Over the course of your lifetime you’ll spend over 80,000 hours working. That’s nearly 10 years straight with no breaks. Think you have that kind of endurance 😉 You get the luxury of choosing where you’ll spend those hours so does that mean your choice reflects who you are as a person? Are you your job?
According to Tyler Durden of “Fight Club” you are not your job, but when you spend enough time in any situation it rubs off on you and becomes a part of you. If you’re in the military you become military minded, if you’re a doctor you see the world in a whole different light than if you’re a real estate developer. Professions give us selective perception since each profession creates a lens associated with the job. Not only that it creates association for all those we deem titles necessary (99.9% of the human race) and puts us into certain social circles based on who our co-workers and related vendors are.
What do Different Professions Say?
Each profession requires a different skill set, are these skills who we are? Are all accountants introverts who enjoy being left alone to crunch numbers? Are all cops and firefighters out there to save lives each day to the best of their ability? Different professions speak different languages and hold different views. An environmental scientist most likely will not become a full time logger. A nun will most likely not become a prostitute. Why not? Because these professions are not in line with who they are.
So each profession could say something about the person who does it, but does it say enough to judge the person at face value? I don’t mean judge in the shallow sense, but judge in the sense that we already know a bit about them and what they value.
If someone says that they’re a doctor what words pop into your head? Helping, hard worker, rich? How about if someone said web designer? Nerdy, trendy, artistic? Association happens for each profession because each profession is different. They also have completely different connotations based on societal norms, which are then placed on whoever accepts that profession.
Like it or not, your profession is your title, and your title is how others view you because they often have nothing else to go off of. Much like a Janitor could be called a custodial consultant, your title will affect how others perceive you and thus how you’re treated.
Are You Your Co-Workers?
At this point you may or may not agree that you are your profession, but let’s take this one step further. Are you your co-workers? If you spend 40 hours a week with someone I’m willing to bet they might rub off on you a bit. This also tends to be the case with your friends. If your co-workers complain a lot, you’ll probably start complaining too. If you’ve got a great boss, you may turn into one yourself. That’s why if you pick up a new job, the people you work with are just as important as the job itself. You can have the greatest title and position in the world, but if you absolutely hate your co-workers that job is going to suck big time. Should we then interview our future co-workers before we accept a job to save the hassle down the road?
I know that some companies have several of their staff interview the new candidate for this very reason. This has happened to me in a couple interviews. It makes it a bit more intimidating having five people interview you at once, but it also seems to create a greater feel for the organization as a whole. Personalities play a huge role in the cohesiveness of an organization and will play a significant role in who you become, therefore chose your co-workers carefully.
Dating by Profession Only
One of my buddies who’s visiting this week mentioned that he’s specifically interested in teachers or nurses as a potential girlfriend or wife. For work he’s a cop back in Wisconsin. His reasoning was that the profession one chooses says a lot about the person. For example teachers and nurses generally care for the well being of others and aren’t necessarily in their profession for the pay. At least on the surface they’re more interested in helping others and are more giving. These are the traits that he values most.
He went further and stated that he felt he’d have a harder time with a girl who was in business or possibly an attorney because their personalities would be different. I tend to agree with him and when I think of an ideal girlfriend I would be interested in one who values thinking outside the box, is self motivated, and enjoys new experiences. Therefore it wouldn’t be shocking to say I’d like to date an entrepreneur or someone in the business field. Do you choose your dates by profession, or is that a bit shallow?
Whether it’s dating, finding a new position, or simply telling someone what we do at a cocktail party our professions give others an insight as to who we are and what we’re about. What does your profession say about you?
What do you think? Are you your profession?
When dating do you look for certain professions?
Think about your closest co-workers, have they rubbed off on you at all?
Ryan I can see how people can start to become their profession. I think I have a sense of how this comes about. When you forget to leave work at work (i.e. you talk about work outside) you start to lose sight of some of your other interests. I think it is very important to maintain activities outside work, which are done even on weekdays not just weekends. I know a lot of people who if you were to guess their job, they would not fit the stereo types, because they have so much to talk about and don’t even… Read more »
My profession is a student 🙂 But I’m between majors. Officially, I’m a business student considering triple majoring in accounting, finance, and international business. But as a result of several things that have happened recently, I’m rethinking what I want to do with my life. It’s in flux right now. I don’t think that I would date someone just because they were in a certain profession. I’ve met enough teachers and nurses to know that they may have started out caring for others over money, but life happens and sometimes people change. Don’t tell me that you’ve never experienced a… Read more »
I have to agree with you that many people do become a part of their profession. However, people do change professions. For instance, I teach, but on the side I help my husband with his graphic and web business. I do care for the students I teach and want to make sure they learn as much as they can while they are my students. I guess that makes me a caring individual. But I also like being creative and trying new things. And I implement this in my teaching abilities too. Perhaps some of us are just chameleons! 🙂 .-=… Read more »
There’s definitely stereotypes about people from different professions. Nurses and Teachers have currently positive stereotypes of caring and helping others.
