Imagination as a main added-value at work

If I had to introduce myself during a job interview, I'd say my main strength is to be imaginative. That's lucky because being imaginative is probably going to be useful.

Useful to me. Useful to my future company. Useful to the world issues. So let me tell you a story about me. Yep, me. Don't worry, I'll try to make this story a bit interesting for anybody, including you. Actually, it's up to you. Yeeaaah you.

Nah, seriously, I really believe in sustainable development. And one principle of its social dimension is sincerity. This is actually in order to honor sincerity that I'm publicly sharing the following thoughts and expectations.

Via Iobad

Last month, I had to make some tough choice for my next internship. Within the same week, I had 4 interviews, for 2 different jobs in 2 different companies. At this time, I didn't come up with this theory about the importance of imagination. But still, I obviously went through it because after the second interview in each of these companies, I've been hired. "Hired", I mean as an intern. 

So, on the one hand, it's a french ad agency. More in-line with my CV. More securing, because I precisely knew what the job was about. I could easily see myself in my everyday work for the next 6 months. I already knew the process and issues. For the next step, Publicis being a really well-known name in the ad industry, it wasn't such a risky choice. All I had to do was to say "yes", to be good (doing exactly what people before me used to do) and finally to write "Publicis" on my CV.

The mission was in full-french, about managing advertising projects.

Something I've done by the past.

Via Kickbots (ex intern)

On the other hand, it's the European leader in designing social games, behind a whole bunch of Californian competitors. It's basically these games that you find on your facebook friend's walls. The industry doesn't seem quite serious to most of my business school mates. But to me, it does. And it actually has to, because it's by far the fastest growing industry in the world at the moment. In addition, people who actually know what's going on today, believe in game industry. My best lecturers, my former colleagues, my mates that I know as taking great risks plus people at TED are part of these people.

But choosing wooga was my responsibility, not theirs.

My mission will be in full-english, about social media marketing and community management.

Something I've never done before.

Via: Jens Begemann (CEO)

Saying imagination is my main added-value isn't meaningless. Assuming that strength, I also assume weaknesses.

Analyzing is something I can do. Fairly well. But surely not as well as people whom main added-value is to analyze.

I'm figuring it out right now, a month later. But this is the reason why I've chosen wooga, and not Publicis. I've chosen an industry that doesn't passionate me from the beginning, contrary to advertising industry. I've chosen an industry that needs people to imagine its future. I've chosen an industry that doesn't claim to need creative people, but that does need creative people.

Because this field is new and fast growing.

"Construction on the social layer is over [...] and it's called facebook. [...] If you're happy with that, fantastic. If you're not, too bad. There's nothing you can do." Seth Priebatsch at TED (speach below)

This social gaming industry is "under construction", so we can still do things on it. It doesn't have clear boundaries yet. So there must still be new ways to discover, new process to build up and new awesomeness to invent. Of course nobody is gonna do this alone. The whole thing is about gathering ideas that create the future. Even just being in touch with people who basically invent business must be quite nice.

Given that I am better at having ideas and as being innovative, than at applying or at executing - no value judgement, only a matter of personality - the only issue was to find a business field where people like me are the most needed, thus welcomed. Pretty simple, right? 

Photography via persolog

It might be a dream job I'm picturing myself in. But fine. Anyway, I'll probably be more asked to imagine than a lot of people in the world. Which is ok, because other people have other strength. But, for me, it's a chance that I can get the opportunity to use my own added-value - be sure I won't miss it.

It's a chance not to have to follow our ancestors' knowledge. But to have it in mind, just in case. Just to know where the boundaries used to be. How they used to think, and how they would in nowadays' world.

Via retrofuturs

In this job, I'll have the knowledge in my mind, not in my brain. I'll use the knowledge from my education and experiences - as an inspiration for my imagination.

This knowledge will be a tool. Not a plan.