Are You Sabotaging Your Career?
We've all been there. Your boss asks you to do something and, instead of doing it right away, you put it off until the last possible second and end up looking like an incompetent slacker. Or you're at a networking event and somebody asks what you do for a living - so you hem or haw way too long before finally mentioning your own business's name, only to be met with blank stares and confusion.
Long ago, I decided that I would never let a potential employer view me as someone who wasn't prepared to answer questions about what I do and why.
I would never be the person who couldn't be bothered to tell people what I do for a living.
Funny thing is, in retrospect, it never even occurred to me that I was sabotaging my own career.
It had nothing to do with being an introvert. Or one of those people who drops their business name right at the end of an answer when they are asked what they do for work (which I actually don't think is rude).
It had everything to do with not having a business and not having the knowledge of what it is I do for work...
...which was exactly how I sabotaged my career.
To be clear, sabotaging simply means to put off doing something that you should be doing. It does not mean being unprofessional or unethical. It does not mean being lazy or a slacker.
It just means that, somewhere along the way, my naivety about business and career insurance (or lack thereof) got the best of me.
Let me give you an example of what I mean...
When I first started freelancing, I always thought my portfolio and experience would speak for itself. I didn't think it was necessary to tell people about who I was and what I did for a living.
I remember times when potential clients would ask me "So, what do you do?"
The only problem was that in these moments, they were often already walking away as they asked the question.
And in those early days, I also had no clue how to answer the question in terms of business lingo.
One time, I actually said the following:
"I'm a freelance writer and editor, but I also do graphic design on the side."
I realize that might sound like a perfectly normal answer to some of you. And maybe even an honest one. But there are two distinct problems with that answer...
Problem #1: The problem with answering questions like "What do you do?" or "What's your business name?" is that people expect you to answer those questions before they ask them. That's how a conversation works. Otherwise, they feel like they're getting some sort of sales pitch. By not answering those questions first, you're giving potential employers the impression that you are just a passive listener who doesn't really own your own business.
Problem #2: That answer also gives the impression that, like so many of us, my freelance work wasn't my only source of income. Which, if you think about it, is a little bit weird for someone who usually works in digital media but still wants to be seen as an expert within her field...
Whichever way around it is, the fact remains: I never did draw up my own business plan or anything like that. So when people asked me what I did, I was always at a loss for how to answer them.
And it's not that I was under the impression that people were just in the habit of asking me things they didn't really care about.
It's just that I never realized how telling my business answers were.
In retrospect, I don't even think it really mattered whether or not people were interested in what I did for a living. The fact was, at 27, I had no idea how to position myself as someone who was qualified to do what she claimed to be able to do.
I also realize this might sound like an incredibly obvious problem to many of you who have been freelancing on your own for much longer than me.
But I think it's worth considering for a minute, anyways.
If you're an entrepreneur, or a freelancer or otherwise self-employed person, it really doesn't matter if other people are interested in what you do for a living.
In fact, it probably doesn't matter if your boss is interested in what you do for a living. What matters is that you are interested in what you do for a living...
...and that your interest is strong enough to keep yourself inspired and curious enough to put off things like Facebook and Twitter long enough to explore the business side of things (like how your business name works into the conversation when people ask what you do).
The rest of the world will catch up.
As an entrepreneur, you are your own boss, which means you can put off things like LinkedIn until the last possible second and it's actually OK.
But if you're like me, and you're still struggling to find your identity as a freelance writer or entrepreneur in this day and age, here are some tips:
Learn how to answer questions about your business first. This means being able to succinctly describe what you do for a living. Do it out loud if you have to. If people get bored, that's fine! Just say "Oh well" and keep on going. Don't lose sight of what you're doing. You're a writer, for heavens sake! Don't lose sight of that. And learn how to ask questions about your business first. Forget about your resume! I know, it's hard! But do it anyway. I promise you'll learn so much more if you do what most freelancers I know do and make your own business plan first and foremost...
This is a screenshot from the business plan I made for my blog when I was still new at blogging in 2010:
If you can relate to any of this, please comment below and share your thoughts on this subject with me! Or just take the time to read through some of the posts in our Career Advice Roundtable series...
...which you can find right here:
Most importantly, take the time to nurture your own growth first. And then focus on helping others with their growth.
Thanks for reading!
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