Lawyers? Not so much.
Many of my co-workers are stinking rich, and sometimes it’s hard not to buy that fancy car, vacation home, or pay thousands to donate to a particular charity. But, it is what it is.
When are you starting your 30 days/ 30 nights initiative Ryan?
Best,
Sam
.-= Financial Samurai´s last blog ..Treat Your Job As If You Won The Lottery =-.
I totally agree with the idea of stereotypes for professions, and the pressure society puts on us to be “something.” The second question at a party, after your name, is usually “What do you do?” I think how you respond tells a lot about you. And people will instantly judge you by it…
“I’m an architect,” for example, sounds much better than “I like to be creative.” But the latter describes me in a much more complete way.
.-= Wojciech Kulicki´s last blog ..How to Sell Your Car on Craigslist =-.
I am an entrepreneur and my portrayed personality is probably passionate. That one sticks out the most for me. I do believe though that each individual had a different personality. We might share similar interests and of course we will if we are in the same field, but in entirety our personalities and attractions are different. You can’t judge a book by its cover.
.-= Alex´s last blog ..The Virtue of Obsession =-.
Initially, I wanted to just plain rebel against the idea that we are our professions. But I’ve seen a few links: –you’re likely to chose your profession based at least a little on your interests (I hope??) and so perhaps you can learn something about a person through his/her work that way. –your profession can affect the way you look at things later. I was a teacher too for a long time and you learn a lot of interesting things: research about how the brain works, psychology, achievement gaps, why people have behavioral disorders. . . all kinds of stuff–whatever… Read more »
Personally I don’t look for certain professions or stereotypes when dating but I totally agree that what we do says a lot about us. Even if we don’t say it aloud there’s a reason why we’re passionate about something and it’s due to something deep down inside of us. Great post Ryan, keep them coming!
.-= Jarrod@ Optimistic Journey´s last blog ..The Benefit of Living an Optimistic Lifestyle =-.
[…] Are you your profession? […]
I agree Ryan,
Most of our personality lies in our profession. It like normal, judging others by their profession.
Most of my friends really can’t tell who i am, from what i do. May be because i do nothing permanently.
Yet, i believe our professions reflects our personalities.
.-= harvestwages´s last blog ..Success patterns that emerge – Guest post =-.
I’m not so sure these stereotypes hold up. Nurses have a stressful job and can earn a great deal of money.
What if a good number of people are looking for the “Easiest professions”? You just never know. You could come across an abusive nurse or a harsh teacher.
I don’t k now, maybe you’re right–to a certain extent.
.-= Moon Hussain´s last blog ..Clash Of The Titans: Pros & Cons of Various Types Of Passive Income Streams =-.
I don’t think I am my profession and I don’t think that people are their profession. Unless we are talking about doing what you were “born” to do and no one knows that until they are on their deathbed. I am currently in a job because my employer felt I was qualified enough to do that. But I don’t identify my job as what I am. This could also be because I don’t see myself in this job forever… I’m through with dating ;-). But that is interesting that your friend would look for specifically teachers or nurses. Isn’t that… Read more »
I am an accountant and most people I meet are shocked to hear this. I am often told that I don’t fit the standard mold for accountants as I’m very outgoing, always up for a good time and I am very involved in my community, volunteering at local schools and being a co-chair for a social organization. While I have always known the stereotype for accountants are loners who tend to be introverted and possibly anti-social, I do not see this as being the norm for generation X and Y. My boyfriend is also an accountant and we go out… Read more »
When people are like their jobs, it might be time to take a break. It’s not all about the job, so don’t be your job either. Sure it might be extremely interesting, but as with everything.. there is such a thing as too much, it’s all about balance. Balance in everything (over a long period of time anyway). Balance between fun and work, even though both may overlap at times.
