Here’s something strange:
If you went to the circus back in the day, you’d see the largest land animal in the world – the elephant - held in place not by chains or iron bars.. but a pathetically thin rope tied to a peg.
With the tiiiiniest of efforts, the elephant could break free.
But it doesn’t.
Why?
Because when the elephant’s a baby, it’s not strong enough to break the rope and learns that escape is pointless. So when it’s an adult, it never bothers to try.
Pretty sad, isn’t it?
The world’s strongest animal, and it doesn’t know its own strength.
In a funny way, I think our careers are similar.
At any moment, we could make something truly exceptional of our jobs. But often, we don’t, because we’re trapped by mental barriers of our own making.
But if that’s depressing, here’s some hope:
Breaking free is easy..
...once you’re reminded about the rope.
So today, I thought I’d point out one of the biggest ropes that keeps us stuck:
Our job title.
🐦 Job titles are for pigeons
Let me be blunt:
A job title is a pigeonhole – an arbitrary box that keeps us from flapping into more interesting lanes.
Your job title says you’re a ‘software engineer’.
Ok.
But why does that mean you can’t do business, or design, or sales?
(It doesn’t!)
The problem is we've been conditioned to think we need permission to expand beyond our official role. That somehow stepping outside our job description means we're "not qualified."
But competence is transferable. The problem-solving skills you've developed as an engineer? They work in business strategy, sometimes better than people already in the field.
🔨 It’s kinda like the guy with a hammer
… who thinks every problem is a nail.
Once you obsess about job titles (rather than your true value to the market, your skills), you get tunnel vision and think that the only way to grow your career is within said job title.
“I’m an email marketer,” you say. “I need to write more emails - not do Google ads!”
Or, “I’m a software engineer. I can’t do B2B sales!”
Which is very ironic, because…
🍡 The best careers are combos
There’s two ways to get to the top:
Be the best in the world at one skill (the tough way). Or combine two traits which aren’t usually combined (the sensible way).
For example:
An interior designer who’s great at sales & cold email will have a huge leg up vs. everyone else. Likewise, a marketer who can code, or a tradesman who can do marketing.
Remember:
We want T-shaped or even “H-shaped” knowledge, where you’ve mastered one or two skills, plus know enough about a wide range of topics to connect dots others can’t.
Next time:
Instead of asking "Is this my job?" start asking "Could I solve this problem?"
Most companies are full of problems that don't fit neatly into anyone's job description. That's where the real opportunities hide.
And besides…
🤦 Better titles don’t even make better roles
In 278 AD, King Pyrrhus went to war with Rome. Although he won the first battle, he lost so many men that he said afterwards,
“If we are victorious one more time, we shall be utterly ruined.”
Thus the term, “Pyrrhic victory” - a win that might as well be a loss.
Imo?
That’s like taking jobs purely for the title.
Yeah, you’ve now got “Senior” next to your name.
But are you happier?
Are you learning more skills?
Is the increased stress actually worth the pay rise?
⚖️ The wrong way to lose weight
Back when my friend was on a diet, she was obsessed with the number on the scale. Despite the fact that… how much you weigh… has little bearing on how overweight you are.
(Pro athletes often have “unhealthy” BMIs, but only because muscle is heavier than fat).
Meaning:
Numbers on the scale is a useless metric that will only drive you nuts.
Your job title?
Is just like the scale.
Does a “better” title mean you’re closer to health, wealth and happiness?
No.
But we still fall for it…
🤜🏼 Including me!
At one point, I was head over heels in love with the title, ‘product manager’, so I started applying to PM jobs.
After wasting a huuuge amount of time, it finally dawned on me:
Why do I need the title of “product manager” to manage products?!
All I needed to do was add the responsibilities of PM into my current job.
Could you do the same?
Here's how to start: Instead of waiting for the perfect role, volunteer for projects that move you toward what you want to do. Want to get into marketing? Offer to help with the company newsletter. Interested in operations? Propose a process improvement.
Speaking of positioning yourself differently —
A lot of people get stuck because their professional profiles still describe them by old job titles rather than the value they actually provide.
I kept seeing talented people get overlooked because their LinkedIn profiles made them sound like they could only do one thing, when they were actually capable of much more.
We built a free LinkedIn optimization tool that shows you exactly how to reframe your experience around the problems you solve rather than the titles you've held. Takes 30 seconds:
⛵ Take the boats you’re given
Let’s finish with a joke:
A man is drowning in the ocean, and prays to God to save him.
15 minutes later, a boat comes into view and offers to lift him out. “No thanks,” he says, “God will save me.”
Half an hour later, another boat comes. “No thanks,” he says, “God will save me.”
A third boat comes.
The guy refuses again.
Hours later, he drowns, and the first thing he does upon arriving in heaven is ask God, “Why didn’t you save me?”
God replies, “I sent you three boats already!”
The takeaway?
In our careers, we’re often “sent” opportunities to grow. But because they’re not part of our job title, we let them pass us by.
My advice?
Take them.
Volunteer for the projects that interest you, even if they're outside your lane.
Because you never know where they might lead - and your current skills are probably more transferable than you think.
