“What do you actually do?”
Attempt #1 to finally answer that dreaded question — there’s even a solution down at the end 😁
Everyone hates asking and answering this question right? It’s the default conversation starter at any generic networking event, awkward meal, or random encounter. It’s a useful social tool to keep conversation flowing and avoid prolonged periods of silence.
Like you, I’ve always hated this question. And I think it has a lot to do with my massive ego (which you have too by the way 😉).
The way the conversation goes…
When someone asks me what I do, and I tell them what I do, I want them to say things like:
Wow that’s awesome! Tell me more! What’s your next thing? Can I get involved?!
I don’t want them to say things like (which is much more common):
Ah right. How’s that then? What does that actually mean? I don’t really get all that stuff. Sure, that must be interesting…
I don’t think there’s anything wrong with wanting the first reaction. Why would I want to bring more boredom and confusion into the world?
THEM: So what do you do?
ME: I’m kind of a management consultant, but not really. I do loads of stuff. It changes all the time. Some writing, some facilitation, other bits and bobs.
THEM (out loud): Ah cool. Sounds great… Well, see you later.
THEM (in their mind): Management consultant eh? One of those bullshit jobs that I bet people get paid loads of money for to spout nonsense to big corporations and make endless Powerpoint presentations and write stuff on flip charts. Writing, meh. And facilitation, I have no idea what that means. Also sounds pretty bullshitty. This guy’s got nothing. I’m off to find the free wine and canapés.
Much better to come up with an answer that inspires and provokes conversation and curiosity, whilst still staying true to the actual stuff I do.
Why is it so hard?
Reason 01 —Many roles, constant evolution
The practical reason why I find it hard, is that in the 10 years of my typically-millennial career I’ve had loads of roles in hundreds of different projects, each demanding a slightly different pick-n-mix of skills, knowledge, and abilities. Every so often I hit on a particularly neat way to explain what I do, and use that for the next couple of weeks. Until my work shifts again. And that perfect “what I do” becomes obsolete.
To illustrate the point, here are all of the job titles I’ve defined myself by on LinkedIn between 2007–2017 (oldest first):
EFL Teacher — Excursions Director — Children’s Coordinator — Associate — Artist — Creative Practitioner — Owner — Consultant — Producer — Producer — Consultant — Programme Manager — Consultant, Producer & Facilitator — Learning Designer — Learning Experience (Consultant) — Digital & Learning Experience (Consultant) — Facilitation / Learning Design / Creative Production — Indie Consultant, Writer, Founder
They’re no use! All totally generic. Which is useful for not getting stuck in any one professional box, but completely useless for getting people excited and having great conversations.
Reason 02— The inevitable follow-up question
Even when I hit on a super inspiring thing that I do it generally only serves to delay further questions, to which I have no real clear answers, because what I do is relatively varied.
THEM: So what do you do?
ME: I run a company called Flux, we’re trying to change how work works.
THEM: Oh wow! I hate work. Work’s broken for sure. That’s awesome. How are you guys doing that then?
ME: Well. Loads of ways really. Consulting, writing…
Different starting point. Similar end point.
Reason 03 — Because it’s all about aptitude and flexibility, not job titles and stability
Job titles are shortcuts to an assumed shared understanding of what a person does. They allow us to quickly make assumptions about that person’s skills, knowledge, and motivation. Then if you add a location and company name to that job title, you’ve basically built a detailed picture of that person in your mind, without actually knowing anything about them.
- GP— Private practice — London
- HR Manager — HSBC — Nottingham
- Butcher — Family business — Inverness
- Sales Executive — Lyreco Office Supplies — Brighton
For a while I’ve had no clear job title, been working for no particular company, and in no specific location. No wonder the conversations are sometimes hard.
Sometimes they’re not though. Sometimes the conversations are awesome. But I’d like to improve the awkward/awesome ratio a bit. Because the more and better conversations I have, the more serendipity I’ll allow into my life, and the more great stuff will happen.
The Solution
Okay. I’ve been thinking about this over lunch and have something that we can all try.
This particular solution to the dreaded question is inspired by my pal Louis Hartshorn (who is the Executive Director of @artstheatreLDN — what a beautifully clear and awesome job title!).
At a mini-festival this summer Louis walked up to me, beer in hand, and sat down on the hay bale beside me. He took a moment’s pause before asking:
What are you excited about Jim?
Genius. What was I excited about? There was so much actually. Stuff going on in life and work and family that was all super exciting. I told him. Then I asked him what he was excited about, and we had a great conversation.
I tried it out at the Hyper Island 20th Anniversary party last week and it worked a treat!
So, my prototype recommendation for an answer to the dreaded question — “What do you do?” — is to execute the following formula:
1. I’m a (job title) for (company).
2. And what I’m most excited about is (project or thing in work or life that you’re super excited about).
Jim. What do you do?
Well. I’m founder of an indie management consultancy called Flux.
And, at the moment I’m super excited about the future of education. I’m gathering case studies of amazing learning spaces from all over the world. My co-founder Jon is moving with his family to Costa Rica to experience a democratic school in the jungle. I can’t wait to get talking to educational revolutionaries all over the world.
Give it a go. Let me know if it works. Here in the comments, or jim@flux.am
Inspired by writing this piece I’m updating my Github playground site (http://jimrali.github.io/) to include all of the projects I’ve ever done. I reckon it’ll be a useful document to have, and a nice little exercise to reflect on the last 10 years of work.
