--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: The hardest rule for me to keep at Onsite…" description: "\"“The hardest rule for me to keep at Onsite wasn’t about computers or cell phones. It was that we couldn’t tell people what we did for a living. Bill as..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5ca/donald-miller-607_cell-phone_the-hardest-rule-for-me-to-keep-at-onsit_2647891.jpg" --- # The hardest rule for me to keep at Onsite wasn’t about… ![“The hardest rule for me to keep at Onsite wasn’t about computers or cell phones. It was that we couldn’t tell people what we did for a living. Bill asked us at orientation to keep our jobs a secret. He said if we had to talk about our work life, even during therapy, to just say we were plumbers or…” quote by Donald Miller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5ca/donald-miller-607_cell-phone_the-hardest-rule-for-me-to-keep-at-onsit_2647891.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5ca/donald-miller-607_cell-phone_the-hardest-rule-for-me-to-keep-at-onsit_2647891.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5ca/donald-miller-607_cell-phone_the-hardest-rule-for-me-to-keep-at-onsit_2647891.jpg) > ““The hardest rule for me to keep at Onsite wasn’t about computers or cell phones. It was that we couldn’t tell people what we did for a living. Bill asked us at orientation to keep our jobs a secret. He said if we had to talk about our work life, even during therapy, to just say we were plumbers or accountants. It’s a genius rule, if you think about it. Right from the start we weren’t allowed to wear a costume. And let’s face it, most of us wear our jobs like a costume. My entire identity—my distorted sense of value—came almost exclusively from the fact I wrote books. It was torture to not tell people what I did. I never realized how much I’d used my job as a social crutch until the crutch was taken away. I must have hinted that I thought my work was important a thousand different ways. I kept saying, “As a plumber, there’s a lot of pressure on me to perform.” I did everything but wink when I said it. I must have been nauseating to be around. But deep inside, I wanted so desperately to talk about what I did because I knew people would like me if they only knew. I knew people would think I was important. Slowly, over the week, I realized I was addicted to my outer shell, that without my costume I felt vulnerable.”” [Donald Miller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donald-miller/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The quote explains how concealing one's professional identity forces reliance on deeper self‑worth, revealing the danger of using a job as a social mask. **In simple terms:** Hiding your job reveals true self‑worth. Key Takeaway Seek identity beyond work. Themes identity vulnerability self‑worth authenticity Mood reflective introspective Type personal psychological When to use this quote - therapy sessions - career transitions - team building - personal branding Key Concepts social masks ego psychology Questions to Reflect On - How does your job shape your self‑image? - What would you value if work were invisible? A Different Perspective The rule may hinder honest communication and collaboration. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Cell phone](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/cell-phone/) [Cell phones](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/cell-phones/) [Computers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/computers/) [Different ways](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/different-ways/) [Felt Vulnerable](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/felt-vulnerable-276213/) [Jobs Secret](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/jobs-secret-2324399/) [Kept Saying](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/kept-saying/) [Secret Said](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/secret-said-1334393/) [Wear Jobs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/wear-jobs-2324400/) [Work Life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/work-life/) ## Related quotes > [“The problem I have telling my secret', said Eldric, 'is that it's a secret.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/franny-billingsley/the-problem-i-have-telling-my-secret-said-eldric-is-that-it-s-a-secret/) [Franny Billingsley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/franny-billingsley/) > [“Jerry thought about what a letter of recommendation from a council of wizards would look like in his resume file. 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I never realized how much I’d used my job as a social crutch until the crutch was taken away. I must have hinted that I thought my work was important a thousand different ways. I kept saying, “As a plumber, there’s a lot of pressure on me to perform.” I did everything but wink when I said it. I must have been nauseating to be around. But deep inside, I wanted so desperately to talk about what I did because I knew people would like me if they only knew. I knew people would think I was important. 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