“So, What Do You Do?”
How to answer this question when everything is in flux
If you’ve ever wondered, “Is it too late for me to...” the answer’s NO and The Uplifters is about to show you why. This space is for purpose-driven women who want to do big, brave things in the second half of their lives.
I got a bachelor’s and master’s in acting several lifetimes ago, and because one of my intentions for the year is to invest in building my new local community, when I was invited to participate in a reading of The Vagina Monologues for V-Day at an awesome local venue, it was an immediate yes.
Which meant I had to introduce myself at the first rehearsal.
Simple, right? Wrong. Introducing ourselves is a little stomach-churning in the best of circumstances. But when everything in our bodies, minds, careers and lives are in flux it’s downright nauseating.
Here we are in midlife with decades of experience and interests and passions and all of these big dreams and goals ahead of us. How do we say that to a stranger without prattling on for half an hour, underselling ourselves, or feeling stuck in the past?
When I start working with new clients, especially midlife women leaving corporate careers, one of the first exercises we do is figure out how they want to introduce themselves. Because research shows that identity clarity—being able to articulate who you are and where you’re going—is one of the strongest predictors of successful life transitions. When you can clearly state your identity, your brain starts organizing your decisions, energy, and actions around that identity. You literally become who you say you are.
The problem with most introductions isn’t that we talk about our past. Or our present. Or where we’re heading. The problem is we usually only do ONE of those things. We introduce ourselves with just our credentials: “I spent 20 years in corporate.” Or just our current role: “I’m a coach.” Or just our future aspirations: “I’m going to change the world!”
But the most powerful introductions do all three.
Past establishes credibility. Present invites support and collaboration. Future lets you embody who you’re becoming.
Here’s what this looks like in practice.
Past: What are the big signals of your credibility? What experience set you up to do what you’re doing now even if it’s a total pivot?
For me: I spent 20 years researching behavior change and designing customer and experience strategies for companies like Disney and Weight Watchers.
Present: How are you making impact now? What are you actively building?
For me: I help midlife women boldly reclaim their authentic voice—whether stepping into visibility as an expert or returning to creative ambitions they set aside. I host The Uplifters podcast and I’m writing a book on midlife courage.
Future: What’s the impact you want to make? What’s the “so that”?
For me: So that midlife women stop believing they’re too late and start actually building the second half of life they want.
Note: The future isn’t just “I’m writing a book.” It’s WHY. It’s the change you’re creating in the world. And we get to say things before they’re fully baked or settled: I get to say “I’m writing a book” BEFORE I have a signed book deal. I got to say “I host a podcast” when I only had 1 episode.
I know it seems like a lot, but here’s why you need all three parts:
Without your past, people don’t know why they should listen to you. You can sound ungrounded. Aspirational without substance. “I want to change how we think about aging!” (Based on what? Who are you?) The past doesn’t have to be impressive. It just needs to connect to what you’re doing now.
The present is where people can actually help you. When I say “I’m writing a book,” people want to know about it. They share stories. They become part of the process.
The future isn’t just where you’re heading. It’s what you’re stepping into. When I say “so that midlife women stop believing they’re too late” I’m sharing my purpose and I’m owning the impact of why I’’m doing what I’m doing now. This is especially important for those of us in midlife navigating major transitions. We’re not just changing what we do. We’re changing who we are. Without the future, your introduction is just a resume. With the future, it’s a declaration.
So, what does this actually sound like?
At a party (30 seconds): “I help midlife women reclaim their authentic voice. I host a podcast and I’m writing a book that proves it’s never too late to do big, brave things.”
(Note: At a party, you can often skip the past if your present and future are clear enough.)
Substack bio (2 sentences): “I spent 20 years researching behavior change for companies like Disney and Weight Watchers. Now I help midlife women reclaim their authentic voice, host The Uplifters podcast, and write about building courage capital—proving through research and stories that your most courageous years aren’t behind you.”
LinkedIn (full paragraph): “For 20 years, I researched behavior change and designed transformation strategies for companies like Disney, Weight Watchers, and US Bank. Now I help midlife women reclaim their authentic voice—whether stepping into visibility or returning to creative ambitions they set aside. I host The Uplifters podcast, bring purpose-driven women together through annual conferences and retreats, and I’m writing a book on courage capital. My work proves that women over 40 aren’t running out of runway—we’re finally getting clear on where we want to go.”
Your Turn: The Questions
Ready to build your three-part introduction?
What’s your past? (Just enough to establish credibility - one sentence) What experience or journey got you here? What are the big signals of your credibility?
What’s your present? (Your big rocks for THIS year) How are you making impact now? What are you actively building? What are you saying YES to?
What’s your future? (The “so that”) What’s the impact you want to make? What change are you creating? Fill in: “So that _______”
Now put it together:
Party version (30 seconds): [Present] + [Future] (past optional if context is clear)
Full bio version: [Past]. [Present]. [Future].
A Few Examples to Get You Started
“I spent 15 years in finance. Now I’m building a business that teaches women how money actually works. So that they can make confident decisions without second-guessing themselves.”
“I’m a former teacher launching a Substack about unschooling my own kids. So that other parents can see what’s possible when you trust your children’s curiosity.”
“After 25 years climbing the corporate ladder, I left to start a consulting practice. I help other women figure out what they actually want from the second half of life. So that they can build it with courage instead of waiting for permission.”
What I Said at That Rehearsal
Here’s what I ended up saying:
“I’m Aransas. I help midlife women reclaim their authentic voice. I host a podcast and I’m writing a book about courage. I’m here because I’m new to the area and want to build creative community.”
Past. Present. Future. Simple. Clear. True.
And it felt like stepping into exactly who I’m becoming.
Want Help With This?
This intro work is exactly what we do in Strategy Sessions. We get clear on your big rocks for the year, which clarifies your purpose, which clarifies how you introduce yourself and what you’re building. The intro work ladders directly back up to your purpose—the “so that” in your introduction becomes the foundation for everything else you’re creating.
Here’s how it works: You complete three guided workbooks at your own pace. I review everything, synthesize the patterns, and create your personalized strategic plan. Then we meet for a private coaching session where I share what I see. You walk away with your complete roadmap: a values-informed purpose statement → 3-year vision → 2026 key pillars → quarterly goals → daily filters for choosing how you spend your time.
Reply to this email if you’re interested.
Drop your introduction in the comments - past, present, future. I’d love to see what you’re building and where you’re heading.
Aransas
P.S. Uplifters Live is March 13! Come spend the day with friendly, passionate, creative, and deeply generous midlife women who are lifting each other as they rise.
This is SUCH an amazing exercise. I'm still editing my bio (surprised? lol) but how you broke it down was so helpful!!