I agree. When you first meet someone at a party, what is one of the first questions that is asked? “So…what do you do?” It’s funny, but yeah, we are defined by our professions! I think the thing to remember is that how we respond to the typical stereotypes is what really matters. My profession is a nurse. I recently stopped working to care for our first newborn child. When I tell people that I’m a stay at home mom (SAHM), they give me a “look.” 🙂 At first, I was offended, but then I remembered that how I am… Read more »
Nurses are wonderful human beings in my experience, though they can be quite savage when they want to be. I think it’s a halo thing – you expect them to be perfect and to have the tolerance of a Saint, and they’re ultimately only human.
I could never date someone like me. I’d rather date a nurse any day! (Not that I’m all bad, I stress…)
.-= Monevator´s last blog ..Earn more money by tackling your mental beliefs =-.
It’s funny you wrote about this, because I just had a conversation about this topic a couple of days ago.
When people ask “What do you do?” I say I’m an entertainer. They look at me really funny for a while then confusedly ask, “No, what do you do for a living?”
I’ve never associated what I do “for money” as what “I do.” I’ve managed to partition my life between the two. I realize I’m in the minority here, as most people either can’t or don’t want to do this.
Anyway, another great post!
Rock on
I love this post. I have thought for years about how I would love to try differnt jobs for a few months, just to gain the perspective you gain from doing that. I like this: “If you’re in the military you become military minded, if you’re a doctor you see the world in a whole different light than if you’re a real estate developer. Professions give us selective perception since each profession creates a lens associated with the job.” I totally agree with that. I just finished a two week intense training period with the Navy performing SWAT movements, lot’s… Read more »
Ryan, People perceive us through different lenses: Where we were born, which our first language is, which our zodiacal sign is, our gender, our sexual preferences, our level of fitness, our profession, etc. To say that we are our profession is as precise as to say that we our the color of our skin. We are a rich mixture of multiple forces, however, we are free to act regardless of al those forces. A good way of knowing who we are is to see what we do day by day, not to ask for our profession. All the best, Boris… Read more »
I can’t disagree with you entirely. But our professions are not always who we are. In a large corporate environment I worked we had many associates that never expected or wanted to be doing the job they had. Most liked what they did, they just never set out on that path. Personally, there could not be more difference me and my job. By nature I am an introvert, by profession I am a facilitator, educator and consultant. I love my job though, I would almost be willing to pay for the opportunity but it is not the kind of role… Read more »
[…] Dollars consistently produces quality content, and this one asking if you are your profession is no […]
My profession during the day is that of a web developer. While I find it interesting, I don’t have any friends that are really into web development as much as I am. Most people I find myself wanting to talk to nowadays are people who are looking to make big positive change in their lives, achieve financial abundance, or create their own website/business.
.-= Jeremy Johnson´s last blog ..The Insightful Valerie Mondesir =-.
“I find myself wanting to talk to nowadays are people who are looking to make big positive change in their lives, achieve financial abundance, or create their own website/business.”
As am I Jeremy, it seems my friends of the past however many years have slightly different ideas as of right now.
.-= MyFinancialObjectives´s last blog ..Warrant Buffett’s Humble Abode =-.
[…] Planting Dollars shares Are You Your Profession? […]
[…] Dollars writes about how many of us become our profession, or do we? In Are You Your Profession? I think I’m a chameleon, myself. I blend where ever I […]
Interesting post and great discussion!
I think one can’t help but be associated with your profession. You live it and breathe it, and when you tell people what you do, the stereotypes can’t help springing up.
It’s like when you meet someone, you talk and talk, and then the question always comes up, “So, what do you do?”
Then you say ______ and then it’s either a deal breaker or deal maker.
.-= youngandthrifty´s last blog ..Carnival of the Young and Thrifty Edition #3 =-.
Yes, I was my profession. I was an underpaid, over stressed workaholic. My job was my life, which was exactly my plan. The successes at work fueled my life. The motivation I received from my coworkers lead me to work harder. 90% of my waking thoughts were about focused on work. What I didn’t get done, what can I do better, who else needs help, what more can I do. Then I was fired! My new profession is unemployed! You mention dating? I have lots of free time now, but who wants an unemployed 42 year old? Saying I have… Read more »
Yea, dinner parties are the worst for this… or parties in general with “grown ups” I still don’t have a good answer. I scuba dive, write, and make people happy with food and drinks is usually what I say, which gets confused looks, lol. Architect sounds much better 😉
Thanks Jarrod, a lot of people also don’t follow what’s inside them so maybe their profession isn’t in line with who they really are?
