I Don’t Need One Title To Be Credible
A colleague handed me More Than My Title after admitting the difficult time I have trying to answer the dreaded question, “What do you do?” The instant stomach drop, heart flutter, brain scramble to quickly analyze the ask and match with the appropriate title.
I barely made it through the preface of the book before feeling a sense of ah-ha. In my case, it’s not only acceptable to have more than one lane, it’s actually the point.
The pressure to be able to connect and define my roles was heavy. Yes, it was mostly internal, but fueled by societal noise. We know everything about everyone all the time. Comparison is bound to sneak in and whisper that clarity equals a single label.
It’s like comparing parenting styles or kid milestones. Dangerous and unhelpful. Every kid is different. Every household is different. Every career path is different. I do not have to be like everyone else. I do not want to be like everyone else.
So my new goal: understand the value of my mix and be able to say it plainly.
The hybrid brain
I am neurodivergent. That is a statement not made easily. Historically, it’s a statement that carries a lot of shame with it. My work clicked when I stopped fighting it. Because I am not like everyone else. For me, a diverse project load doesn’t distract me, it steadies me. Switching context helps me create structure. It keeps me engaged. It makes me better at my job.
Don’t get me wrong, the flip side exists, probably always will. It’s an internal struggle with making sure my work is solid and the best it can be. Maybe that’s okay. I can hold the tension and still choose confidence.
Integration that starts with values
If you ask me exactly how my roles integrate, truth is that I can’t map every connection on command. What I do know is this: the common thread is connection, communication, and community.
Those three words sit at the center of everything I do. Writing is part of it. Strategy is how I apply it. Community is where it becomes real.
A simple way to picture it:
Connection: relationships, partnerships, listening, pattern spotting
Communication: message clarity, brand storytelling, teaching, facilitation
Community: integration, events, coalitions, shared ownership
Strategy sits in the middle. The overlap is where my value lives.
Confidence before validation
Clients won’t believe in me if I don’t believe in myself first. Confidence here does not mean faking expertise. It means showing up as a calm expert even when my brain is loud. It means letting knowledge and experience steer the conversation. External validation is fine, but it is not the compass. I am.
What this hybrid lens gives my clients
Nonlinear problem solving. I have an ability to pull creative solutions from connections others miss.
Message clarity in real life. Not just words on a page. Words that move people to act.
Community fluency. I build partnerships and pathways so messages have somewhere to land.
Momentum. I organize messy ideas, set priorities, and create simple systems teams can keep using.
The comparison trap
Comparison tells us that a straight line is the only credible path. I can tell you confidently that it’s not. Hybrid careers don’t have to add up to a neat equation. They need to add up to a clear promise. When I lead with the promise, the lanes make sense.
Here is mine in one line:
I help mission-driven teams turn messy ideas into clear stories and practical systems that build community and results.
Everything else is detail. Helpful details, yes, but still detail.
If you are also a hybrid
Try this short exercise:
List three words that sit under everything you do. (Mine are connection, communication, community)
Write one sentence that starts with “I help” and ends with an outcome someone would pay for. Keep verbs active.
Name two intersections that give you an edge. For example, “event design + messaging” or “operations + creative.”
Decide how you talk about your lanes. Use plain language and keep the promise consistent.
Practice saying it out loud until it feels like your own voice.
A note to my younger self
Slow down. Don’t rush a decision because you feel behind. Follow your intuition and your logic. Both matter. Don’t be ashamed of what makes you different. Use it to find your way.
It’s actually true for me today too. I am a hybrid professional on purpose. I believe in that.
