?”

Typically, we launch into an explanation of our job. We start with a title. “I’m a teacher.” “I’m a contractor.” “I’m an accountant.” “I’m a stay at home mom.” “I’m an executive.” “I’m a graphic designer.” Then other questions come after that and we find ourselves in a conversation about our work and various aspects of it.

Isn’t it the case when someone says, “tell me about yourself,” we lead with our job title? Is it possible the question, “what do you do?” is actually, “who are you?”

What we do is who we are.

There’s a reason we choose things and do things. All day long.

It’s worth taking the time to examine it.

What do you do?

Why do you do that?

Yes, the bigger question is, “Who are you?”