Help Wanted: "The Best Way to Explain What You Do"

Podcast: Help Wanted
Hosts: Jason Feifer & Nicole Lapin
Air Date: January 15, 2026
Episode Focus: Practical advice for clearly and powerfully communicating your professional value when answering the question, "What do you do?"

Episode Overview

This episode centers on a common yet often mishandled scenario in professional life: how to explain what you do in a way that's concise, memorable, and positions you as valuable. Jason Feifer draws on the teachings of Donald Miller (author of Building a Story Brand) to share a practical, results-driven formula for crafting a compelling one-liner that goes beyond a job title. The aim: turn every introduction into a career or business opportunity.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Why "What Do You Do?" Is a High-Stakes Question

[01:46]

• The hosts highlight how “What do you do?” is more than small talk—it’s a major opportunity.
  • Most people’s answers are either too vague, overly detailed, or simply a job title—none of which leave a lasting impact.
  • Jason: "Every time someone asks what you do, it is a chance to build your business or advance your career by showing how valuable you are to others." ([01:53])

2. The Donald Miller Formula: The Perfect One-Liner

[02:44]

• Introduces Donald Miller’s three-part framework for clear self-introductions:
  1. The Problem you solve
  2. The Product or Skill you offer
  3. The Result people get from your work
• The key is to lead with the problem because it immediately makes your work relevant to the other person.
  • Jason: “The key here is leading with the problem. People value things that solve problems… so if you articulate the problem that you solve, other people immediately see how you're valuable.” ([03:30])

3. Real-World Examples: The Chef Story

[03:46]

• Jason uses a hypothetical example of two at-home chefs:
  • Chef 1: “I’m an at-home chef. I come to your house and cook.”
    • This answer gets follow-up curiosity, but doesn’t resonate or seem unique.
  • Chef 2: “You know how most families don’t eat together anymore and when they do, they don’t eat healthy? I’m an at-home chef. I come to your house and cook so that your family can actually connect with each other over a meal and not have to think about cooking or cleaning up afterward.”
    • This answer immediately positions Chef 2 as a solution to a relatable problem.

4. Why This Works: Value and Clarity

[04:50]

• Relaying Miller’s explanation:
  • Raises the perceived value of what you offer.
  • Reduces cognitive dissonance—the other person doesn’t have to guess about your work; your value is immediately clear.
  • Jason: “There's no wondering anymore. Instead, the value is crystal clear.” ([05:18])

5. Applying the Technique: The Photographer Case

[05:21]

• Jason recounts meeting a photographer who described his work as “corporate headshots,” which felt uninspired. Jason reframes it:
  • “You know how everyone's headshot on LinkedIn is super awkward? That's because professionals don't get the headshots they need to stand out, and that can lead to missed job opportunities. I solve this problem because I specialize in professional headshots that make anyone look confident and compelling.”
    • The photographer’s reaction: “His face lit up. He imagined walking around networking events and introducing himself—not as a random photographer … but as the solution to everyone's problem.” ([05:53])

6. The Real Insight: Focus on Them, Not You

[06:12]

• The formula requires you to reframe your work in terms of how you help others, not just what you do.
  • “When we explain what we do, we are so often focusing on ourselves, but we really need to focus on the person we're talking to.”
  • Crafting your one-liner gives you clarity, making it easier to pitch, market, and talk about your work.

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On Seizing the Moment:

  • “Every time someone asks what you do, it is a chance to build your business or advance your career by showing how valuable you are to others.” —Jason ([01:53])

• On Donald Miller’s Formula:

  • “A great one liner has three parts. Part one is the problem you solve. Part two is the product or skill that you offer. And part three is the result that people get. Problem, product, result.” —Jason ([02:56])

• On Leading with the Problem:

  • “The key here is leading with the problem. People value things that solve problems, he says.” —Jason ([03:30])

• On Unique Positioning:

  • “Now, what is going to be your response to that? My guess is you might think to yourself, wow, that is exactly the problem that I have. I could use a solution like that. Maybe I should hire this guy.” —Jason ([04:15], chef example)

• On Framing Value:

  • “There’s no wondering anymore. Instead, the value is crystal clear.” —Jason ([05:18])

• On Shifting Perspective:

  • “It's not about you… we really need to focus on the person we're talking to.” —Jason ([06:12])

Timestamps for Key Segments

• [01:46] Why “What do you do?” is a crucial question
• [02:44] Donald Miller’s one-liner formula introduction
• [03:46] Chef example story
• [04:50] Why the formula works (value and clarity)
• [05:21] The photographer anecdote
• [06:12] Real insight: focus on the other person, not yourself

Takeaway

Whenever someone asks what you do, don’t just state your job title—instead, use Donald Miller’s simple formula: begin with the problem you solve, state your skill or product, and describe the result. Tailoring your answer this way makes you memorable and showcases your value, opening doors in both your career and business.

Note: For listener-submitted questions, email helpwanted@moneynewsnetwork.com.