Why you should anchor yourself to a mission, not a title
Read time: 6 minutes
I’ve worked in a few very different worlds: medicine, consulting, and tech.
Each one demanded a lot — maybe too much — from me.
Very long hours.
Very high standards.
Constantly stretching myself.
And, like most ambitious people, I gave a lot in return: I worked hard, trained hard, passed the exams, stayed up until the early hours staring at a laptop.
I tried to be the person who went the extra mile.
But something clicked for me a few years ago:
You can give everything to a career or a role — but it will never love you back.
It won’t guarantee you security, and it rarely bends to accommodate your needs or wellbeing.
The people who navigate their careers most confidently are the ones who get to grips with this early.
Rather than tying myself to a specific job or role, I’ve learnt it’s far better to anchor myself to a mission; something bigger, more enduring, and more personal.
Here’s how.
Quick reminder about the LinkedIn Authority Accelerator, a 5-part live delivered course starting January 2026, helping professionals build a visible, credible personal brand on LinkedIn. Early-bird pricing (£195) ends midnight tonight (GMT) with code EARLYBIRD2. Don't miss out!
1. Craft a mission that exists beyond any role
Your title can change. Your industry can evolve. Your company or business can shift in ways you can’t control.
But a mission goes with you.
Mine has evolved over time, but it’s always centred around empowering others — whether patients, clients, leaders, or founders — to grow in confidence and create opportunity.
Your mission should feel like a thread that runs through everything you do.
Reflection: What impact do I want to leave, regardless of where I work?
2. Build an identity that goes beyond your day job
When your entire identity is wrapped up in a single title, you’re always just one bad quarter or bad decision away from feeling misplaced.
Creating a strong identity outside of work — through writing, speaking, creating content, or supporting others — gives you more range and perspective.
It also reminds you that your value isn’t defined by your role.
Do this: List three qualities you want people to associate with you, independently. Then find ways to express them, publicly or privately.
3. Build assets that belong to you
The most confident professionals have something beyond their job: their network, content, skills, visibility, or personal brand. These are the things that make you opportunity-proof.
Your career belongs to you. Your employer is just a partner for a period of time.
Try this: Create one asset this month — a post, a guide, or a workshop — that stands independent of your day-to-day work.
4. Build a network that aligns with your mission
A job-based network changes when the role changes. A mission-based network grows with you.
The people who’ve opened the biggest doors for me haven’t always been colleagues; they’ve been people who share my values or direction.
When your network aligns with your mission, you build relationships that support every chapter of your career, not just the current one.
Do this: Connect with three people who share your values or vision and build relationships that last beyond any role.
The takeaway
Your job or current role is important — but it isn’t the whole picture. It isn’t who you are.
And it will never love you back in the way you love your mission.
Anchor yourself to something bigger, something longer term, something that grows with you.
In the long run, your career will thank you for it.
Speak soon,
Dupé
PS: Don't forget to sign up to the LinkedIn Authority Accelerator, a 5-part live delivered course designed for busy leaders who want to grow their visibility. Early-bird price (£195) finishes today with code EARLYBIRD2.
And, as always, if you’d like deeper support in showing up confidently and growing your personal brand, reply to this email to explore 1:1 coaching.
And finally, if you' like to book me to speak make an inquiry here :)
