BY ARUN NEGI
Creative Director, Blippar India
Among my several ‘firsts’ - both mentionable and unmentionable - that I remember, the first day of my ‘working life’ is special to me. Special not because of some sparkling revelation, but because of the collage of emotions that this crazy day kindled. Sometimes, the smallest gesture or the simplest statement that may go unnoticed by others can have a meaningful effect and that was just what happened to a rookie from the mountains in search of his calling.
Having survived the first day amidst too many nervous cups of chai and even more confusion, I suddenly realized that I was the last bloke left in my section of the office. The high command had been in a closed-door meeting for the last two hours and since I couldn’t summon up the courage to barge inside and seek permission to go home (yes, those days that was the ‘right’ thing to do), I was left with no option but to wait quietly. Also, considering my first day happened to be the universal fool’s day, i.e., April 1, I wondered if this was some ‘creative’ soul’s way of welcoming their latest recruit. However, when the meeting eventually finished at about 8:30 pm and nobody screamed ‘April Fool’ (much to my disappointment, I must admit), I asked my boss if I could call it a day. A little surprised to still see me there, she asked me where I lived and when I told her, she said “Arre, woh to bahut door hai, jaldi nikal le!” (Oh, that’s really far, get going fast). I don’t know what it was, but just the way she said that made me realize there and then that this was it… if I could have my way, this was the industry I would spend my life in… or rather live my life in!
During the initial years of my working life, I often wondered why folks spoke so much about work-life balance when this trade provided such a ‘cool’ office environment and like-minded people to work with. However, with time, I also understood the need to broaden my horizons beyond a work-group, work-ambience or a certain work-thinking process and open my mind to other aspects. Once I started observing, I realized that these aspects I speak of were always there, but because my own focus was limited, I had the tendency to be blind to them sometimes.
It was thanks to this sudden realization that my whole perspective changed and I started seeing my colleagues not just as work partners, but also as the individuals they actually were. Interestingly, I even found myself befriending people with whom I may have had differences at work, but who I found to be great company outside the office. Also, I figured that office is not restricted to one’s department and interaction with people beyond one’s personal area of expertise. Itallows for a multi-dimensional view and adds to one’s own individual as well as professional growth. This approach opened up a whole new world and provided me with a much broader canvas of ideas and designs that added strength to my product and led to more successful projects and campaigns.
Though there’s no running away from personal and professional stress, hobbies and sports are possibly the best antidotes to combat this ‘disease’ that invariably inflicts all of us. If you can somehow manage to combine these with your work, then you are truly blessed. Wherever I’ve worked, I’ve made sure that I spread the sports bug and infect as many people as I possibly can. Team sports constitute a great platform to build character, interact with a wide range of colleagues and to create healthy competitiveness.
As far as my passion for the camera is concerned, the secret inspiration to my supposed prowess behind the lens is a five-year-old supermodel - my daughter. She is responsible for me picking up my first DSLR. What began as a hobby has now evolved into my own mini studio where I try and make the shutter speak for itself, in my very own office.
@ FEEDBACK
arun.negi@blippar.com
