So... What Do You Do?

We've all asked and been asked this question a million times. It's part of our default protocol when meeting someone new or catching up with an old friend or relative.

This often contrived and impersonal interaction has bothered me for a really long time. A couple years ago, I got an idea for a social experiment. I decided to take this question out of it's pre-programmed social context and tell people what I'm really doing with my life. I don't do it every time the question comes up, but when I do the reactions are interesting.

So Brandon, what do you do?

... Last month we were able to go on an amazing Scandinavian adventure.
... I'm really excited to be running trails again. I was going through major withdrawals this winter.
... I'm enjoying simplifying my life and getting rid of most of what I own.

Great... but really, what do you DO?

Well....

... We became debt free last year and have been loving the financial freedom.
... I started lap swimming recently.  Not just flailing my arms and legs to stay afloat takes practice.
... I created this blog called Burning the Script and I'm writing about.....

NO!

What do you... Grrr... What do you do for $$$???

Oh....

In what line of work I am gainfully employed in order provide for myself and others?
(Sounds pretty boring when it's phrased that way doesn't it?)

Why is it that when this question gets thrown around people aren't looking to hear about what is really going on in our LIVES? How has our profession/vocation/job become the main way we identify ourselves in this culture. Why is the barometer of a person's perceived success pre-set based on what they do "for a living" and not HOW they are LIVING?

Is this the best we can do?

I have met so many amazing people who are in what might be considered the less glamorous lines of work yet they were happy to be providing a service and genuinely engaged in what they were doing. I've met even more people who have the "dream jobs", are making the big $$$, and show all signs of a "successful" life, yet below this facade they are completely miserable.

Sadly, so many people are caught up in the rat race and doing a balancing act of making ends meet and still finding a way to afford the next big thing. Work becomes the central focus of their

With that in mind I guess it makes sense that people would automatically associate this so called livelyhood as what they "do" and even who they "are".


As part of this experiment I've also made it a point to ask different questions when I meet new people.

Hey "new cool person I just met", what's going on in your life?

... I'm in sales.
... I'm a pediatric dentist.
... I'm a software engineer

That's nice but tell me about yourself?

... I manage a team of 30.
... I clean tables after people are done eating.
... I deliver office supplies.

What do you REALLY do?

... I just told you
... I'm confused
... ?

Oh...

... After my shift at the Quickymart I'm headed accross town for band practice.
... I have 2 more haircut appointments then I'm volunteering at the local senior center.
... With my next paycheck I'll be registering for my first triathlon!



So tell me... what do YOU do?