“How well do your parents understand what you do for a living?”
A question I was left pondering after reading Reena Friedman Watts’ post the other day in her Facebook group.
As I sat there thinking about the different conversations I’ve had with my parents about what I do for a living, I couldn’t help but take the question to another level, “How well does ANYONE understand what you do for living?”
I remember one time in particular, during a visit back to Ann Arbor, I went to lunch with one of my mentors from high school.
It had been at least six years since we saw each other last.
Quite a bit had changed during that time, including his health condition.
He said, “And you get paid for that? I don’t understand, please explain.”
As I continued to explain how one, myself included, gets paid for a living as a professional speaker, I had noticed that there was a disconnect.
Even after explaining who I speak to (child welfare related organizations such as #foster care or #adoption or #kinship care, private/public school, #colleges and #universities, etc) and the different topics I cover (reframing #adversity into opportunity, understanding one's inner #narrative, etc), he still didn’t understand what I was doing.
It was at that moment, I realized the difference between explaining what I do for a living and convincing someone of what I do for a living.
I had asked, “Do you know of any professional speakers within your network?”
He answered, “No, I do not.”
Then, I assumed that part of the reason why he didn’t fully grasp what I was saying was because he didn’t know of anyone else that had a similar career.
There was no point of reference.
Slowly after the conversation had ended with him saying, “Well, best of luck to you in your career ... I know you’ll do great, as you’ve done in all things.”
This moment helped me realize the following about how I answer this question in the future: (1) Use words that are easily understood (child welfare was too complex of a term, but foster care or adoption was not), (2) Try to use reference points by asking the individual, “Is there anyone within your network that does what I do?” (3) Don’t assume people will understand what you do for a living.
In your life, how well does ANYONE understand what you do for a living?
