I meet someone for the first time and they stick out their hand to greet me and pass me a business card with the other hand. I have just learned their name and their occupation, but nothing more. Now what?

So often people identify themselves with what they are paid to do. “Hi, my name is Bob and I am a builder.” “Hello, I am Jill and I am an accountant,” or they identify by who they work for. Please belive me when I say that we are so much more than that. We are much more complex than an occupation and much deeper than the footings of an institutional building. We need to separate ourselves from the shackles that bind us to a paycheck.

Now, I for one will not downplay the need for a job or a paycheck for that matter as they do make it easier to pay bills. I also would not diminish one’s dedication and devotion to being a professional or valued employee. We need these in the world. But, I do think that we need to be a little more cognizant of who we are as a unique individual, one who is unlike any other individual, past, present, or future.

What would be wrong with introducing yourself as a father, a wife, a passionate gardener? I believe that we should let others know who we are not what we do, we have business card to accomplish that task.

One of the biggest hurdles to making that type of introduction is the fact that not many of us have taken time to get to know ourselves and to understand our strengths and how we can put them to use to add value to others in our world. A dear friend of mine has the most wonderful introduction, “Hi, I’m J.P. and I am all heart.” I love that introduction, it leaves me wanting to get to know her better and to gain an understanding of her perspective on life. This type of honesty and self-awareness can only come from reflecting on your strengths. I challenge you to identify your strength and add that to your introduction, maybe even put it on your business card.