My friend Marco shared on LinkedIn how he changed how he introduces himself to others. Previously, he used to start from his job, now he speaks about his passions and the things that are important to him in life, like his family.
As I wrote previously, describing ourselves is as fundamental as much as it is challenging. Every word we choose to introduce ourselves creates a frame in the listeners' minds, a frame in which they will see and interact with us. The first words we use are the most important because, unlike in math, changing the order of the factor changes the outcome. Every aspect of ourselves that we share is received and interpreted within the frame created by the previous ones.
Our job is one aspect that contributes to defining who we are. But so are our passions, purpose, the role we have in the community, the cause we pursue and so on. Each aspect says something about us, but not everything. Many of these aspects or pieces may be invisible even to us.
Each one of us is a multitude.
An endless multitude of interconnected pieces, aspects and facets.
How do you present a multitude without leaving out some of its complexity?
I don't know.
While I write this, another question emerges: who am I beneath and beyond that multitude? But that's for another exploration.
For now, instead of reflecting on who I am, I may use a different question when preparing to introduce myself.
What parts of the endless multitude that I am do I want them to see?