Over tea with a friend the other day, I happily counted down the few teaching days remaining in my academic career. She asked, “Having an identity crisis yet?” I was easily able to answer: “Not one bit.” The dangers of identifying with our jobs have never been more obvious. From layoffs to the shocking decline of entire industries, from zero-hour contracts to the gig economy, it’s clear to many people that investing too much of your self-worth and sense of who you are in your job is a recipe for disaster. This is true whether you work in the service industry or the knowledge economy. Work is far too precarious a thing to over-invest in.
To be (your job) or not to be (your job)
To be (your job) or not to be (your job)
To be (your job) or not to be (your job)
Over tea with a friend the other day, I happily counted down the few teaching days remaining in my academic career. She asked, “Having an identity crisis yet?” I was easily able to answer: “Not one bit.” The dangers of identifying with our jobs have never been more obvious. From layoffs to the shocking decline of entire industries, from zero-hour contracts to the gig economy, it’s clear to many people that investing too much of your self-worth and sense of who you are in your job is a recipe for disaster. This is true whether you work in the service industry or the knowledge economy. Work is far too precarious a thing to over-invest in.