WHO ARE YOU OUTSIDE OF YOUR JOB?

When I wrote down what I wanted in my career twenty years ago, I didn’t realize how little I knew of the future.

This was before:

• Smartphones
• Zoom
• Social media
• Global travel
• A move (alone) to Europe
• A global pandemic…

I’m someone who prepares. I plan, prepare, and research. I thought surely I’d be ready for what unknown is to come. That was my Type-A perfectionist voice speaking while real life had other plans.

As I sit here reflecting on how the past five months have impacted our lives and careers, I wonder how this time can be a powerful opportunity for us to question what we are living for—knowing change is always coming.

How are you choosing to live each day knowing there are always uncertainties ahead?

The two cultures I grew up in, American and Asian, define who you are, and assign value, based on your job—where you work, what title you hold, and what industry you are part of.

But if the only way you measure your value is based on your profession, who are you without it?

You are so much more than your job, your business, or your studies.

You have to believe in you and do deep reflection to know who you are at your core.

Who am I without InnovatorsBox?
Who are you without your work?

COVID-19 has been hard on our careers, our businesses, our studies, and on our physical and mental health. Not only because many have lost jobs, have been furloughed, or had business opportunities disappear, but also because we’ve become comfortable defining ourselves based on our titles—to the point where we’ve forgotten who we are without them.

This observation struck me as I have been coaching executives and students who are navigating this sea of change. They are wondering what their lives and careers will look like as a result of COVID-19. They can’t do what they used to do and they aren’t sure what to do differently.

My answer to them, and to you, is the same. Start with knowing who you are and who you want to become as a person.

When we build our career and life around our core values, we are able to thrive and enjoy what we do exponentially more no matter where we work. We find ways to be more creative and inspired.

This summer is a good time for us to rethink our careers. What is your core value? What kind of life do you want to build?