Before we start…this is the beginning of my dipping my toes into answering questions about finding your why. Your reason for being (or raison d’etre in oh-so-French speak) — locating and then actively using your reason for being in your everyday (business) life. Enjoy!
If you’ve see my Twitter, Facebook, or e-mail bios, you’ll see the title of Orphan Hugger appear.
Uh, Kristen. That sounds made up.
Exactly. And totally. One day, I was reading the Twitter bio of TOMS founder Blake Mycoskie and saw that his title was Chief Shoe Giver. He’s in charge of the entire company, but the thing he chooses to put in his bio is not CEO or Founder, but Chief Shoe Giver.
That struck me as the best job on the planet. No, wait! The best job on the planet would be Orphan Hugger.
As in, someone who hugs orphans. Someone who gives much-needed love to kids who are part of the system. Kids who have been separated from or abandoned by their parents. I can’t fix their plight, but I can be a bright spot in their lives.
I made up my title and you can make yours up, too.
Just because I co-founded Brand Camp with Haunani and I write books doesn’t mean my title has to be limited to my business. My favorite title is what happens in my life as a result of my business: orphan hugging.
You see, I get kids. I look into their eyes and see who they are without judging any of what I see. It’s a rare gift, and it generally leads to kids shooting their arms straight out to be held by me – a complete stranger – at restaurants. They sidle up to me in line at the grocery store and the movie theater. Sometimes they just walk past and wheel around to end up walking backward, staring into my eyes and smiling. (Apparently adults who get kids are a pretty rare find.)
The best job in my world, then, is to truly see children who are never seen as anything but part of a group: orphans.
Why aren’t you doing this in the United States, Kristen?
Oh, honey. There are no orphanages, only foster care in the U.S.. I couldn’t foster a kitten, let alone a child, because I could never give a kitten or a child back to the system. That process would destroy me.
Orphan hugging lets me share one of my greatest gifts and travel as part of the process.
I made up the best job on Earth, and now I get to do it. That’s the joy of being in business.
What about you? What’s the best job title you can dream up?
Sure, it can be Photographer or Artist or Butcher or Baker or Candlestick Maker. But wouldn’t it be cool to make your job title less about what you do, and more about the impact you want your life to have?
Kristen! I’m already a mom and a photographer, which makes me a sous chef, a customer service expert, a student of photography, and a master of healing scrapes and wounds.
Hold up! Put those thoughts on hold for a few minutes and dream with me.
Given the ability to affect positive change in any aspect of life on this planet, what would you choose to change first?
Maybe you’d opt for world peace, which speaks to your interest in social justice. Maybe you’d end world hunger, which means you’d be great volunteering with organizations dedicated to teaching sustainable farming in countries affected by famine.
Maybe you’d like to end a really annoying problem, like ______________________. (Hey, far be it from me to put words in your mouth!)
Maybe you’d love to travel to ___________ and help with community projects.
Write those dreams down! It’s all too easy to dismiss dreams as nothing special instead of listening to them.
Grab an index card, the back of a receipt, your day planner, or a piece of paper, and record your answers. Let them live for just a second before you squash ‘em like a bug, please?
Just because you don’t know how the everloving hell you’re going to make a dream happen doesn’t mean it won’t come true. (Shortly after choosing this title, I created the Becoming class to fund my journey. See that making-it-up-as-you-go-along theme?)
To learn more about making it up as you go along, as well as explore what your dream job (title) might look and feel like, you can join me on a f-r-e-e 90-minute teleseminar recording that took place on February 21st.
There’s a dream job worksheet to keep you on your toes while you listen, as well as 90 minutes of audio to get your brain synapses firing like mad.
I’ll also share the way I found my $750,000 skill.
(You know, the one I convinced myself couldn’t make any money when I was in college.)
If you feel like your job could be more fulfilling or your business could be more closely aligned with your values — and what makes your heart sing — I’d love to send you the recording.
Once you’re on board, tell me about your dream job title in the comments. Doesn’t matter if it’s totally scary or totally unrealistic — tell me anyway!
Oh, every inch of this post made my heart SING. What song, I don’t know, but it was some combination of the Hallelujah Chorus and “We are the Champions.”
I couldn’t tell you my title yet, but it has something to do with changing the way people see themselves. It was what drew me to both psychology and photography, and then to cook up my own little blend of the two. Making that concrete and title-able will be something to dwell on.
Have a great day! Thanks for the 10am inspiration, as usual
It does take time, for sure…but I have no doubt you’ll come up with something magnificent.
I just changed my title on Twitter to Chief Love Spreader…working on the rest of my social networks as we speak. Much love to you, my friend!
Aw, yay! Such a great description of who you are, Josh!
Josh, you are SO the Love Spreader! Great title!
Happy Birthday to ME! Thanks for the gift of a WONDERFUL call Kristen. Seriously this is what I’ve been looking for. Like Jenika my heart came alive when I read this post.
I too am still stewing on my ultimate why and coming up with my title. It has something to do with using photography as restorive tool. To help us see the world with a fresh perspective. Heal from what ails us. Creative Healer perhaps?
Or Camera-Wielding Healer…?
Hmmmmm, still a little wordy for my tastes…but I’m inspired to work on this!
Reading all of this makes me a) honored to be your friend, b) so happy to see you so gosh darn happy, c) to be a better dad/husband/person/friend and d) all of the above at once wrapped up in a burrito.
…
Yes I had a burrito at lunch and currently want another. When you meet a burrito giver, share my info.
Smiles, hugs and shares,
Ryan
::big, big hugs::
Well, THAT made me cry. Thanks for stopping by and for sharing such kind words.
