Recently I was asked this question, and I was very clear as a child - I wanted to be a helicopter pilot. As you’re reading this, you’ll probably realise I didn’t quite make it but maybe there’s still time! After all, dreams change.
I was intrigued though. What did my colleagues want to be before they became super creatives or amazing client wranglers? Did those early ambitions influence their career paths? And honestly, I was just curious.
We’ve got a frustrated explorer moonlighting as a novelist, nurses and vets, an aspiring zookeeper, and a pragmatic interior designer. There’s even a David Attenborough wannabe, a hopeful new member of the A Team, and our very own cowboy!
I resisted the urge to play amateur psychologist and dissect their choices, but what did strike me was how much we're influenced by our surroundings.
My helicopter obsession began in my Nan’s garden when the crew of a low-flying chopper waved at me. It made me feel happy and sparked something I wanted to chase. I’m sure there are all sorts of reasons behind my colleagues’ childhood dreams, but I’m guessing they too were shaped by the people around them or the exciting, fun moments they experienced as kids.
So, what’s changed? I don’t think much has.
Our emotions still drive us to make meaningful connections - ones that bring joy, laughter, or nostalgia. Sometimes they tap into deeper memories or stir something that makes us want to act.
By the time I got to college, I’d accepted that my skills weren’t best suited for being a pilot. I chose my degree based on the things I loved doing such as reading, writing, being creative and talking! When I graduated, I still didn’t know exactly what I wanted to be. So, once again, I followed that emotional pull and applied for a role that brought together everything I enjoyed.
Now, working in B2B marketing, I can see how emotional connections still influence our decisions. In business, it’s easy to assume that rational thinking drives everything. And yes, logic plays a role, but emotion is what engages us. It ties us to memories. It sparks a favourable response.
Was it my childhood dream to work in marketing? Maybe not, but I love using creativity to build human connections that make a difference, to:
Creativity connects.
If you’d like to talk about how creativity can help your business make meaningful human connections that drive growth, please get in touch I’d love to chat.
And to the little girl who dreamed of flying helicopters … keep dreaming, you never know what might happen next!
Natalie, Development Director at Emberson Marketing
