JP, this article is amazing! I think everyone middle age should read this. Especially people who are retiring. A job title or a career doesn’t define your self-worth or character at all. The job is something you go to pay bills because that’s the state society created for us. At any time, a company can let you go or fire you one second to the next for no reason. We must validate our own selves and our self-worth based off whether or not we feel we’re a good person or not. Or judge ourselves by the impact and differences we’ve made during the tenure of that job or career. Not defining our self-worth by the job title or hourly rate or salary.
Jessica, thank you. That really means a lot. You’re right. Titles can disappear overnight, but character and impact don’t. That’s the part we actually carry with us. I appreciate you sharing your perspective here.
Interesting read. As someone in midlife, I can look back and see how this would have helped when I was working. Becoming disabled has taken me out of working so I could apply this to my writing.
This mirrors something I’ve felt but couldn’t name: that midlife clarity where titles stop comforting you and behavior starts telling the truth. The “scars as data” part especially, that reframing is powerful..
Midlife really does strip away the cover and leave behavior exposed, for better or worse. I love the shift from titles to repeatable behavior under pressure, that feels like real competence, not branding. The idea that scars are data, not damage, is especially powerful.
For anyone who’s still maintaining a resume or LinkedIn profile these are the reframes that would have compelled me to interview someone when I was hiring.
JP, this article is amazing! I think everyone middle age should read this. Especially people who are retiring. A job title or a career doesn’t define your self-worth or character at all. The job is something you go to pay bills because that’s the state society created for us. At any time, a company can let you go or fire you one second to the next for no reason. We must validate our own selves and our self-worth based off whether or not we feel we’re a good person or not. Or judge ourselves by the impact and differences we’ve made during the tenure of that job or career. Not defining our self-worth by the job title or hourly rate or salary.
Jessica, thank you. That really means a lot. You’re right. Titles can disappear overnight, but character and impact don’t. That’s the part we actually carry with us. I appreciate you sharing your perspective here.
most definitely! i’m glad I could contribute something valuable to your piece of work!
Interesting read. As someone in midlife, I can look back and see how this would have helped when I was working. Becoming disabled has taken me out of working so I could apply this to my writing.
Thanks for reading. And I agree. The framework still applies, even when the focus changes.
It sounds like a grounding exercise. Lot of good points in here. I always think just a little more after reading your stuff.
Thanks, Carl. I really appreciate that. You’d be surprised what surfaces that was completely off your radar.
Surprised not surprised, but always willing to scratch below the surface.
This mirrors something I’ve felt but couldn’t name: that midlife clarity where titles stop comforting you and behavior starts telling the truth. The “scars as data” part especially, that reframing is powerful..
Well said! As I read through your article, I kept agreeing out loud and even wanting to use a highlighter to make note of certain lines. 🤓
Brilliant read, a great reminder. I left most titles a long time ago but this world loves labels.
Midlife really does strip away the cover and leave behavior exposed, for better or worse. I love the shift from titles to repeatable behavior under pressure, that feels like real competence, not branding. The idea that scars are data, not damage, is especially powerful.
For anyone who’s still maintaining a resume or LinkedIn profile these are the reframes that would have compelled me to interview someone when I was hiring.
I/R Theory is a lesson that keeps paying dividends. Needed to hear this today. Thanks, Jim.