I think that’s the ideal way to go about things, to recharge your batteries and let your subconscious mind work while you’re off the clock, but it’s much easier said than done. Some jobs won’t really let you escape either, especially if you’re an entrepreneur or on call the majority of the time. The off button does work for some jobs though, which is maybe why people chose those professions rather than launching their own business.
I don’t think that’s shallow at all, and that’s awesome that your husband made that leap while taking the pay cut. Is he noticeably happier now because of his choice?
I think we indirectly agree about the dating idea. He’s basically saying that on the surface teacher’s and nurse’s perspectives are similar to his because they are usually at their job for reasons other than money or a title, etc… Basically he relates better to them so they have common interests. I can oddly enough understand where he’s coming from. It takes a certain personality to be an undertaker, a defense attorney, or a performing artist… I think that’s what he’s getting at, so he just searches for ones that have more in common with him to start with. I… Read more »
There’s never a perfect stereotype or a one sized fits all… in general though I think nurses and teachers begin their profession because they enjoy helping others…
I like your second paragraph in particular. I tend to notice this about who I date as well… for a while I had a streak of only dating girls whose parents owned small businesses. It wasn’t even a conscious thing, but it was something that just clicked… was a bit ironic. Our choice in profession illustrates our choice about ourselves quite a bit, or so I think.
Congrats on being a new SAHM… I was lucky enough to have a SAHM and I’m really happy she made that choice. Looking back years from now I’m pretty sure you’ll only think of how it affected the relationship with your kid and not the judgments others put on you.
I wouldn’t want to date me either! haha, that would be horrible, need someone to balance me out otherwise we’d drive off the cliff together!
Agreed, maybe people aren’t creative enough to build their life this way. I find it a bit sad when people don’t have hobbies outside of work… how boring?
I think I slightly diagree with your comparison between skin color and profession. Reason being is because one involves choice, the other one doesn’t. At least in developed countries where people have a choice of their career they define what they do each day, it’s not something that they’re stuck with the rest of their lives. Through their choice they’re illustrating what they believe or who they are. If they don’t care about this choice, it also reflects who they are, which would be a person who doesn’t care much about their profession. We all have choices, professions reflect our… Read more »
Haha, so what’s the name of your other personality 😉
I tend to lean towards nurture in building personalities and that we can learn to like/dislike almost anything through our experiences and conditioning.
Yup, each thing we do gives us a new lens, which is where knowledge becomes power. Show a financial statement to me and warren buffett and we’ll see completely different things because of our lens’ from experience based upon our learning and professions.
Hard to find these types of people… welcome to the club 😉 That’s why I’m on here as well…
It may also say something about whether or not you’re in the right profession if you cringe at answering that question when people ask 😉
Hey Scott, I think you’re still defining yourself by work a bit when you say “who’d want to date a unemployed 42 year old?”
My answer would be, a person who finds your personality and activities enjoyable and who likes you for you, and not who likes what you do to make money. If profession is the only things that matters when dating it’s probably best to move on since that person is probably pretty shallow. I think you should give yourself a bit more credit.
Yah, I had trouble responding to your question but I wanted to show how people really do become their profession. Actually I think we are labeled by society from our jobs, which you wrote about. My sister is a doctor which gives me a different perspective of the perceptions we have of doctors. For the most part, it’s still a highly regarded position. And yes, my sister earned and deserves her title. That being said, everyone around her wants medical advice. Family and friends; causing her to have strained relationships with the people around her. She has specifically asked us… Read more »
I definitely agree about the quality of your coworkers. Working with people you get along well with makes a world of difference. To a certain extent, I do think your profession defines who you are and what you’re trying to do with your life. But for other people, they just do a job for the money, and don’t think as much about what they’re trying to accomplish. And still for others, they don’t define themselves by their job title, but have a bigger purpose for their life. They could flip hamburgers, but they’re using their time and money as a… Read more »
I think most people end up in a profession that does not use there talents. I’ve always tried to look at my strengths and weaknesses. I train all the time in many skills so that I can always have work as a freelance programmer and graphic artist. Always train and reinvent yourself when necessary.
.-= Gregory´s last blog ..What are Structured Settlement Brokers =-.