The 3 Layers of Work Identity

When a job title or company changes, many of us feel lost—like our identity just got yanked away. In this video I share a simple 3-circle model of work identity: Company → Role → Essence. After my own layoff, I learned to anchor on the inner layer—the skills, curiosities, and values no one can take from you (problem-solving, writing, data, teaching, making things). You’ll see how to map your three layers, spot the risk of tying self-worth to titles, and ask a few high-leverage questions to find your Essence. I’ll also share practical examples (the wiki I wrote for my team, starting my first app) to show how your Essence can be repackaged across jobs and companies, without the identity crisis. If you’ve switched fields, faced a reorg, or you’re a student/early-career researcher unsure what “defines” you, this will help you build a steadier identity that travels with you.

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🧐 WHO AM I?
Hey, I'm Ehsan! /a-🌞/ I'm an Engineer & Productivity Coach for Professionals. My journey began in 2007, when I taught high school in a remote village in Iran while pursuing a master’s in chemistry 753 miles away. In 2015, I immigrated to the U.S. to pursue a PhD in Chemistry at the University of Florida and graduated in 2020. Thank God, I secured a job at Intel in 2019, right before COVID and the hiring freezes, and I’ve been working there as an engineer since 2020, living in beautiful Oregon.
This channel is about practical self-help and workplace productivity. I’m not trying to make you an entrepreneur; I’m simply showing what works for me. I’m an average person with a normal corporate job, sharing simple ways to work better and support others. (If I ever become an entrepreneur, I’ll share the whole journey here, no courses to sell, ever.)

🎵 MUSIC
I have acquired the necessary music license to utilize the following music track in my YouTube video: Pop That by Life Is An Epic Film (Purchased License 4807547 from premiumbeat.com) Youtube ID: JSHTKOOUPJDH56LM
Note: All opinions are my own and do not represent my employer.