“We are nouns.  We are not verbs. 

I am not a thing – an actor, a writer.

I am a person who does things – I write, I act – and I never know what I'm going to do next. 

I think you can be imprisoned if you think of yourself as a noun”.

This is Stephen Fry.  

His words make a lot of sense.

But this isn’t how humans tend to think.

Humans are hard-wired to categorise.  To label things or put them in a box.

Including other humans. 

Doing this helps to make sense of what’s around us.

But there’s a downside.  Categorising also restricts.  It impedes. 

Or as Stephen Fry says, it imprisons.

Labelling people or putting them in a box limits us from seeing them beyond the box we’ve put them in.

And here’s the kicker:

How we see others is often how we see ourselves.   

And if we’re putting ourselves in a box…

(just like we put other people in a box)

…we’re curtailing our growth and limiting our own potential.  All through the labels we’re giving ourselves.

It’s a bit like taking a hummingbird and putting it in a cage.  Or clipping it’s wings.

It’s restricting the bird.  Denying it the chance to flourish outside of a set boundary. 

So when people ask me what I do, I try not to put myself in a box.

I try not say I’m a coach.

I’ll be honest.  I find this difficult.

It’s much easier to use a noun to describe what I do. 

And giving a different answer always gets some odds looks.  People probably think it’s a bit unusual.

Maybe it is. 

But that’s okay.

Because the truth is… 

I’m not a coach.  I’m not a noun.

Of course, I do coach people.

But coaching is just a tool I have in my toolkit.

I have other tools too.  Like consulting.  Advising.  Creating.  Writing.  Listening.  Problem solving.  Copywriting.

But I’m not a copywriter, even though I do write copy. 

I’m not an author, even though I’ve written a book.

Just like I’m not a coach. 

Plus my toolkit is growing.  I don’t know where it will take me next.

But I do know that the more tools I add, the more I learn…

The more I get to know myself….

And the more fun I have along the way.

And all this leads to being better equipped to help people find more fulfilment in their lives.

So it’s win-win.

This is why I try not to say I’m a coach.

Why I try not to put myself in a box...

And why I also try to not put other people in a box.

Because I believe you can do or be whatever you set your mind to.  As long as you don't limit yourself.

That’s it for today.

- Tom

p.s. Whenever you're ready, here are the ways you can connect with me