What Do You Do?
Nov 19, 2024It’s the question everyone asks and most people hate to answer.
It pops up at parties, networking events and first dates. The inescapable icebreaker:
“So, what do you do?"
If you're miserable at work, the last thing you want to talk about is your job. But most of us simply respond with our job title. We answer with bland statements like “I’m an accountant” or “I’m in marketing”.
It’s safe. It’s expected. It’s also dull.
More importantly though, it doesn’t really answer the question.
When someone asks “What do you do?”, they’re not asking for your LinkedIn headline. They’re asking about you. It’s an opening for dialogue. Tell them what excites you, not what’s written on your business card.
Maybe you’re building your dream home, writing your first novel, or raising kids. You might be training for a marathon, building an online community, or exploring a passion project you’ve had on the back burner for years.
When you share what you care about, conversations change. Your interactions become more meaningful and memorable. People listen differently. They lean in, they ask more and the conversation shifts from small talk to real talk. Suddenly, you're no longer just swapping labels. You’re sharing things that matter.
Don’t shrink yourself down to something that fits neatly on a business card.
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