It reminded me of how much I dislike labels overall. Here’s why.
They’re reductivist
I’ve written previously on the headaches job titles can create because for soloists, in particular, one pithy phrase cannot possibly describe what we do. As well as being a business owner, soloists are typically also admin, accounts, marketing, production and strategy.
They’re cause for underestimation
Even if you accept the limitations and come up with a title you’re content with, there’ll be someone in every soloist’s circle who doesn’t understand what you mean by it. They won’t see you as having a ‘proper’ job, in spite of soloism requiring a level of skill, determination and guts most employees will never need to call on.
They’re misinterpreted
Closely related to the above, others can have very different interpretations of terms you may ascribe to yourself. For instance it’s very sad but true that many assume all ‘mumpreneur’ operations are hobby/craft oriented, and turn out products that get sold to friends and (whispers) *aren’t proper businesses*. Then there are the soloists who call themselves entrepreneurs, when they are in fact small business owners.
Magic happens when you disown them
In an article on the London 2012 opening ceremony, Frank Cottrell Boyce – one of the ‘writers’ who helped pull the show together – told of how director Danny Boyle created a space where “no-one was afraid to speak, no one had to stick to their specialism… he restored us to the people we were before we made career choices – to when we were just wondering.”
Every time I’m lucky enough to meet with my Flying Solo business partners, as well as reporting on our own areas we allow plenty of time to leave behind our ‘roles’ and it is by far the most liberating and creative time we have together. It’s where our best ideas are born. For the most part out of my mind, obviously. (Only kidding, guys – love ya work.)
In spite of my business background being peppered with creative titles, the notion of wafting around in a cloud of non-definition seriously appeals to me. And I really believe it’s an increasing trend – by the time my preschoolers are in the workforce, titles will be seriously passé.
All of us are so much more than a list of nouns. I personally like Ghandi’s approach: “You’ll be happy if what you think, what you say and what you do are all in harmony.”
And that’s not that hard to do, is it?
Do you feel restricted by role/job titles, or do they help define what you do?
“ One pithy phrase cannot possibly describe what we do. As well as being a business owner, soloists are typically also admin, accounts, marketing, production and strategy. ”
Sam Leader is a director of Flying Solo and the co-author of Flying Solo - How to go it alone in business.
