Typically when you meet a new person, the very first thing you ask is what they do. Everyone has some kind of job and it is a quick way to create a rapport with a person. It also seems to sum up a person in one quick answer. If someone says they are a doctor, you have an instant impression of them, or if they are a plumber, or artist, or engineer, or home maker. Each of these draws up an instant box to place the person and some corresponding assumptions.

But we are much more than what we do and because of this I rarely ask people what it is they do for a living. Instead I ask other questions, like where they were born, or what their favorite hobby is. I feel this tells me worlds more about them than what they do to earn a paycheck. I also find it much more fascinating about them. In fact, I consider it a win if I leave a conversation and never have an idea of what they do for a living.

However, there is a need to summarize who you are, to categorize yourself. In fact marketing is made up of ways to anticipate what a consumer desires and will purchase based simply on a few pieces of information. Some of the tools they use are amazing. For instance, you can enter in a zip code and one system will categorize the people that live there by what they are likely to purchase and to value. Buy something on Amazon and it will recommend other things for you. Even your credit report shows what you find valuable.

It is important to know who you are when face times of trouble or stress. During these times your true character will come out, good or bad. After the trouble is over you need to analyze what you found out about your character and make any appropriate modifications for next time. By the same token, you need to embrace what makes you you and to accept the happiness and excitement you generate as a unique individual. To aid me in that, I like to create as comprehensive of a list as I can to remind myself who I am.

I am a husband, father, uncle, brother, son, Christian, published author, drummer, gamer, game designer, reviewer, creator, director, podcaster, blogger, programmer, analyst, teacher, reader, movie-goer, Formula 1 fan, photographer, artist, groundskeeper, handyman, comforter, confident, consultant, romantic, nice guy, funny, loving, imaginative, runner, biker, camper, magician, public speaker, budgeter, dreamer, model builder, miniature painter, dish washer, community builder, and friend.

Who are you?