An old label is a sentence someone handed you early, like “the smart one” or “the quiet one,” that you still treat as a fact. In Jess’s words, “a label is really a small fixed mindset sentence, and it tells you what you are and quietly asks you to stay that way.” This eight-question self-test shows how many of them you are still answering to and gives you one next move.
Use this if you have caught yourself answering “what do you do” with a title, or if something someone said about you years ago still feels like a fact. It takes about two minutes, and nothing you pick is saved or sent anywhere.
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Someone asks what you do. What comes out first?
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Think of a sentence someone said about you long ago, like “the smart one” or “the quiet one.” How much of it do you still treat as fact?
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When something is hard, how often do you step back because struggling might prove the label wrong?
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Is there a compliment people give you that you feel you have to keep earning?
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Around people who knew you years ago, how much do you slip back into the role you had then?
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How often do you skip something new because it does not fit what people expect of someone like you?
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When you meet someone new, which kind of question do you reach for first?
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How much do you adjust yourself to whoever is in front of you, to the point that you wonder if anyone likes the real you?
Mostly yours (0 to 5)
Most of your labels have been revised. Keep it that way. Ask one person “What are you most excited about right now?” instead of the quick summary, then notice what you say when they ask you back.
A few drafts to revise (6 to 10)
A few old sentences are still doing some of the talking. Pick the one that came up most as you answered, and ask yourself whether it is really true or whether it was just a draft you never bothered revising. You are allowed to revise it.
A label is still driving (11 to 16)
At least one old label is shaping your choices. Start with one sentence and ask whether it is still true. Then try one small thing that does not fit it, and tell one person who can see you how it went. Identity gets built by trying things, noticing what fits, and choosing again.
What your result means
0 to 5, Mostly yours: Most of your labels have been revised. Keep it that way. Ask one person “What are you most excited about right now?” instead of the quick summary, then notice what you say when they ask you back.
6 to 10, A few drafts to revise: A few old sentences are still doing some of the talking. Pick the one that came up most as you answered, and ask yourself whether it is really true or whether it was just a draft you never bothered revising. You are allowed to revise it.
11 to 16, A label is still driving: At least one old label is shaping your choices. Start with one sentence and ask whether it is still true. Then try one small thing that does not fit it, and tell one person who can see you how it went. Identity gets built by trying things, noticing what fits, and choosing again.
Get the next one
Got your result? Get the next idea like it each week.
Each week I send one idea, the story behind it, and the new Big Ideas Made Simple episode, usually with one thing to try.
Questions people ask
How do I know if an old label is still running my life?
Notice what you say when someone asks what you do. If your answer is a title, a role, or a label, that tells you which one you have been running. The self-test above gives you a score and a next step.
Can a compliment be a label?
Yes. “You’re the smart one” sounds like a gift, but now every hard thing is a risk to it. A compliment you’re not allowed to outgrow is still a box you’re stuck in.
What is the difference between a label and an identity?
A label is something you get handed, and you can carry it for decades without ever deciding to. An identity takes time. It is built by trying things, being wrong, noticing what fits, and choosing again and again.
What can I ask instead of “what do you do”?
Try “What are you most excited about right now?” or “What is the best book you have read this year?” Those questions ask which direction someone is headed instead of which box they landed in.
Can I change a label someone gave me a long time ago?
Ask yourself whether it is really true or whether it was just a draft you never bothered revising. You are allowed to revise it.
Go Deeper
Hear the story behind the test. In Episode 37, Jess shares what a 20-year high school reunion showed her about labels, mindset language, and building identity and community together.
Listen here: https://jesswebber.com/bigideasmadesimple/identity-community-built-together
Related
Episode 12: Who Gave You Your Identity? https://jesswebber.com/bigideasmadesimple/who-told-you-who-you-were
Episode 19: You're Not Scattered https://jesswebber.com/bigideasmadesimple/not-scattered-mislabeled
Big Ideas Made Simple is a decision-making podcast for fast thinkers who are tired of hiding behind hustle and perfection. Hosted by Jess Webber. New episodes weekly at bigideasmadesimple.captivate.fm.
