I think your point about how in your 20s your career is still new, and therefore it doesn’t necessarily define you is an important one. Particularly now. Long gone are the days of loyal employees who work for the same company for 30+ years and retire. I seem to remember reading an article that said that the average number of jobs for college graduates in their first 10 years in the workforce was somewhere between 6 and 8. So obviously, a company won’t define someone if they keep switching jobs.

That said, I think it’s still difficult to separate (even for a youngster like me) the current job title and employer from the definition discussion. I think the answer these days for me is “This is my [day job] and I also do this, this, and this.”

It’d be interesting to see if that approach you mentioned worked. Sounds a lot like a personals ad, you know?
.-= Scott Cohen´s last blog ..An Open Letter to Bruce Allen =-.

Great post – sorry I missed it until now. Couple of points:
- I tell people I’m an evanglist for a marketing software company.
- I’m in agreement with you on the age difference. That was my point exactly – that for someone like myself that is almost 26 years into my career – your job/career tends to be how those around you categorize and define you. So “job” is the defining foundation. Added to the mix is marital status, number of kids, car you drive, where you live, etc.
- When you are in your 20s, your career is still relatively new, you may not have a spouse, family, etc. and so you probably tend to be defined more by your hobbies and interests.

Nearly 20 years ago I read a great book called “Making a Difference.” One of the ideas the author suggested I’ve never forgotten. She suggested the next time you are at a social function, etc – when someone asks you what you do, instead of saying “I’m a financial analyst for Wells Fargo Bank” – say “I love to go bike riding with my two daughters, see old Hitchcock movies with my wife, make home brew beer and race in triathalons.” The point being, instead of defining yourself by your job and role, define yourself but who you really are as a person and what you love to do. I think I only tried this approach once.

Loren

I say I’m a writer, but clearly that’s still occupation-oriented. Being a father doesn’t play into that. I wonder if I’ll define myself that way more and more as time goes on and the feeling sinks in more and more.

Interesting topic. Has me thinking (sometimes a good thing, sometimes not). The few times I’ve heard Chris Brogan speak, he introduces himself as “a typist.” That’s very much in line with your take (“a writer”) with a unique twist.

So, how do I define myself? I’m not sure. I guess I tend to do what most people do and tie it to my career (my passion?). I say, “I’m an email marketer” or “I help marketers with email.” But I guess that is kinda lame, right?

Adding that to my goal list for 2010. Figure out what the heck it is that I do…how I define myself. Thanks for making me mull this over.

DJ Waldow
@djwaldow
.-= DJ Waldow´s last blog ..Holy Crap! I’m Gonna Be A Dad! =-.

That’s why I default to a writer… who happens to be in marketing… for an online university… at the moment.

I think my parents, meanwhile, tell people “He’s doing very well. He does something with marketing and computers.”

.-= Jordan Cohen´s last blog ..White House Names Jordan Cohen Nation’s First Email Marketing Czar =-.