I have a day job, I write this blog, I do some community service, I have children, I write various other works, so in many ways, I’m a jack-of-all-trades, but a master of none. The last part is okay, because no person ever really masters anything.
All the things I do require a lot of thought. Many–but not all–include writing, but all are more mental than physical. I have decided, therefore, to acknowledge that with an appropriate title. George Carlin listed his occupation as “Foole,” so it’s not an original concept.
Therefore, I do now declare myself as a Philosopher, without Portfolio. In a nutshell, that means that it is my job to think, but I am not assigned any particular area of responsibility, so I can think of whatever I desire.
sfnowak 
Congratulations to you, Steve, on your new title. Now you’ve given yourself the “Freedom and Right to Perform.” While I am not anymore, but I was sort-of all brains as a kid–and no emotions, no common sense and “all-ways” bound. So my good, old, “tough” Mexican dad took me to the circus one day and showed me how the 5000 pound elephants were shackled by a little chain and anchored superficially to a small piece of metal. The elephants were not really bound, they only think so. One major pull and the elephant is FREE. Dad said they same is true of us.
Dad said we have to think beyond ourselves— otherwise we’re stuck by and with ourselves, and frame our lives in the context of something bigger than ourselves; we focus on big picture questions: What kind of positive impact do we want to have on the people around us? What mission in life or at work most inspires us? What do we want to contribute to the world? What change-for-betterment do we want to create? It’s not that we think less of ourselves, rather to think of ourselves of less.
When we are bound and do not have the “right or freedom to perform”– we’re focused inward. The signs and symptoms are that we are criticizing, blaming, judging, complaining, nagging, threatening, and disbelieving ourselves and others. Oh, when we pull up that anchor and unshackle ourselves–the difference is clear: Our intellectual, emotional and spiritual wellness and energy is seen by how we are supporting, encouraging, listening, accepting, trusting, respecting, and negotiating differences with ourselves and others. It’s a philosophy life, living, being and doing–and it comes with its own portfolio. Blessings to you on your new freedom.–rick