If Opportunity Doesn’t Knock, Build a Door

As a creative strategist, I am always looking for new things to create and innovate. I feel I can see things that might not be obvious to others.

Before joining Ogilvy, I held a Creative Director position; however, my entry into this giant advertising agency was as a Digital Project Manager. I saw this “step down” in rank as a way in. A few months into my role, I was doing way more than my title. But I loved every minute of it! I was in my 20s, and with my gaze focused on making it in this industry, I took on every opportunity I got. I asserted myself and got involved in creative projects I believed in, working closely with the PR team.

My hard work didn’t go unnoticed. The President of Ogilvy PR saw my efforts and invited me to be part of their team. This opportunity had further opened new doors for me to be the new Creative Engagement Director – I built a new integrated activation unit comprising PR, social media, broadcast, and production.

Then came the awards – the fruits of our labour!

Wait, did I make that sound too easy? It certainly wasn’t! There were those who were sceptical about my ability to execute my vision for our new unit. And my progress wasn’t without many stumbling blocks, mistakes and lessons. But it was those same mistakes that made me who I am today. If I were to reflect on those early mistakes, I proudly acknowledge that I always seized the moment and was relentless in my pursuit of finding opportunities and creating doors – even if they didn’t exist.

“A pessimist sees the difficulty in every opportunity; an optimist sees the opportunity in every difficulty.” – Winston S. Churchill.

Similarly, when I started at Green Park Content, my role was as an Account Director hired to set up the Singapore office. I was also entrusted to grow the regional Unilever account with our core service offering being SEO-driven brand publishing solutions.

However, I saw that social media and creative solutions were going to be in high demand in addition to amplifying and complimenting our existing service offerings. So we built a new host of offerings in Asia with the support of my bosses. Three years down the road, our social media and creatives production team is 40-people strong! Of course, growing a team from scratch brings on its own set of challenges, which we addressed as we grew. I am proud that I could see potential and create opportunities for me and the agency.

Here’s the thing, many new opportunities and roles don’t come with a “how-to” manual. It is okay to not know how to do a particular job; dive right in and test the waters as you power through. It is also about not waiting till opportunities are handed over to you. The reality is – they aren’t. Sometimes, it is you who needs to figure it out. That is how innovation happens.

When faced with even a faint glimpse of an opportunity, rise to the occasion and seize it. Then navigate the project or new role and learn everything you can learn while steadfastly believing in yourself, even when others doubt you. Rest assured, you will get better and better at the job. Keep in mind that being able to see opportunities is a skill in itself!