When my wife was a child, her family called her Debbie.
In her thirties she returned to her full given name of Deborah. The old name no longer fit who she had become and who she was becoming. Her re-naming was an act of self-identification that heralded a new relationship with the world.
All wisdom traditions recognize the power of names.
When a young man or woman is initiated into adulthood, they receive a new name. When a monk or yogi is initiated into a holy order – a new name is given.
This new name heralds a new spiritual identity and opens the door to a new way of being in the world.
This naming process happens at work, as well.
A client that I’ve worked with for many years has changed the name of the Personnel, Human Resources, Human Capital department several times. Each change reflecting a new way of thinking about and presenting the work of that department.
Many years ago, Ken Blanchard changes his title from CEO to CSO (Chief Spiritual Officer) to reflect a new way of seeing and being in the world,
What’s the name you give to what you do? What’s your title?
If you work in an organization, you may not have much influence over your title.
But, you can still choose to name your work. You can still give yourself a “hidden” or “inner” title. A title that does more than simply position you on the organization chart. You can choose a title, a name that supports your calling.
On the org chart you may have the title of senior analyst, manager, or something equally prosaic.
But, that’s simply the organizational title of the job you’re doing.
You can give yourself another title. One that reflect, more completely, the unique perspectives and gifts that you bring to the job. This title might not be on your business card. But, it can be on your heart and in your mind.
It’s an inner title.
An esoteric title that reminds you of your calling. Such an inner title reminds you that:
- Doing your job is important and honorable, it’s not enough.
- Fulfilling the duties that your organizational title describes is necessary but not sufficient.
- To express your calling, to give your unique gifts, you need to go beyond the sterile definition of the official title.
Your official title is designed to limit your influence.
It describes what you do in org-chart lingo. Which is useful for fitting what you do into the org chart. It’s good for writing a job description. It’s a reminder to stay inside the lines.
Having an inner title is another kind of reminder.
It reminds you of your calling. And that you, and you alone, have the power to name and claim that calling. But it also reminds you of this:
- You don’t have to quit or abandon your “official” job to live your calling.
- Your organizationally defined job offers you a context through which you can express your gifts and pursue your calling.
- It gives you a platform upon which you can perform the magic that is yours alone to perform.
Your job title is just a starting point.
It’s a platform not a prison. Though many people don’t know this. And they become hypnotized by the title. They start believing and acting as though the title defines what they do. If you’re not paying attention, it can become a prison. And then your soul slowly starts to whither. But, it doesn’t have to.
For many entrepreneurs the situation is actually worse.
They give themselves these incredibly boring, soul-withering titles in an attempt to appear “professional”. They put themselves in prison.
Fortunately, there is a key that gets you out of prison.
The key is . . . a name. A powerful ,new name that:
- Evokes the energy of your deeper calling.
- Wakes up your soul.
- Thrills you and causes you to tremble.
A name that calls you forth – into a new way of seeing and a new way of being.
Maybe it’s time to re-name what you do.
To give your work a new, more powerful name.
So, if you were to give a new name to your work, what would it be?
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