There’s a quiet pressure we rarely name—that unspoken agreement to measure our value by by job titles and achievements, rather than who we are. In this culture of credentials, we’ve mistaken productivity for purpose. A polished resume becomes the mirror we hold up to prove we exist, to prove we matter.
But what if that mirror is distorted?
Titles Are Tools, Not Truths
You are not your resume. You are not your job title. You are not the perfectly phrased bio you recite at networking events.
You are a story unfolding—full of nuance, depth, pivots, and moments of truth that no bullet point could capture. The resume is a snapshot. Identity is a journey.
This distinction matters. Because when job titles change—or disappear—we often feel unmoored. A layoff, a sabbatical, a pivot, a season of caregiving… these moments don’t strip you of identity. They invite you to reclaim it.
Especially for those of us who are multi-passionate, non-linear, or navigating reinvention, this reminder is urgent. You are not “between” versions of yourself. You are evolving. The in-between is still becoming.
➡️ I expand on this in a companion piece over on Medium, where I dive deeper into identity beyond job titles.
The danger of title-based identity is that it makes worth conditional. It trains us to believe we’re only as valuable as our most recent role, our highest salary, or our latest accomplishment. That’s not empowerment—that’s entrapment.
Let’s shift from resume-alignment to purpose-alignment. From checking boxes to asking better questions:
What energizes you when no one’s watching? Where do your values show up in your everyday choices? If no one could see your credentials, how would you define success?
Purpose offers an internal compass. It doesn’t vanish when a role ends. It doesn’t shrink when you rest. And it never needs to fit into 8.5 x 11 inches.
To be clear, this isn’t a dismissal of ambition. I value excellence. But titles are tools, not truths. They can open doors, but they shouldn’t define the architect.
True power isn’t in the title—it’s in the alignment between who you are and how you show up.
So update the resume. Wear the title if it fits. But never confuse it with your identity.
You are the throughline between every reinvention. You are the reason behind the role. You are the legacy in motion.
f you’re navigating a pivot yourself, check out my recent post: The Power of the Pivot for more insights on realignment and resilience.
My 2 Cents:
Your purpose doesn’t live in your job description. It lives in your intention, your impact, and your ability to show up fully—even when the title is still catching up.
#BeyondResume #PurposeOverPosition #ParallelPaths #LiveOnPurpose