I was thinking about the exact same thing, and I came to the conclusion that talking about how you found your career is only appropriate if you define yourself by what you do.

Mystery’s idea of “grounding” actually works quite well, as long as you adjust it to your particular situation. For example, I currently work in a job/field that I am completely bored with and do not like. However, I do this by choice because it allows me to live in Sydney, AU working with a multinational(I’m American). Its not so much the job, its the reason behind the job.

So, adapting this to Mystery’s example, I come up with the following (abridged version): HB: what do you do? Me: well, when i was younger I always used to play capture-the-flag (or any other adventure game–>describe it) with the kids in my neighborhood. –>tell her about how I lost my way/focus/drive/passion in a small town new england highschool system–>decided to go to college down south because I wanted to experience new people/places–> went abroad to australia for a year as a junior–> rediscovered my passion of travelling and love of the exotic through various experiences there (can talk about these)–> found my way into a career that allowed me to fulfill my passion of meeting new women/people/places. much like a chick, I’m a stimulus junkie, and this is how i fulfill that need…blah, blah

Whatever, that wasn’t the best description, but you get the idea. Hope that was at least a bit instructive. Also, I think this idea of Mystery’s allows you to draw a chick into your frame/reality through a number of different conversational topics (not just what do you do?).