What do you do? Who do you do it for? Why?

Answering these questions, and others like them, is hard work. It can also feel painful, because you commit to being labelled. Even though you contain multitudes, you’re making a decision: you will be known for one thing, for now and in the future. Your decision may feel like it’s closing off other possibilities, because it is. You’re committing.

When you answer these questions, you also gain some advantages. You contextualize your work, and to make sure the more easily defined labels that other people assign you don’t stick. When other people don’t know how to describe your work, you can suggest some words that help. When friends see a situation you describe, they will know to draw it to your attention or to refer your work to people who need it.

Define your work, or others will define it for you.