Go Coach Yourself!
Welcome to Go Coach Yourself!, a podcast to help you get unf*cked and build the incredible life you deserve. We’re Vic and Ryan, two certified coaches trying to change the world one conversation at a time.
In our respective practices, we’ve noticed common experiences or themes that come up again and again with clients. We started Go Coach Yourself to share our thoughts, experiences and tips with more people, giving you tools you can use to navigate your own way through any of the topics we cover. Through these examples and deep dives on coaching topics we hope you’ll gain a greater understanding of what working with a coach can involve. We believe everyone deserves to have a coach in their team, so whether you’re still exploring to find the right coach for you or you are ready to get started, we’re excited to give you an inside look at how two coaches see the world. We’re going to have a ton of fun along the way, and welcome you to join us on this journey!
About Vic Smith, CPCC
Go Coach Yourself!
You Are Not Your Job Title
Let us know what you think about this episode or send us an idea!
What happens when your job title becomes your identity? In this episode, Ryan and Vic unpack the modern trap of defining yourself by your career — and what it takes to find a deeper sense of purpose and fulfillment beyond work.
They explore how brand prestige and job titles can quietly shape our self-worth, share personal experiences from Nike, Google, and Amazon, and bring in psychology research that explains why we cling so tightly to professional identities.
Listeners will walk away with practical tools and reflection questions to start separating who you are from what you do.
In This Episode:
- Why 70% of people say work is their main source of identity
- How “work-role centrality” impacts your confidence and resilience
- What research shows about the difference between a job, career, and calling
- Personal stories of redefining identity beyond corporate prestige
- Four reflection tools to expand your sense of self
Reflection Prompts:
- What sentence captures why you do what you do?
- Which non-work role in your life deserves more of your energy right now?
- If money and status were off the table, how would you define success?
- Where does your compass need to point this week to feel aligned?
Mentioned in This Episode:
- Amy Wrzesniewski’s research on “Job, Career, or Calling” (Yale University)
- Robert Leahy in Psychology Today, "You Are Not Your Job"
If you’re in transition:
Ryan’s Foundation Series: Being Uniquely You helps you rediscover who you are beyond your job title through a 3-session small group experience.
Hosts:
Ryan Reichert-Estes, StackRise Coaching | LinkedIn | Insta: @stackrisecoaching
Vic Smith, WhistleSmith.co | LinkedIn | Insta: @vic_bk