Can’t wait for the teleconference! Will you be at WPPI for this?
No ma’am — I’m off to L.A. during WPPI!
What a wonderful post! I am new to the whole game, but I think I am the Magical Moment in Time Seeker! I don’t want to just get our kid on film (especially those sweet tiny newborns) but find that moment that speaks to a parents heart. The one that makes them really say, “She captured who my child is”. That is my goal.
Nice!
Wow! You certainly are inspiring! I really like how you got me thinking out of the box about my likes and my dream job title. I need to think about it a little more but love the opportunity to do so. I am signed up for the call and will try to recruit our readers to do the same on handmadesuccess.com/blog/.
Awesome possum, Kerry! Hugs!
I almost clicked away from this article thinking that I couldn’t do this. I did just want you didn’t want me to — squash my dreams and hopes out of fear of failure. But.. I paused for two minutes while a flood of thoughts rushed through my head and I really had to dig deep to find out what my inner self REALLY wanted. And here it is.
I want more people to be happy. I am an aspiring photographer, and I am trying to create beautiful images for families to remember the good times. But I want to do more than just take their picture. I want to MAKE memories, too! I studied Recreation Management in college and I have always wanted to own a family retreat of sorts. I want to help people not only create good memories they can build a lifetime of happiness on, but I want to photograph it for them. How cool would that be?! But it seems so impossible… to be a Master Memory Maker or Master of Memories. I look forward to hearing your inspirations.
Hey, before you knock it down, just let it breathe! In my head, it’s like the place where Dirty Dancing took place, only there are lots of photographs and no shuffleboard…you don’t have to have the answers, you just have to know you’re seeking ‘em…
I’m feeling brain dead today is the orphan hugging, or the writing, the $750,000 skill, and how did you get to that #?
The writing. And you’ll just have to listen to find out.
I love everything you offer. Looking forward to this! But I can’t decide on my title yet, though I’m getting closer… Kid Wrangler, Smile Procurer, Self-Esteem Builder, Creative Director, Cheerleader, Magic Mirror…
I like ‘em…
This is by far my favorite post in a long time.
Since this month marks 10 years of weekly Date Nights with My Man, I think Date Night Coach would be my title. My dream is to share how important it is to have a regular ‘Date’ with your spouse and how to do it.
Awesome Post! Thank You!
Fantastic, my lovely.
I’m a jewelry maker working primarily with sequins. One of my dreams is to launch a jewelry class, one that’s available to people over the Internet. And now I’m thinking… some of the money I earn could go to Bat World, this awesome place where bats are rehabilitated.
I love bats. They’re so amazing and so misunderstood.
So my title would be Sequin Scientist/Bat Benefactor.
I love that sequins and bats are only connected by your interests and your heart. SUCH a great title!
I found out what I truly want to do last September. I went to visit an orphanage in Uganda, and I fell in love. Every child I met just wanted to hug and talk and be important. And I loved them for the week I was there.
I went to take pictures for the non-profit there so that they could use my photos for marketing and spreading awareness back here in the US. When I came home, I wanted to go right back…but unfortunately, that wasn’t an option. I am planning to get back this year anyway I can
My dream job? To travel and work for non-profits. I know that I can only do this on a limited basis right now because my youngest is 13. BUT the wonderful thing is she has a heart for this too, and could easily accompany me. I just need to find the means. Thanks Kristen
Woman, that gives me chills! Yes, you can find a way! My dream is to do this quarterly — spending about 1/6 of any given year in orphanages. Big goals, baby steps to get there…
I want to be involved. My dreaming skills have disappeared as of late and so I need your company!
My dreaming skills are top-notch. Can’t wait to have you!
I can’t WAIT for this teleseminar, Kristen! The inkling in my mind says that the content you’re going to share will be completely inspirational. These are the kind of resources that business owners and aspiring business owners, alike, need to hear — so, thank you, in advance!
What you wrote about orphans in just wonderful! It sounds as if your heart clearly lies in loving on them and wanting to take them in. I hope that the future allows you to realise that dream!
For potential job title, I keep coming back to Ambassador of Smile Making & Creative Designing for now.
Oooh, I love Ambassador of Smile Making & Creative Designing! Can’t wait to see/hear you on the call, my lovely.
I love taking pictures of babies! I LOVE taking pictures of seniors and showing them how beautiful they are. And I like families, but I SO love capturing the magic of a family session. Truly my most rewarding thing and why I would wade through mud thigh deep to do this job!
I believe that family photography can strengthen family relationships, self esteem and peace in a home on a daily basis. Huh? That is a lot of power. But here is my reasoning:
When the memories are of a photo session are: “my mom made me wear this” or “I had to go to the bathroom but the photographer just kept going” or “she treated my kids like props” then we are going to remember that every time we look at the image. And so will our kids.
If we can create a happy and connecting memory as photographers, then we can bring that memory into their home. And by doing it skillfully, playfully, lovingly and artfully with happiness and love in the image, we connect each time we see the image. When it is prominently displayed in the home, it says “THIS is what is important to us.” It celebrates the family and the people in the family. Connecting families each day….THAT is a super power. So, I guess I want to be “Super Family Counselor photography lady”
Love this! Photography can absolutely influence family and home life…
Love it
My dream job is to shoot nothing but boudoir. I want women to feel sexy and amazing! I’d love to shoot women on every continent (except Antarctica – I like the cold, but not that much). Ha! But I think it is so important for women to feel desired, and they feel that way when they feel sexy! I want women to be confident and empowered. I believe this is such a great way to do that for them. It’s so wonderful!
This was absolutely nauseating to read… Sounds like a bunch of self-righteous CRAP!