--- title: "Don't ask what you want. Ask who you want to be" url: https://daily.dev/posts/don-t-ask-what-you-want-ask-who-you-want-to-be-9oybfc5h1 source_url: http://softwaredoug.com/blog/2026/07/13/who-want-to-be.html type: article source: "Software Doug" published: 2026-07-13T14:29:20.921Z updated: 2026-07-13T14:29:36.287Z tags: ["career"] reading_time: 3 upvotes: 7 comments: 2 language: en --- > ## Documentation Index > Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://daily.dev/llms.txt > Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further. # Don't ask what you want. Ask who you want to be **[Software Doug](https://daily.dev/sources/softwaredoug)** · 3 min read · 7 upvotes · 2 comments ## Summary A personal reflection on reframing career and life decisions by shifting focus from 'what do I want' to 'who do I want to be'. Drawing on Stoic philosophy, the author argues that values should be defined as concrete situational responses rather than abstract ideals, and that acting in accordance with those values is something achievable immediately, regardless of external outcomes or circumstances. ## Full article daily.dev links to this article rather than hosting it. Read it at the original source: ## Community discussion Top comments from developers on daily.dev. **@elmarchavez** · 2 upvotes > So true. Goals are completely different from actions. Goals need time to achieve while actions instantly defines you. The habits that you do define the person you want to be. Naturally, goals are met with consistent and progressive habits. **@aibra** · 1 upvotes > This is right! thanks for sharing ## Similar posts on daily.dev - [If You Don’t Design Your Career, Someone Else Will](https://daily.dev/posts/if-you-don-t-design-your-career-someone-else-will-yskaqxuym) · Hacker News · 2 upvotes · 0 comments --- Tags: [#career](https://daily.dev/tags/career) [View this post on daily.dev](https://daily.dev/posts/don-t-ask-what-you-want-ask-who-you-want-to-be-9oybfc5h1)