Hahaha…and if I ever do get anywhere close to as good as Gladwell, I’ll be sure to thank people like you Karim. =)

Your post reminds me of Kevin Carroll who used to work with Nike. When he joined the firm he had no job title and no area of responsibility. Nike was so enamoured with him that they just wanted him. Nike felt he would be an empowering force within their organization.

His eventual title: Katalyst.

Like always, keep up the great work. Someday, Malcolm Gladwell may grow up to be just like you….:)

KK

http://kevincarrollkatalyst.com/index.php/blog/about/

The next design of my business cards will say “I tell stories” instead of “storyteller.” I think that’s even a more natural launchpad for conversation.

Corporate worlds get way to hung up on job titles. Heck, people move between companies simply for a different title, even though their actual day-to-day work may change very little.

Let a little creativity sneak onto our corporate business cards. So long as people don’t create misleading titles (like claiming they are a CEO when they’re not) then why not let them define the two or three word sound bite about what they do?

And of course, in my other life, I do actually participate in oral storytelling and spoken word events across Canada. It’s a bit of a passion of mine, and helps me keep connected to the history of the art form. =)

It’s great that we can spark some debate and agree to disagree, whilst revelling in our little differences. Thanks for pointing to my post and for sparking up the discussion. I’ve enjoyed the chat; you’ve gained a new subscriber!

* It’s a beautiful term. Call me narrow-minded if you must, but I’ll always associate it more with the likes of true storytellers — the Arthur C. Clarkes, Roald Dahls (check out his breathtaking short stories) and Anton Chekhovs of the world — over web publishers and consultants.

As a storyteller, titles like Howard’s “Business Alchemist” appeal to me because they say so much in so little. I know that alchemists take seemingly disparate things and make them work together; because of that, I already know what Howard does without having to ask him, even though he doesn’t have a standard title that people recognize.

Part of Saul’s duties is to connect to people, is to get them interested in what he does. He has to connect people to not only his product, but to him. Which is why I think it makes sense for him to “have that same conversation ten thousand times with every new customer or friend.” His job is based on having those conversations. That, in essence, is how he creates his magic.

Like you, I agree that many freelance workers fall into the trap of giving themselves titles just because those titles “sound more exciting” than what they actually do. I have actual friends that continue to call themselves Development Manager or Head of Product Creation when they are really freelance code-monkeys.

I do feel, however, that when it is possible to find a title that describes what you do without limiting yourself to a certain task (like I have found with the term storyteller), it can be used effectively and appropriately.

All that being said, thanks for writing the article Nick. That is the power of the web after all — to be able to engage with each others’ ideas even when we don’t agree with each other. Keep up the great work, I’ve been loving some of the stuff you’ve been posting!