Epithet

What's Your Epithet?

Finding the small, powerful phrase that captures how you show up in your work—and why it matters

This morning, I paused by a cluster of spring flowers and spotted a trio of beautifully vibrant hyacinths, in full bloom.

And just like that, I was back in a classroom, aged fourteen.

My classics teacher was one of those rare people who brought a subject to life. On this particular day, she was helping us explore The Odyssey—Homer’s epic tale of identity, homecoming, and resilience.

To help us really see Odysseus, not just study him, she pointed to a line where, after being touched by Athena, Odysseus is described as having:

“locks to flow in curls like the hyacinth.”

It’s a detail full of care. Not just a description, but an epithet—a poetic phrase that evokes youthful, vibrant beauty.

I remember blinking at the page, then at her, then out of the window where I could just about picture it—this unexpected flash of colour, soft and striking at once.

The phrase stuck with me. It still does.

The Power of an Epithet

An epithet is more than a description—it’s a phrase that captures the essence of someone or something in just a few words. It’s what makes Homer’s characters feel alive, even now.

Think “rosy-fingered dawn.” Or “swift-footed Achilles.” Or “many-minded Odysseus.”

They’re not job titles or personality types. They’re fragments of identity—vivid, memorable, and strangely intimate.

They help us connect. They anchor a character.

And it got me thinking: in today’s world of brand messaging and LinkedIn headlines, we rarely take the time to craft something that truly evokes who we are.

What if we had our own modern epithets?

Not slogans. Not straplines.

But phrases that help people feel who we are.

The Modern Application – Your Business Epithet

We’re often encouraged to describe what we do.

But what if we distilled the feeling of our work into something more poetic, more powerful—more personal?

Here are a few examples, spanning a range of industries and roles:

- “The sentence that sells.” (Copywriter)

- “The engineer of ease.” (Tech founder)

- “The space where healing begins.” (Therapist)

- “The engine you never see.” (Virtual assistant)

- “The feeling made visible.” (Designer)

- “The eye for alignment.” (Recruiter)

- “The spark behind the question.” (Educator)

- “The calm hand on the tiller.” (Financial advisor)

- “The lens that sees the soul.” (Photographer)

These aren’t marketing messages. They’re the emotional truth beneath the job title—the thing people feel when they work with you, even if they can’t always name it.

So—if your business had an epithet, what would it be?

Bringing It Back to You and Your Work

I’ve worked with founders, consultants, creatives and leaders across sectors—and one thing I know is this:

People connect through feeling, not function.

This idea of an epithet might feel playful, even poetic. But it’s also deeply useful.

It’s a prompt. A mirror. A reminder of what people remember about you when the project’s over, or the conversation ends.

So perhaps the better question is: What do people remember you for?

That’s often where the epithet lives.

And Mine?

I’ve been sitting with this too.

A client recently described me like this:

“You arrive with no assumptions and bring exactly what’s needed.”

Another said:

“You always know the right thing to say, without making a fuss about it.”

So maybe my epithet is:

“The missing piece, found.”

“The right words, at the right time.”

Still evolving, perhaps. But it feels close.

Because my work isn’t about being centre stage. It’s about being the moment of clarity, the trusted presence, the guide who helps things click into place.

If this sparked something for you—if a phrase popped into your mind—I’d love to hear it.

What’s your epithet?

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