What Do You Do?

"What do you do?" It sounds like an innocent question, but it is extremely important, especially for those of us just beginning our journeys as freelancers or independent business owners. The answer to that question determines our personal vision and establishes what steps we will take to reach our goals, such as becoming a full-time independent business owner. If you haven't considered your answer to the question, now is the time to do it before you start on a path that may or may not lead to where you want to go. Seth Godin provides some questions to help you, and me, find the answer to the question. "What do you do?"



1. Who are you trying to please?

2. Are you trying to make a living, make a difference, or leave a legacy?
3. How will the world be different when you've succeeded?
4. Is it more important to add new customers or to increase your interactions with existing ones?
5. Do you want a team? How big?
6. Would you rather have an open-ended project that's never finished or one with definite end points? (How high is high enough?)
7. Are you prepared to sell your business/service or do you expect buyers to walk in the door and ask for it?
8. Would you rather invent a category or be just like Bob/Sue, but better?
9. If you take someone else's investment, are you prepared to sell out to pay it back?
10. Are you done growing, or is this venture going to force you to change?
11. Would you rather teach, lead, and challenge your customers or do what they ask?
12. How long are you willing to wait to be successful? How do you measure success?
13. Is perfection important?
14. Do you want your customers to know each other or is it better that they be anonymous and separate?
15. How close to failure and humiliation are you willing to fly? How open to criticism are you willing to be?
16. What does busy look like?

I learned about the importance of asking these questions when I decided to pursue my Master's degree in creative writing. I constantly found that people assumed I was earning my degree in order to teach; however, I had a different vision. I knew I was meant to be a writer and editor, not a teacher (which is an absolutely amazing profession - I heartily salute all of the teachers out there). As a result, I chose different jobs and activities that would aid me in my path toward becoming a writer. I did not seek a position as a teaching assistant; rather, I found jobs in the marketing and communications fields. I wasn't sure if my choices would take me where I wanted to go, but I knew that I had to take risks, and risk failure, in order to reach my goals. 

I have reached one of my goals: I am a freelance writer and editor with a fledgling independent business. Now that I have started that venture, I find myself having to answer the above questions again and again. Doing so keeps me on track, helps me to evaluate from where I came and where I am going, and shows me the steps I need to take in order to continue my personal and professional journey. 

Unfortunately, many people don't ask any of these questions. They focus on the question, "What can I do that will be certain to work?" Such a question is pointless; the answer to it varies from day-to-day and from person-to-person. If people focus on answering this question, they will never go anywhere because they are afraid of taking risks or making a commitment. People who are unafraid, though, will seek to answer the more difficult questions and find themselves confidently able to answer the question, "What do you do?"