Walking out of a meeting I handed my business card as a matter of habit, and expected to receive one in exchange. Instead, I heard, “I don’t have a card anymore.” Since he’d retired from his work a few years ago, this gentleman no longer has a card.

My mind was flooded with thoughts and questions when he said that. I wanted to ask him, but chose to wonder to myself: How would not having a card to describe who I am make me feel? How would I explain who I am without a business card? Is my life defined by the 3.5 x 2 inch piece of paper?

For most people, when meeting someone new, they introduce themselves by exchanging business cards detailing their current job. It’s as personal and professional identities are morphed into one. And that card is to encapsulate your whole career and whole being.

But all it really says is what’s my title and answers whether I work for a known and cool company. When I reflect on this, it makes me wonder, if I didn’t go into the office every day, then who would I be? Society has pigeonholed us into thinking that our identity is related to our business card.

But is my title really all there is to life? Is that how you want to be described, or is there something that is more reflective of you?

There is much more to every person. I wish that a business card could also tell you what drives me, why I do what I do. Instead of just saying founder of EMLC, I would want you to know that I’m a CEO adviser and “intelligent productivity expert” because I like to add value.

That’s what gets me out of bed every day. What defines you?

Borrowing from Edgar Schein, the famed professor at MIT, I’d like to highlight what anchors our career and drives why we work (and it is more than a title on a card).

Technically focused people like being really good at something and work to become an expert. General management focused people crave being managers (and not just for the title or prestige of it). They thrive on responsibility and like solving problems and working with other people.

Autonomy or independence focused people favour working alone and under their own rules. This profile does not enjoy corporate settings as the bureaucracy is suffocating to them.

Security focused people seek stability above all else and hope to avoid risk. This profile generally abhors the idea of being an expat, so in the GCC it will only be present among the national populations.

Entrepreneurial focused people are creative and prefer to run their own business; ownership is very important to them. But unlike independence focused people, they want to work with other people and involve them.

Service (dedication to a cause) focused people are driven by how they can help others. Pure challenge focused people are driven by challenges and seek constant stimulation and difficult problems that they can tackle. Such people change jobs when they get bored and may experiment in various sectors and professions. Just a hunch, but this seems to align well with being an expat.

Lifestyle focused people is the other pattern that aligns well with the expat lifestyle. They are focused first on the lifestyle value, as this is their whole pattern of living. They may even take long periods off work in which to indulge in passions such as sailing or travelling.

Hidden under your title is a secret identity that describes why you really work (beyond the paycheck). So instead of relying on your business card for your identity, why don’t you pause to understand what matters to you about your work personality.

Perhaps, next time someone asks, “What do you do?”, your response can be real and show which of these anchors your career.

Remember, a person makes a position, but a title doesn’t make a person. So, who are you?

— The writer is a CEO coach and author of ‘Leadership Dubai Style”. Contact him at tsw@tommyweir.com