As children, we think about what or who we want to become when we grow up. Maybe it’s a rock star or a fire fighter–or even a superhero! As teenagers, our imagination becomes a little more pragmatic and we begin to think more sensibly. ‘Maybe, I’ll become a doctor or a lawyer, even an investment banker’. But, as years pass and we enter adulthood, nearing the end of our academic career, the nightmare that is commonly referred to as ‘the real world’ begins to sink in, anxiety rises and we ask ourselves: ‘What the hell am I going to do with my life?’
As many people have experienced, it’s not always easy to answer this question. Maybe it’s because people are still trying to find themselves, figuring out who they are and what they like. Thus, the answer to the question isn’t the problem, but the question itself is. It’s too overwhelming and scary to think about what we have planned for the rest of our lives. So instead, let’s tone it down and think basic. Ask yourself, ‘Who am I? What makes me different? How do I want people to see me?’ These are the most authentic questions we can ask ourselves. Everything we do is somehow founded upon these basic questions. For example, when an entrepreneur decides to start his/her own business, he/she has to figuring out their corporate identity; what sets themselves a part from their competitors, how to humanize themselves and build relationships with consumers and how they want to be perceived in the public eye. Thus, in many factors of life, we go back to the beginning and ask ourselves these types of questions. We can also use the answers to these questions to develop our own personal branding. Now that you know what you want–how do you sell your brand to a potential employee, client, or boss?
Moreover, these are the basic questions of self-identity. By figuring out the answers to these questions, we uncover our passions, interests, hobbies, and eventual life goals. These revelations are what will help guide you to the second chapter of your life, when you begin to think about real world issues like: ‘What type of job do I want?’ By understanding your identity and your personal brand, the opportunities are endless. Your journey has only just begun.
