I had a dream; actually I had a lot of dreams when I was a child. I still dream now of course, but it’s different. My life is NOW! When I was little those dreams were unrealised, they were hopes for the future, the imaginings of a mind untainted by the realities of life and a system I would grow up to become an accepting part of. In 1989 I wanted to be a veterinarian, a couple of years later a journalist, and still today I want to be a scientist. But life (and choices) led me down a different path; not an unchosen one – just different.
So why should I not be able to still live out those childhood dreams in this life? And why shouldn’t you? Some may call them ‘hidden talents’, but are they hidden? Or are they just suppressed?
No matter what position you hold in your company, and regardless of the title that has been bestowed upon you by the system you find yourself in, you can live out those dreams! And you can also help those around you live out their dreams too. Invest a little time in the world around you and the world will invest it’s time in you. You don’t need a piece of paper with ‘Degree’ written on it to do that.
Take an interest in your team and the people around you. Ask yourself; how much do I really know about them? What do they do in their spare time, what really motivates them, and why are they passionate about it? After all, you are only as good as the people you surround yourself with. It’s time to unearth those hidden talents, shake off any fears, and shine your light on the world. And there is no better forum to do this in than the endless and unfettered opportunities presented to you online.
In terms of your Social strategy, you need to be helping your whole team showcase their talents; you’ll be surprised what may lie beneath their corporate, compliant exterior, and how happy and willing they might be to express themselves in this way. Is it time you led the charge?
What are you passionate about? Start writing a blog about it. Where do your interests lie? Join a related LinkedIn group and contribute to it in a meaningful way. Are you the artistic type? Start creating some exciting visuals for your Facebook page (there’s tons of Photoshop tutorials on YouTube if you want to learn how). What about the moving image? Is there a hidden videographer or photographer lurking in there somewhere? Interior design… give the office a makeover. Want to make a difference… support a charity in a practical way. Fitness buff… get the team out once a week for some exercise and bonding. The list of possibilities is endless, you just need to get a little creative… you need to dream AND you need to document it for the world to see. The world will resonate with the real you, not a sales pitch!
At The Social Adviser our job titles are probably a little more creative than your average, and that’s because we do our best to adopt a creative culture in general. Ultimately though, it’s a mindset, and one that can only be truly adopted by individual choice. So it’s up to you, no one else is responsible for providing you with a ‘dream’, only you.
Thanks for reading, today I was a ‘journalist’.