Who Do You Woo?

The One Question to Guide Your Work Life

Help me replace “What do you do?” with “Who do you woo?” (WDYW)—beyond just St. Valentine’s Day.

That default, often detested question—“What do you do?”—is common, transactional, and shallow. It reeks of credentialism and status-seeking, focusing on job titles rather than the people we serve.

So, you might be wondering: How do you answer the WDYW question? Let’s break it down, word by word.

WHO

How Not to Answer

Not a WHAT

• It’s not about possessions, status, or trophies.
• Love people. Use things. Our culture often reverses that.

Not a WHERE

• There’s no paradise, no promised land.
• Even “home” can’t serve if you can’t go back or haven’t found it yet.

Not a WHEN

• The “as-soon-as-I…” treadmill traps us. Retirement, promotions, or hitting “The Number” can lead us astray.

Not Even a WHY

• An -ism or ideology can’t replace human warmth.
• It’s not just “purpose.” Purpose grows from real engagement with the who.