‘What Do You Do?’
A thought exercise
“What do you do?”
First, add “to make money” to the end of the question but do not answer it yet. Before you give an answer, the question must be translated into an entirely different sentence. Despite logic, you are not supposed to describe what you do to make money. So, do not say, “I serve” or “I tell stories.” As the question settles, it alters. You are not being asked what you do. You are being asked what you are. You are a server. You are a writer. You are…
Think about all the different ways you’ve made money and all the jobs that have helped and hindered your survival. You could give so many answers but you’ve been asked this question before and seen the various reactions to your various answers. This feedback has made it clear that you are supposed to distill all of your experience into a single, precise description. People seem to respect cohesive job titles, and titles that fit inside an acronym appear especially compelling.
Think, “I’m a bitch, I’m a lover, I’m a child, I’m a mother…”
Create a series of nonsensical portmanteaus that encapsulate your contradictory working life: baristudent, illuserver, writechnician.
Try to pinpoint a recognizable job title that most accurately summarizes your favorite endeavors. If you have trouble figuring it…
