What I Identify As

I’m not much of a fan of social media but the social network that I’m most active on by far is Strava.  If you’ve never heard of Strava it’s an app and community that allows you to record your outdoor workouts like running and cycling and compete “virtually” against others on designated “segments” or sections of road or trail.  It motivates me to get faster and stronger, and when I see my friends getting in their miles it’s the extra push I need to get my workout in.

Recently a work colleague joined Strava based on my recommendation and told me she thought it was weird that they called her an “athlete”.  Strava calls all of it’s users athletes, even someone who’s done only one short run. 

The definition of athlete according to the Cambridge dictionary is:

a person who is trained or skilled in a sport and esp. one who regularly competes with others in organized events  

By that definition all of Strava’s users might not be athletes because they might not be particularly skilled, but I love it that they refer to them as athletes anyway.  It’s empowering, and with America getting more unhealthy by the day it matters.  I told my colleague that she is an athlete, because she’s doing athletics.  It doesn’t matter how skilled you are, it matters how you see yourself. 

In Atomic Habits (affiliate link) James Clear discusses how it’s important to refer to yourself the right way in what he calls “identity-based habits”.  If you start running to get healthier, you shouldn’t say “Sometimes I run”, you should say “I’m a runner”.

You should identify as the thing you want to be.

 

My Identity

Recently I was working on a custom logo design for a client and I was overcome with the feeling of imposter syndrome.  Doing these custom designs is still relatively new for me, and I sometimes feel like I’m playing in a playground that I don’t belong in. 

I did a few drafts and sent them to a friend for an objective opinion.  I was expecting her to be honest and say “meh”, or “it’s okay”.  She told me she actually liked them a lot.  So then I was thinking “she’s just saying that to be nice”. 

I kept telling myself I could do better, that the drafts weren’t good enough.  I kept tweaking them.  Eventually I sent them to the client with my usual apprehension and hoped for the best. 

Turns out he loved them! 

Maybe I’m a graphic artist after all.  But here’s the thing – I have a really hard time saying that out loud.  Sure, I put it on my Twitter profile and have no problem writing it down, but if someone asks me what I do I feel weird even thinking about verbalizing “graphic artist” in response. 

I need to get over it already.  My graphic arts business is thriving and I’m making more money than ever.  I’m a frickin’ graphic artist!  That also makes me a writer, an athlete, a musician, a teacher, a creative, and a bunch of other things. 

These are what I identify as, regardless of my particular skill level at any of them.  I’m no Picasso or Hemingway, or Alex Honnold.  But that’s okay.  By just identifying as these things it drives me to work harder at them. 

Because with that identity comes the need to deliver.  After all, a graphic artist makes designs for people.  So if I call myself one, I better wake up and get on with it.

If I just said “I dabble in graphic arts” I’m shorting myself, and my successes.  And I’m not holding myself responsible to progress and get better. 

The subtle trick of identifying as something reminds me that I need to put the work in and earn it.

 

Your Identity

Regardless of where you are on your journey to financial independence, you should call yourself a successful investor.  You should say that you’re good with money.  Forget the mistakes of the past or the things you wish you did – you should identify as the person you want to be. 

Sure, you can’t accurately say “I’m financially independent” if you’re not there yet by the numbers.  But you can say “I’m a financial badass who’s on a fast path to FI”. 

The mere act of identifying as that thing will push you to become better at it, and cultivate a sense of personal responsibility to walk the talk.

 

Own It

I’m still going to get nervous and anxious when I do a new design for a client.  But I’m realizing that’s a necessary and good thing. 

Any time you do something creative and put it out there for the world or even just one person to judge and see it’s a natural and logical feeling to be nervous about it.  If you didn’t have that feeling it might indicate you don’t care about what you just created, and that’s not good. 

But I’m getting better at not letting that nervousness about my creations call to question my identity as a graphic artist. 

And you shouldn’t let any financial setbacks call to question your status as a badass financial warrior. 

So, badass financial warrior, what are you going to do today to live up to that identity?

*This article contains affiliate links. Using those links throws some change in my pocket at no additional cost to you. Here’s my disclosure.