Most of us went to college with a dream of becoming someone. For me, it was a teacher. For others, it was a doctor, lawyer, accountant, writer, or marketer.
But what if your dream changes?
What if you become someone you never dreamed of being?
Last year, that happened to me.
I was a teacher for six years and all of a sudden, I was also a web designer. People would ask me what I did and I always responded with “I’m a teacher.”
My husband would have to explain that I also had my own web design business. I wouldn’t tell people about it because I didn’t feel as though I deserved that title. I mean, I went to college to be a teacher. I have over 600 students out there who have had Mrs. Cross as their cool math teacher. I was a teacher for so long.
How could I now be someone else?
The Three Hardest Words
Once I left my teaching job, I had no choice but to start identifying as a web designer. Which brings me to the hardest three words I’ve ever had to say:
I’m a designer.
Even though it didn’t feel right, it brought me one step closer to owning who I had inevitably become. Just because I’m now a designer, doesn’t mean I am no longer a teacher. I will always be a teacher. No one can take that away from me. But what’s the harm in being both?
What’s Your Three (or more) Hardest Words?
Your hardest three words may be different than mine but no matter what those words are, you need to start saying them if you dream of becoming them. Own who you are and realize that it doesn’t change who you have been.
Life is too short to say the same three words for the rest of your life.
What are your three words? Are you actively saying them or are you still working on owning who you have become? I would love to hear about them in the comments below.
thrive
as a
solopreneur
{ 10 comments… read them below or add one }
Western society is tied to this idea that we are what we do, which is silly. It’s hard for some people not to define you by what they can comprehend about you through their narrow lens of the world.
As we all become “slash careerists” and side hustlers and entrepreneurial in everything that we do, I suspect that the discussion will continue to change re: what we do and who we are to others.
Keep doing what you do, weirdo!
—BWJ
Well said, BWJ. However, I do think what you do is a PIECE of who you are.
For example, I still consider myself a teacher because I love sharing what I know with others and I have a great ability to break things down in a more digestible manner. I may no longer be a “teacher” in the way society understands it, but I am a teacher in the way I see it.
Thanks for sharing your wisdom!
–NB
I think being a designer is just as cool, if not cooler, than being a teacher!
Thanks, Jennifer! I think so, too…..but I may be a bit biased
This was a great blog post and I was very scared at first as well to tell people that I am an online marketer because that title and everything behind it I was scared to see what people would really think of me. But, now as I have been working for myself for awhile I truly do enjoy it and the title always does have a great ring to it. Nice post Nina.
I am definitely guilty for worrying about what people think of me from time to time. Whenever I do, I try and remember that the only thing I should worry about is my happiness. Haters are gonna hate!
Thanks so much for sharing your thoughts, Justice!
Somewhat related–I hate the words, “Is your husband a teacher, too?” and when I say no, I get a big fit awkward, “OH.” I guess his job’s not good enough to talk about him further.
I feel like that’s the only profession where people do that. They just assume that teachers always marry teachers.
There are people who want to do what they do, but the trend to ‘Breakout’ of the current paycheck is relatively new. With the constant evolution of the internet, social media, mobile technologies, and just plain bad economy the option to jump ship and begin your own venture is easier than it was 20 years ago. But yes, that decision is difficult for most and undeniably frightening. So, what am I…Systems Engineering transitioning into bigger and better things.
That’s what I like to hear, Kris! It definitely is a newer concept. Not everyone understands it completely yet. Job titles are somewhat gray when it comes to being an entrepreneur while corporate America still has black and white titles.