I Am What I Do: Reshaping Our Understanding of Self and Work

When we meet someone for the first time, after introducing our names, we often (if not almost all the time) get asked the question, ""what do you do?"". In this little, pocket-sized book, Andrew Laird unpacks the western culture of ""expressive individualism"" really well, a culture where people often get their identities in their work / accomplishments / sense of self-actualization. In the discussion, the author contrasts it with the eastern / Asian cultures where we get our identity from our family / community where we belong. In the earlier chapters, I like how Andrew gives some questions to diagnose whether work has become our identity, and also love the examples from his own life where he is still struggling with this.

Furthermore, the author contrasts the identity that we get from work and our identity in Christ. The identity that we get from work is based on our performance, which means that if we succeed, we will become proud and if we fail, we will become despondent. He then elaborates on how this secure identity in Christ should radically transform our work. I like his spot-on, direct and articulate statement ""From source to expression"", which means that work should not be source of our identity, but our identity in Christ expresses itself in the spirit of excellence in our work for the glory of God and the good of others.

After the first foundational two chapters on identity, Laird moves to the applications of our identity in Christ in our struggles in…

One of the aspects of the ""expressive individualism"" air that we breathe is that I must find fulfilment myself, in my expression of myself.

But what a burden it is!

This short, 90 page book just gently peels back the layers with practical advice on working past that.

I loved his probing questions:

- how do I respond to criticism / praise?

- can I celebrate the success of others in my field, like I would appreciate a sunset?

- why do you work so hard?

- can you be real with your colleagues?

And his advice to spend some moments reflecting on genuine words of affirmation for others to prevent envy.

And that this short book is a summary of some other big books! So that's why it packs a punch.