WEEK 23 - why you have a bigger claim to your dream job title than you think
If you were a subscriber last year, you’ll remember a prompt we did about a future dream. I chose to letter, "When I grow up, I want to be a chef" to announce my desire to explore food professionally.
At the time, dreaming about the future felt risky, especially specific dreams, like those about careers. SO MUCH changed in 2020 for so many people that it seemed wise to keep that prompt open to all dreams.
Thankfully, we are slowly but surely seeing progress in terms of being able to dream specifically, and I want to open up a conversation about dream job titles.
When it comes to art and design, a lot of the conversation centers around the power in claiming the title of Artist or Designer. "You're an artist if you make art!" is something I agree with, and usually all it takes to be a "professional" anything is to get paid for it at least once!
But recently I realized that I’ve been an avid home cook for my entire life, yet I've never felt comfortable calling myself a chef. Why?
I think it’s because there’s a lot that goes into claiming a title, especially in creative fields where we deeply identify with what we do for work.
For me, it’s not (only) the act of cooking that makes the title of “chef” feel okay to use. There are other criteria involved in me being “able” to use a title that I hadn't considered until I started thinking outside of my art/design bubble.
To be completely honest, the two main reasons I want to attend culinary school in the future are 1) to give myself the space (both physically and mentally) to focus on food and 2) because a part of me would feel validated in calling myself a chef by having a formal culinary school education.
Another part of me hates that I want/need that validation lol. But guess what? I'm human and have lots of parts.
While "conventional" credibility markers like higher education, media features, and industry awards can be helpful tools for taking ourselves seriously (and other people taking us seriously) in creative industries, they can't be the rule because of the classism, racism, and other harmful biases that still exist in the world.
That's why leaning into other credibility markers like our own ability, knowledge, experience, and support from peers is so valuable.
I cook daily, and I've made a little money from some of the food I make. And I’m a firm believer that if you do the work, you should be able to use the title. So guess what?
Starting today, I’m trying on the title of Future Chef as an affirmation of my cooking skills. I even added it to my Instagram bio to make it ~extra~ official.
I love it because it allows for two things to be true at the same time: I have confidence that I will be a professional chef someday AND I don't have it all figured out yet.
Maybe after I attend culinary school, I'll officially claim the title of Chef. Or perhaps by simply sharing my cooking publicly more often and leaning on my creative community for support, I'll be able to claim it sooner :)
Your assignment: Create a design or piece of art claiming your dream title.
Thought starter: If you want to push yourself conceptually, try to think beyond the words themselves and imagine your title on something that provides extra weight or validation. Some examples:
Business cards that include your dream title
Name plate (that Toblerone-looking thing on desks) with your dream title
Degree or certificate conferring your dream title
Caption ideas: Give your audience some background about what this title means to you, why it’s a “dream” title, and provide some insight into how it developed into a dream for you. What is it about that title that appeals to you? What holds you back from using, claiming, or earning that title? What would having the title change for you?
Don’t forget to tag me @homsweethom and use the #HOMwork & #HOMwork2021 hashtag when you post on Instagram. I love looking through your excellent creations and sharing a few of my favs every week in my IG Stories before the next assignment is posted.
