What does juxtaposition mean?

Juxtaposition is when two or more things placed together create contrast and have an interesting effect.

What few people realize is that juxtaposition is a powerful weapon in making your professional identity more powerful and making you more attractive in your career prospects.

You might think you’re crazy for having different professional identities that don’t make sense (like being a musician who practices psychiatry) or that don’t belong together, but this is actually the secret sauce of what makes you valuable.

LOVE YOUR CONTRADICTORY work IDENTITIES

That's right, give em a big squeeze, embrace those opposing elements.

Contrast is what gives flavor and power to your hybrid professional identity.

Think of juxtaposition as dark chocolate and sea salt, pears and blue cheese, bacon and glazed donuts. 😋 Juxtaposition can taste oh. so. darn. delicious (it even becomes a bestseller!).

This is why figuring out your juxtaposition in your work identities is your secret weapon.

You can become a bestseller too! If you know how to sell it.

JUXTAPOSITION & PROFESSIONAL IDENTITY

...the astrophysicist who uses galactic innovations to inspire musical compositions, the woodworker who measures twice and cuts once before hitting send on a business negotiation, the airplane pilot turned financial advisor who follows a checkpoint method with new clients...

These examples either sound strange or enticing.

Encountering juxtaposition can feel bizarre, cool, or off-putting.

It throws us off. And that's the point. It's a new sensation, taste, or experience.

When we come across contrasting professional identities in one person, we don't know what to think because we haven't seen it before.

How can someone be a therapist/chemical engineer/poet?

It's not possible.

Oh yes it is, it's juxtaposition!

If your primary professional identities juxtapose, then YOU, as the person with the contrasting identities, must explain why your juxtaposition works.

Help others understand the power of your juxtaposition.

Tell them why your juxtaposition makes you even better at what you do, that's your secret identity weapon nobody can steal. Use it wisely.