When Work Becomes Part of Who We Are by Marlon Amele

For many people, work becomes more than something they do.

It becomes part of how they see themselves.

They are known as the surveyor, manager, engineer, tradesperson, supervisor or director.

Their days have a shape.

There are calls to answer, decisions to make, problems to solve and people depending on them.

Over time, that becomes normal.

People introduce themselves through their work.

They measure progress through the next role, the next project or the next level of responsibility.

There is nothing wrong with that.

Work can give us routine, income, purpose and a sense that we are useful.

But it can also take up so much space that we stop thinking about who we are without it.

Then retirement comes.

The title goes.

The diary clears.

The phone becomes quieter.

The organisation carries on.

Someone else may take over the role.

The emails go to another person.

That is when a different question appears.

Who am I without the work?

For some people, that question is easy.

For others, it is not.

If most of your adult life has been built around work, stopping can feel bigger than expected.

You are not only leaving a job.

You may also be leaving a version of yourself.

That does not mean retirement has to feel empty.

But it does mean we should think about it before the final day arrives.

Work can be part of who we are.

It should not be the only part.

Life. Construction. Legacy.

Thoughts on life through construction and the built environment.

Marlon Amele MCIOB

Founder of BuildionX